Outfit for Christmas Party

[timber]

I have the company Christmas party coming up December 16th. The dress code is being called "semi-formal" with an explanation that men are expected to wear a suit or sportcoat. I intend to wear a white shirt, red tie, dark green hose and red flashes with my scottish national kilt. As relaxed as semi-formal is here in the US, I expect there will be a number of men dressed somewhat casually (i.e. sweaters, shirts and ties, no jackets). I would like to look my best, but I don't have a jacket. While I am sure that going without a jacket would be ok, it would be nice to have one. I don't have the time or money to order one, but I think I have time to rent. Most of the rental places I can find online can do a PC, but that would be too formal. Can anyone point me to a good place for renting an Argyll?

[auld argonian]

Try looking at some of the threads about purchasing a single button Eton jacket from one of the tux suppliers (uniformal warehouse is the first to come to mind) and gussying it up into a an Argyle style jacket. I think that AlanH did one of these and posted photos...it was, if I remember, a bang-up job. Celtic style buttons are available at craft and fabric stores...I've seen a couple of styles that have had me and daughter going, "ooooooh, nice."

As someone pointed out in another thread, if you're going to wear it once in a while, investing big bucks is sort of pointless. I'd expect that the purchase price from the uniform places is about even with a rental.

Best

AA

[PiobBear]

Not many (if indeed any) will know the difference between an Argyll or a Prince Charlie, but they'll all notice the difference between "semi-formal" and "office casual". If the invitation specifies "semi-formal" (especially if it includes a definition of "semi-formal" for the edification of any Philistines in attendance), I would wear a coat, period. If I couldn't find an Argyll to rent or borrow, I'd either rent a Prince Charlie and wear it with your shirt & tie, or wear a navy sportcoat. While neither are technically correct, either are preferable to blatantly disrespecting your host and personally contributing to the further decline of civilization.

(One of my pet peeves; you've no idea the number of people I've seen attend a wedding or a funeral in shorts and T-shirts.)

[mbhandy]

Last year for the Burns Dinner I just wore a black Sports coat I got at a Thrift store in Salt Lake.



This Year for Christmas parties I got a formal Jacket and vest off ebay





MrBill

[chasem]

if you have a sportcoat you don't use often, have it modified to fit the kilt. Or maybe find one at a thrift store that fits for modification. Cheap and easy!

[billmcc]

timber,

I don't know where you can rent an Argyll. However, a member of this forum went to a Christmas party last year wearing an Eton jacket that he dressed down by wearing a plain dress shirt and straight tie. It looked good.

Here is the original post and a few pictures:
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...hristmas+party

[GatorUK]

I have the company Christmas party coming up December 16th. The dress code is being called "semi-formal" with an explanation that men are expected to wear a suit or sportcoat.

Strictly speaking semi informal is Black Tie with gentlemen's attire as follows: Black dinner jacket or white in summer (tuxedo), black trousers with one satin seam on the outside leg, black vest or cummerbund, black bow tie, white silk scarf, black or gold cufflinks and studs. Formal would be a white tie event. If suits are required that is what is know as evening informal. Gentlemen's attire is normally a business suit, necktie, lace-up shoes, and for evening occasions a non-button-down collar dress shirt. A sports coat would be considered casual. A lot of party coordinators really miss the mark this time of year when sending out invites and place an ambiguous dress code on it, saying one thing but meaning something else entirely.
The main thing is to find out what the coordinator means and dress at least to that level. But hey..if you want to dress it up more good on ya. I think of the company party as a launching pad for the evening.

[Bob C]

Strictly speaking semi informal is Black Tie with gentlemen's attire as follows: Black dinner jacket or white in summer (tuxedo), black trousers with one satin seam on the outside leg, black vest or cummerbund, black bow tie, white silk scarf, black or gold cufflinks and studs. Formal would be a white tie event. If suits are required that is what is know as evening informal. Gentlemen's attire is normally a business suit, necktie, lace-up shoes, and for evening occasions a non-button-down collar dress shirt. A sports coat would be considered casual.

This may have been true, once upon a time. There's no way a sports coat is generally considered casual. If he shows up dressed as what you call "semi-informal," he'll be way overdressed.

I agree with those further up. Get a jacket.

[Blu (Ontario)]

My inlination would be to hual out the phone book and start phoning every TUX rental place within driving distance. Although some may not openly advertise kilts and accessories, most should be able to point you in the right direction.

You've only got 3weeks and a bit to pull this together... good luck!

.

[macwilkin]

This may have been true, once upon a time. There's no way a sports coat is generally considered casual. If he shows up dressed as what you call "semi-informal," he'll be way overdressed.

I agree with those further up. Get a jacket.

It still is true; a sport coat is casual attire, it's just not "common knowledge" any more here in "the colonies", and more's the pity.

And it's always better to be overdressed than underdressed, INHMO.

But I do agree with the post about the fault being with party organisers who are not specific about dress codes.

T.