This has been a big conversation and I can't claim to have read all of it. But what I notice about many of the earlier posts is the idea that people will gradually adjust their dress for a recurring event- like an office Christmas party- but they have more trouble with the one off, such as a wedding. I think this explains why notorious examples are so notorious. Because they have a Caledonian Ball every so often, people remember from last year what they are supposed to wear- and just how serious the hosts and stewards are about the dress code. And the guys in hockey jackets wear nice trousers the next year because they felt a little underdressed in jeans. We learn from experience.

When someone says "Creative Black Tie" or even "Black tie" do they mean BLACK tie, as in it has to be black? I went last night to my local St A's Society annual meeting, which is Black tie/ Kilt. I saw at least one gentleman in a society tie, four in hand version, and what may have been a dark suit. It may have been a tuxedo, I am not sure. I saw several kilted members in various degrees of dress-up, including at least one in an Argyll jacket and a four in hand tie. I myself was wearing a PC, but it was bright red, chosen to tone down the overall effect of my Royal Stewart kilt. My bow tie was striped black and magenta. Personally, I thought myself better and more appropriately dressed than those who had on Saxon tuxedo jackets and kilts. I was disappointed to miss one of our senior members who usually wears a red silk Argyll to the Annual Meeting. He and I will both put away our red jackets on Saturday night, though, when we attend the Society's Tartan Ball, also denoted Black Tie. we ( and others) may show up in jabots, but we will be wearing dark jackets.

I also belong to another club that has two parties. One is white tie and gentlemen had better be in white tie. The other party is black tie and as nearly as I can tell (from 15 years of membership), that means BLACK tie, not spotted, striped, paisley, etc. Other than those events, if I am going to a black tie function, my bow tie is sure to be striped or spotted or something, anything, other than solid black and my jacket may well be tartan. I am working up my nerve to wear a midnight blue velvet jacket (with solid black tie) to our Spring dance, but I may not have the fortitude...