If you stroll right on through the grand arches of Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum, you’ll happen upon RIJKS. Though the facade is unassuming, the Michelin-star food you’ll find inside is anything but. Last week, we had the honor of hosting a special dinner there with chef, Joris Bijdendijk.

Eleven guests came together to celebrate good food and good company as we kicked off of the festive season together. The chef himself joined us at the long table, with an eclectic mix of men from our own team and our wider community – each arriving in their own black-tie attire which was curated specially for the event. We took the opportunity to get to know these great men and dig into their festive styles.

Joris Bijdendijk

Joris is the executive chef of Michelin star restaurants, RIJK and WILS, as well as the founder of charity Low Food, a columnist and an author. We think it’s safe to say looking suave in a suit is another of his talents. We were thankful to have a chance to not only enjoy his food, but his company as well. Joris went for a modern take on “black” tie, with a midnight blue velvet jacket with a satin peak lapel, paired with navy wool-mohair trousers with a midnight blue stripe. When it came to styling, he stayed with the classics: a midnight blue satin bow tie to match his lapel and a classic white tuxedo shirt.

Jan Six

Part of the famous Six family, Jan is an art dealer, historian, and collector, who became famous himself for discovering two unknown Rembrandt paintings. Obviously a fan of the classics, he wore a timeless black tuxedo in a superfine winter wool. The detailing itself was elegant and simple: a one button closure, ottoman shawl lapel, and a matching stripe on his flat-front trouser. Perfectly curated down to the matching black ottoman bow tie. Simply beautiful.

Paul Rem

Also joining us from the art world was Paul Rem: Dutch art historian, TV host, and curator of the Paleis het Loo. Museums are clearly not the only thing he’s excellent at curating, as he was named one of Esquire’s 2020 Best Dressed Men. His look did not disappoint, with an understated-yet-refined navy wool-mohair suit. It was crafted as a double-breasted jacket with peak lapel in an ottoman finish and expertly paired with a matching bow tie and white pleated tuxedo shirt.

Ricardo Wemerman

Our style advisor from the Atelier Munro House Amsterdam came in a completely tonal look: each piece a deep midnight blue. The timeless 3-piece tuxedo was looking crisp thanks to a smooth wool and mohair blend. For the rest of the outfit, Ricardo played with interesting textures and finishes. He chose a sateen shirt with shine and a semi-cutaway for a more contemporary (yet still very luxurious) look along with our high-shine patent tuxedo shoes. Ricardo was actually the only guest branching out from the bow tie, bringing his own midnight blue knit tie from home.

​​Steffen Morrison

Steffen is a soul singer and songwriter, well known for his infectious performances and smooth sound. He embodies this style in everything he does, including his approach to black-tie attire. A smooth-as-butter black wool-mohair tuxedo – in his signature silhouette – a double-breasted jacket with a wide peak lapel. When it came to styling, he selected some real show stoppers: high-shine patent tuxedo shoes and golden cufflinks.

Bastiaan Tan

Enter another star from the AM House Amsterdam: Bastiaan. Our Store Lead also went for blue as his hero, with head-toe-toe velvet decadence. He chose to highlight each hero piece with a touch of shine to bring that extra something special – a velvet jacket with a satin wide peak lapel, and navy wool-mohair trousers featuring a midnight blue satin stripe down the side. Midnight blue velvet plain toe loafers completed the look. The crowning jewel? The mother-of-pearl studs adorning his pleated tuxedo shirt.

Maarten de Gruyter

We have spent a bit of time with real estate entrepreneur Maarten this year. He co-hosts a podcast Hou Je Vastgoed, discussing the world of real estate, recording this latest season with us in AM House Amsterdam. Maarten embraced rich color and texture for his black-tie look, with velvet as the centerpiece. He created an eggplant velvet jacket with matching fabric-covered buttons and featuring a nice amount of stretch to keep him comfortable all night long. Tied all together with a final touch of velvet in his black bow tie.

Jasper Willems

Never one to shy away from color, our Brand Director Jasper also took a bold approach, creating a sage green tuxedo with contrast detailing. Wanting to bring some festive shine to the look too, he selected a woolen Solaro fabric with a reflective quality. On top: a double-breasted jacket with a black satin wide peak lapel and matching black fabric covered buttons. On the bottom: tuxedo trousers with a black satin stripe. The look was a masterpiece down to the detailing, including camicia shoulders and doppio impuntura (also known as double pick stitching) for a sartorialism worthy of even the most special event.

Mo Anwar

Born and raised in Amsterdam with North African roots, Mo is a journalist who writes for Vogue and a creative consultant for Falke, amongst other things. He certainly brought his style game to dinner with this statement dinner jacket, made from a pure cotton velvet in a vibrant wine red hue. The color theme continued with a Bordeaux bow tie and cufflinks in the same shade. Mo also brought a hint of shine into the mix, pairing classic black tuxedo trousers featuring a black ottoman stripe with a shiny white sateen shirt.

Joachim Baan

Always looking toward the contemporary, our Creative Director Joachim opted for an all-black look. Like Steffen, he crafted a double-breasted tux in a different (but equally beautiful) black mohair-wool blend. It has a subtle two-tone effect, the perfect compliment to the black ottoman lapels, jacket buttons, and trouser stripe he selected. Instead of a traditional shirt, Joachim went for a cozier option – a black crew neck knit. Made from cashmere-silk it has a lightweight sense of luxury with an impressive drape. The final touch? A pair of black velvet plain toe loafers.

Arno Kantelberg

We couldn’t miss out on the company of our most recent collaborator, Arno. Living up to his moniker, the Style Pastor of the Netherlands went for a look that would make Bogart blush. An off-white dinner jacket paired with crisp black tuxedo trousers with a high-shine satin stripe. Proof you don’t always need to include color to stand out.

The dinner was an absolute pleasure – a feast of fine food and a smorgasbord of inspiration too. If you’re their style, don’t forget to order soon to ensure your fabric is still available and your festive wear arrives in time. Read more about the fabric shortage here.