Help with white tie

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I would be wary about using a book from 1912 as a guide to modern court dress

I agree, although there has very little change since 1912 in the style of dress, undoubtedly the occasions on which court dress is worn have become fewer over the decades.

I chose to quote the 1912 edition of Dress Worn At Court because it covered all of the items worn in the illustration (which probably dates from the 1930's or 40's). Earlier editions would have included pistols and powder horns, something now dispensed with (except, perhaps, by some Americans).

Upon re-visiting the photograph of David Hepburn referred to in my original posting I note that he is actually wearing evening dress, and not court dress-- I should have looked beyond the velvet doublet, but was distracted by his sporran.

Full highland dress is not really white tie. White tie is white tie and tails. While a full highland dress outfit can be worn to a white tie occasion, it should not be confused with white tie.

I totally agree you: white tie is just that -- white tie. I am always faintly bemused when attending a formal function "south of the border" or "over the water" and someone shows up in "white tie" highland attire. True, it has its place at a "Scottish" function on Halkin Street, but it always looks faintly "costumey" at the Banqueting Hall in Westminster. But then I'm one of those fuddy-duddies who believes that you don't wear highland attire outside of Scotland, unless at a Scottish event.