Ewan McGregor Investiture Wear

[Shedlock2000]

I have recently come across this photo:



Now, to those hard core of us who like to know exactly what is what, I wanted to ask a few questions and open it up to the forum - as it were

Consider that an investiture is a very formal event (possibly as formal as it gets - the correct form of dress for an investiture ought traditionally to be Morning Dress (though these days it tends to be more 'best suit').

Considering the above:
1) Does anyone think it odd that Ewan is wearing a non-dress sporran?
2) Are his kilt hose white, or Acru? - What do we think about Acru and white shirt for such an occasion?
3) Ewan's jacket and vest are charcoal - when really, Black would have been the correct choice, no?
4) Ewan is breaking the golden rule "no vest, belt; vest, no belt". - though he gets away with it (I'd just look like a barrel!)
5) The wearing of Gillie brogues and non-dress sporran is very unusual; he is also not wearing a Sgian Dubh (even a false one, if palace rules prohibit a real one).
6) The selection of a single button Braemar Jacket is unusual in itself - would one not prefer a Sheriff Muir or Doublet - or if one was to wear less formal, a PC?
7) I am quite impressed at the choice of grey/silver tie - modern formal. But I cant help thinking that I would have matched the tie to the flashes.... but then, thats just me.



Have I expected too much formality in dress for the receiving of such an award?

I know these are elevated and pedantic questions and I know that kilt wearing is a matter of taste and comfort - but there is still a certain propriety involved with the receiving of an investiture (we may presumably ignore historic discomforts between the Scots and the Royal family, as Ewan has accepted the investiture - suggesting that he is comfortable with the political ramifications).

I think the entire ensamble looks perfectly fine - I am just confused as to the level of formality that his dress is projecting. I also really like this kilt - I am guessing 'Ancient' colours?

[John_Carrick]

He looks great and is welcome to come round for tea any time he fancies.

I would have upgraded the sporran to a semi dress one, worn a little higher. Is the belt/waistcoat thing a guide rather than an absolute but it looks fine on him and off white hose can look very well with Ghillie Brogues IMHO. These Crail jackets seem very acceptable for formal day wear at present.
John

[Shedlock2000]

I thought the cuffs on his jacket indicated it to be a Braemar - a Crail having just regular cuffs, and the Argyle having that sort of funny lined '1700's' sort of thing on it. Or am I just confused.

Agreed on the sporran.

I have to go to the investiture of my friend as Grand Knight, of the Knights of Columbus tomorrow evening - so I am considering my clothing for the evening (even if I am in just a support role). I am uncertain what would be correct, and cannot pick between:
Black Braemar (no vest),
Brown tweed,
or black Crail jacket (no vest)
(all of them with solid, non-silver buttons).....

Any one have any advice?

[Jock Scot]

I am not up to the exact dress protocols for these occasions these days, but I think you are right morning suit or longe suit(not tweed, not loud colours so dark grey/black) seems to be the requirement. So lets move that to kilt attire. Morning dress equivalent would be a black barathea, silver buttoned argyll and that is the easy bit! Personally I think the sporran is fine for the occasion, not keen on white hose and the ghillies still remain "dreadful". As the picture stands I suppose he would be dressed in lounge suit equivalent, although in my view he is dressed in neither morning suit equivalent or suit equivalent .

Still, as he is an actor, we must allow the "artistic" side of him to flow and he is undoubtably dressed very smartly. As to the cuffs thing, I would not trouble yourself if we are talking tweed jackets, so regard argyll/crail/braemar cuffs as just a variation on a theme, neither is more or less formal than the other.In passing a tweed day jacket of any modest colouring(loud absolutely not) would be quite suitable it does not need to be grey or black. Funilly enough, a tartan waistcoat and jacket in the same tartan as the kilt as worn by some Western Highlanders would be perfectly suitable. Again, I can just recall another "artistic type" wearing such a suit, not cut on the bias though, to an investiture.

So conventions there are, but its best not to over-think these things and it does appear to me, that those that choose to wear the kilt to these occasions have more leeway than most!

Oh one more thing, whilst someone may well have been dressed in a PC to an investiture at the Palace at some time, it is in my view, actually quite incorrect to do so as it is not day attire.

[Chas]

My Morning Suit (tails) is grey not black.

PC, being black tie, is not really day wear.

[Shedlock2000]

I agree on the PC - I was attempting to demonstrate that PC was less formal than the Muir or doublet (being more in line with tails, and yes every time I've worn a morning suit it was grey - though tails are often black too).

my mistake - bad writing, but thanks for clarifying!

[Jock Scot]

Chas.

Grey is fine. A friend of mine wore a grey morning suit not so long ago to the Palace.

[Jock Scot]

I agree on the PC - I was attempting to demonstrate that PC was less formal than the Muir or doublet (being more in line with tails, and yes every time I've worn a morning suit it was grey - though tails are often black too).

my mistake - bad writing, but thanks for clarifying!

I am sorry I dont understand. All morning suits have tails , whether they are black or grey.

[Shedlock2000]

Sorry Jock, do you mean morning dress 'grey', or kilt jacket grey for your friend at the palace?

And I don't think I'll know anyone who gets to go to the Palace, Jock! You're out of my league!! Lol

[Shedlock2000]

I am sorry I dont understand. All morning suits have tails , whether they are black or grey.

Jock, we might be getting mixed up here - my pos was a response to Chas, who was discussing his tails being grey. I merely pointed out that in my original post I had referenced the PC only because it was a less formal dress than the highland equivalent of morning dress (grey tails), and that I actually knew that a PC was evening wear - as are black tails (often worn with white tie, and occasionally (and more in the US during the 20's-40's) with black tie (though I would guess that black tie and tails are fairly rare now, if seen at all. I'm not sure if black tie and black tails were ever considered correct, but I have seen it a great deal in period photographs).

Anyway, it's all slightly irrelevant: I was merely apologising to Chas for my ambiguous writing in the original post which seems to give the impression that I thought Ewan ought to have worn a PC to his investiture. I was merely offering the PC up as an item of clothing more formal than an Argyle, but less formal than the Muir.

doh! I'm still not sure I've made that any better!