Marcello shirt and clerical collar?

[davidg]

Here's a question for fellow ordained clerics here. I'm invited to a special black tie dinner in a few weeks time and I had planned to just wear a collar and black bow tie. However, they are insisting I wear a clerical collar as I am their chaplain. If it were an informal affair I would just wear a normal clerical shirt but I do not really like the black against black effect that creates so I am now planning on wearing a white formal marcella tunic shirt, complete with dress studs, and a clerical collar attached

Has anyone else done it this way before. How usual/popular is it?

[Chas]

I am not a cleric, but I do wear marcella, but only for white tie events.

Regards

Chas

[JSFMACLJR]

Here's a question for fellow ordained clerics here. I'm invited to a special black tie dinner in a few weeks time and I had planned to just wear a collar and black bow tie. However, they are insisting I wear a clerical collar as I am their chaplain. If it were an informal affair I would just wear a normal clerical shirt but I do not really like the black against black effect that creates so I am now planning on wearing a white formal marcella tunic shirt, complete with dress studs, and a clerical collar attached

Has anyone else done it this way before. How usual/popular is it?

I think that would work, but only if you wear a clerical waistcoat/rabat over the shirt. My father( an Episcopalian priest ) used to wear one of watered silk for evening dress, but then he also wore a frock coat and breeches!

[Father Bill]

I wear a white clerical shirt with a full collar and a black vest with a Roman collar under a black barathea argyle.

[MacRobert's Reply]

I have worn a white tunic shirt with a cravat or a jabot but not a clerical collar and I have never seen it done ... yet! To overcome the black-on-black problem I wear coloured waistcoats. With day wear I have also worn coloured clerical shirts (blue, grey or green) but not for black-tie events. What jacket or doublet do you intend to wear? High-cut waistcoats cover most of the shirt while three-button ones tend to make a feature of it.

[davidg]

What jacket or doublet do you intend to wear? High-cut waistcoats cover most of the shirt while three-button ones tend to make a feature of it.

I'm planning on wearing a Prince Charlie with 3 button vest. Now I know anything goes anyway these days but traditional black tie would usually be plain or pleated white fly front shirt OR marcella shirt with white dress studs, fold down collar and black bow tie with black 3 button vest. My only option would seem to be to substitute fold down collar and tie for the clerical one. I THINK that should be correct and it more or less fits Fr Bill's way of dressing. I do like to be either absolutely correct or at least know if I'm breaking convention (call me pedantic if you will)

The event is in a military Officers Mess and is celebrating the Queens Diamond Jubilee. I am the Chaplain and guest of honour. I prefer dressing like everyone else, they want me to look different "cause you're our padre". I have worn simple black clerical shirts for informal events with a PC and/or argyll before but this is clearly a far dressier occasion. One of your colleagues here in Livingston thinks I am on the right track but black tie guides seem to suggest wearing either simple black suit with clerical collar or cassock. THAT I am NOT going to so

[MacRobert's Reply]

With a PC you could wear a rabat or stock but there would still be the black-on-black issue. Perhaps Fr Bill's white clerical shirt suggestion (or fly-fronted tunic shirt) is worth considering but your original suggestion of marcella and studs is not so different. In a similar situation I wore a black clerical shirt with a green three-button waistcoat under the PC.

[Father Bill]

The general rule is that since the clergy are different by nature and identity, clerical dress is always correct (so long as the rest of the outfit is also correct.)

[davidg]

The general rule is that since the clergy are different by nature and identity, clerical dress is always correct (so long as the rest of the outfit is also correct.)

So, what is the definition of clerical dress? Just the collar, or the black shirt that goes with it?

[Father Bill]

So, what is the definition of clerical dress? Just the collar, or the black shirt that goes with it?

. . . or a white shirt & collar with a clerical vest to produce the same effect. When in company of black or white tie individuals, a black suit with clerical shirt and collar is still considered appropriate because, I guess, it's the "company uniform." It would look silly to have a clerical shirt or vest or whatever under a dinner jacket or cutaway with tails. Considerably less silly with an Argyle, Crail and kilt etc.