I went to a black tie event several weeks ago and yes - black tie means a bowtie even if the bowtie you opt for isn't black! To add to the confusion people seem to wear normal black ties now to black tie events with all sorts of weired and wonderful takes on dinner suits. However, I personally don't think you can beat the traditional black bowtie and dinner suit look.
Couldn't agree more. The God awful mess that some guys wear is partially Hollywood's fault, those who are slaves of fashion, and those who haven't a clue. Some people think its clever to try to re-invent the wheel, when it just makes them look stupid, if not ignorant in the terms of etiquette. The more understated and classic black tie is, the more powerful and classy it is. Tom Ford (the man himself not his labels for once) is a good example of this, he always wears black tie correctly, even with a slight twist!