I have a question:

Let's say you're writing an email to a really important French academic in your field. His surname is, let's say, Noir[1]. How do you address him? "Dear M. Noir" doesn't seem right, so...

Help muchly appreciated.

[1] Names changed to protect the innocent!

So, if you're going to dinner and they say the dress code is 'lounge suits or equivalent', is it OK to turn up in a little black dress? I figure this encompasses a few degrees of formality and won't look out of place so much as vixenish ;)