The Saint Andrew's Ball 2012, what to wear??

**Omar Zaragoza** · 3rd September 12, 10:34 AM

This is my first year as a member of the Saint Andrew's Society Mexico and its my first time at the ball they organize

The event its going to take place in an event room at a fine Hotel, so it will be dressy.

I have to questions for you, first one is what can I use to make my attire look dressy? Im new at the use of kilts so I just have this available

My Black watch wool kilt

My sporran, hoses, flashes, kilt pin and buckle

And I have patent leather shoes like these

And of course I have some normal dressy shoes

Can I use a white shirt, a black vest and jacket, and of course a tie?

And the most important question is......... What kind of dress my wife can use at these events? A normal coctail dress?

Thanks in advance guys!

**Friday** · 3rd September 12, 10:50 AM

You may want to check with the members of the society that have attended past balls to check how dressy the affair will be. If by jacket you mean a normal suit jacket you will find that it is to long and covers the pleats in the back. If you wear a vest a belt is not normally worn because the belt buckle and the bottom of the vest fight for attention. I have seen pictures of Prince Charles wearing a belt over the vest.

You may want to search the forum for Saint Andrew's Society and look for pictures of past balls.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f98/st-andrews-dinner-baltimore-70563/

In post #7 Matt Newsome gives a good list of various dress criteria.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...s-codes-70343/

**walkerk** · 3rd September 12, 11:21 PM

Congratulations on your invitation to the ball. It will certainly be an event to remember.

If you do not have a proper kilt jacket (such as a Prince Charlie) then a regular black jacket will suffice if worn with a vest. To dress up your outfit, you might wear a wing-collar shirt with shirts studs and a black bow tie. These are not necessarily expensive and are available at most formal-wear or bridal shops.

As for the important question: this is a "ball" and is therefore your wife's opportunity to wear a ball gown. The long evening dress seems favored by most but, as always, a lady is free to express her own personality.

Here's a thread with some more pictures: http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...et-ball-55413/

We are looking forward to your pictures of the event!

**Omar Zaragoza** · 4th September 12, 06:55 AM

Thank you guys!! I will follow your advices

Yes!!! I'm very happy about the event, its going to be great I very sure of that!

I have a wing-collar shirt with pleats, and a bow tie so that could not be a problem, what about the shoes? the shiny ones?

Thanks for your help!

**David Thorpe** · 4th September 12, 10:10 AM

The shiny shoes are excellent.

**Omar Zaragoza** · 18th September 12, 12:47 PM

Hi guys, I'm very excited about the ball, and I'm trying to look good

I found this jacket that I never use, do you thinks is a candidate for beeing modified to an Argyle Jacket?, Do you have any pattern or something I can give to my tailor for the conversion?

**Glen** · 13th March 13, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by Omar Zaragoza

Do you have any pattern or something I can give to my tailor for the conversion?

You received no answers I suspect because a double breasted coat is hard to convert.

What did you end up wearing??

**Phil** · 13th March 13, 05:04 PM

You really do have to have some type of smart jacket for the type of event you are going to. You can get away with an Argyll but ideally you should be wearing a Prince Charlie with a bow tie. The jacket you have in mind will not do. As to your wife, I would think a cocktail dress would be fine although a full length gown would be better. It depends on the formality really but you will know all that by now.