Prince Charlies for White Tie

[slohairt]

I think the Prince Charlie would like fine as white tie attire. It really isn't that different from the Regulation Doublet, and it does have tails, after all.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I think "So You're Going to Wear the Kilt" suggests that if you don't have diced hose, evening hose should be white.

It also advocates wearing the stretch variety of men's over the calf socks...

J. Charles Thompson was undoubtedly an expert in the area of tartans, but he is sometimes less than infallible in the area of proper dress. That said, he never advocated the wearing of white hose with formal attire, he merely acknowledged that it had become common practice.

[JerseyLawyer]

It also advocates wearing the stretch variety of men's over the calf socks...

J. Charles Thompson was undoubtedly an expert in the area of tartans, but he is sometimes less than infallible in the area of proper dress. That said, he never advocated the wearing of white hose with formal attire, he merely acknowledged that it had become common practice.

I agree with your position - I was just pointing out that at least some authority suggests that white is okay for evening. Frankly, I think it is fair to say that twenty years on from the third edition, the widespread availability of colored and diced hose, and highland attire of all kinds, has made some sections of the book outdated.

[orangehaggis]

I can't help but regard white kilt hose as I would white socks. They never look right with a dark dinner jacket or tailcoat.

Mark - Ohio

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I can't help but regard white kilt hose as I would white socks. They never look right with a dark dinner jacket or tailcoat.

Mark - Ohio

Jeasus, but I knew there was a reason why I like Ulstermen!

[Jock Scot]

I can't help but regard white kilt hose as I would white socks. They never look right with a dark dinner jacket or tailcoat.

Mark - Ohio

Very well said ,sir.

[Amoskeag]

I sure don't want to sound like a Rube here but I guess I really don't know the difference between a black tie event and a white tie event. To me formal means wearing shoes that are not suitable for hiking and combing my hair.
I have a tux but that is what I wear to lodge (when I'm Master) I have a converted tux jacket for "fancy" but I've never had the occasion to have to know the difference.
With two teenagers in the house, it is unlikely that any of the above mentioned jackets, coats, coatees or doublets will be gracing my shoulders for the foreseeable future but it would be nice to know when to wear one if it should happen to magically appear in my closet.
Bob

Oh No! You folks are the ruin of me. Now I'm fashion conscious, thanks a lot!

[JerseyLawyer]

Basically, white tie or "full evening attire" (or, according to Debrett's, in England, "formal attire", though I would hazard to say that in the US, an invitation saying "formal attire" meant a tuxedo) is the most dressy evening outfit. For a gentleman, it consists of a tailcoat, matching trousers with double silk braid down the leg, white pique vest and bow tie, evening shirt, and patent leather shoes (or should I say evening pumps, though to many people, a pump is a woman's shoe. Not so, though, it's just any thin-soled shoe meant for dancing. The men's version is a patent leather slip on with, ahem, a black bow over the instep.). Women would wear full-length evening gowns, an all their jewels and whatnot. Married women can even wear a tiara, if they own or hire one.

Black tie is a tuxedo. You own one, so you know what they look like.

Your chances to go to a white tie affair are pretty few an far between, unless you happen to be an ambassador, head of state, member of a royal family, or move in very elite social circles (for example, you can afford the tickets to the Red Cross charity gala). One of my goals in life is to get back to Vienna and go to a few balls (they're by subscription), since white tie is the dress code and I want to wear tails at least once in my life.

You can probably take a look at wikipedia or any number of other sites for a full explanation.

[davedove]

Someone posted this link earlier. It is a good explanation of the basic levels of dress.

http://www.blacktieguide.com/Introduction/1_Appeal.htm

[Coemgen]

Your chances to go to a white tie affair are pretty few an far between, unless you happen to be an ambassador, head of state, member of a royal family, or move in very elite social circles …

Or if (like myself) you're part of a musical group that wears white tie for performances.