Last Highland black tie event, I attended in a plain suit and took my coat off because it was hot. So I broke all the rules (esp. the one about taking my coat off), but everyone was just as welcoming and friendly. I wasn't alone in being dressed down. But heck, many of us had come thousands of miles at considerable expense just to attend the festivity. I was happier to come as "plain me" than I would have been if I had attempted overdress, and appeared foolish.

But what about sporrans? I'm about to go to another black tie event, and have pulled together a reasonable facsimile of formal Highland Dress without breaking my childrens' piggy banks open (much of it is old Scottish pieces), but I do not have a dress sporran, so will sport a black leather one. Not the thing I know, but black does seem to hide amongst the black of my doublet. Someday I'll find a dress sporran I like, but I haven't yet (that's another thread).

I'm glad to hear Jock has granted me dispensation to wear simple colored hose, because that's all I have.