Dress Codes

[xman]

Call me a stickler, but if the invitation says "black tie" I'm going to dress in formal evening wear, and to heck with the great unwashed, underdressed masses

That's right. Make 'em all jealous of how much attention and respect you're going to get and maybe next time they'll know better.

[LANCER1562]

I attended a New Year's Eve party a couple of years ago, the invitation said "Black Tie Optional" so I went all out in a modified black Eton/Spenser Jacket (I added siver thistle buttons), black 3 button waistcoat on which I had swapped the black buttons for silver thistle buttons to match the jacket, a white pleat front tuxedo **** with studs, black pre-tied bow tie, kilt, white rabbit fur with silve cantle sporran, white hose (they were all I had at the time), and black cap toe oxfords. When I got to the party I noticed I was the only man in formal attire all the rest were in suit and tie. I was the best dressed man there. Then again, I was the only man in a kilt

Whenever I recieve an invitation that states "Black Tie optional" I will dress to the nines.

[Cygnus]

Good for you, LANCER1562 and CMcG - I think it's high time people started to take note of dress codes and follow them. I think many people are surprised when they discover that looking like a million bucks and feeling like a million bucks go hand in hand.

[Bugbear]

Just for the record, I have no difficulty with wearing appropriate black tie clothing to a black tie event; i would not do otherwise. Same for other situations. That is just very rare in my life at this time.


What width of bow tie do you prefer?
I like the wider ones.

[AKScott]

What different levels of formality do you dress at in your kilt? What do you and your social group call these dress codes (if anything)?

ith:

Not much new to add, been keeping an eye on this thread off and on today.

Lowest level of formality for me is workshop. I have two "knock-about" kilts, and I enjoy woodworking and running my barbecue grill and etc while kilted, weather permitting. It's a great thing to be kilted.

I more or less follow the 1 kilt 10 looks ideas, though I rarely have opportunity to wear more than a straight tie and a nice shirt with buttons.

I have all the pieces for black tie, but precious few events to take them to.

I would like to add a waistcoat and tweed jacket to my wardrobe, but can not justify the cost considering limited utility here at the northwest corner of all the pavement on my home continent. When it is really cold in Alaska we tend to just throw on an amazingly warm parka over indoor clothes rather than layer after layer (after layer after layer).

[Tobus]

I have an end of term event coming up and the invitation says "black tie." This seems appropriate for a white formal shirt, self tie black bow tie, evening sporran, dress Braemar jacket, etc. But I looked at last years pictures and the best dressed guys were just wearing suits, while the others weren't even wearing jackets! Call me a stickler, but if the invitation says "black tie" I'm going to dress in formal evening wear, and to heck with the great unwashed, underdressed masses

Good on ya! You are dressing appropriately for the event, where everyone else is dressing to match each other's level of formality. I've noticed that a lot of people do that. They would rather fit in with the rest of the crowd than be properly dressed, and so the trend of "dressing down" continues to get worse and worse.

[CMcG]

CMcG, from reading on this forum, there are regional differences in formal and semi formal Highland dress codes in Scotland. I'm sure you already know that,, but it might make for an interesting inquiry, and the specifics an interesting study of clothing symbolism...

Yes, it seems like many people inhabit a much narrower range of formality than the 1 Kilt 10 Looks scale. Few people ever dress at a white tie level, myself included. We might even need to add another level below what Panache and McMurdo demonstrated, in order to encompass streetwear!

This is where words like "formal" or "semi-formal" start to fall apart. If a tweed jacket and tie is as dressed up as one ever gets, then relatively speaking it is formal. Black tie is a bit more clear for me because at least the name suggests what type of attire it is referring to.

As someone else mentioned, it would make a very interesting study in material anthropology. Perhaps someone might want to write a paper on investigating the shifting meanings of formality in Highland attire across historical, social, cultural, and national boundaries?

<snip>
What width of bow tie do you prefer?
I like the wider ones.

I prefer a smaller bow tie, but to each their own. Mine has diamond tips, is made from dupioni silk, and is long enough to fold over one extra time (tripled) in the bow

[OC Richard]

For us pipers this question is more simple, or has fewer answers, than for most XMarkers, I would think.

Most pipers have a kit which they wear to just about any event they pipe at, the typical modern Pipe Band kit consisting of black Argyll, shirt and necktie, Glengarry, plain hose, black ghillies, and usually a black leather sporran with chrome cantle.

They wear the same kit whether everyone else at the gig is in t-shirts, or tuxes.

Some pipers also maintain military-style Full Dress (doublet, feather bonnet, long plaid, horsehair sporran, etc etc) which they wear at highly formal or military functions. For example a piper friend here wears his black Argyll for nearly all gigs but appeared in Full Dress when he piped at President Ronald Reagan's funeral.

In my 40 years of piping I've gone through periods when I've only worn the typical black Argyll kit, but also periods when I've owned Prince Charlies, military-style Full Dress, day tweed kits, etc.

Currently I'm wearing tweed for most gigs, but for certain very formal and/or military gigs I wear a Patrol Dress jacket, hair sporran, tartan hose, buckled shoes, dirk, etc.

This page has several photos from a period in the 80s when I owned quite a variety of dress

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...8/index12.html

[Jock Scot]

Do you know this dress code thing is simple, and it matters not what part of the world you are in!

If the invitation says "white tie" then you dress accordingly, likewise with "black tie", or "smart", or "casual " or even "less than casual". That is the easy bit!

It is not for the guest to adjust the dress request of the hosts----particularly in a formal setting and frankly the hosts should make their displeasure known to an unsuitably attired guest too, should he gain entry to the event. The "its not done old boy" comment in this situation, can be devastatingly cutting and effective------- and rightly so.

Now if the invitation is by word of mouth then careful reconnaissance may be in order and a ring round more experienced (to the situation) guests for guidance may assist and failing that ask your host! SIMPLE!

Just because "smart" in one part of the world is mistakenly regarded as wearing clean jeans and "Formal" mistakenly means wearing a jacket too, does not stop us from using our brains! Yes local terminology and definitions do complicate things-------although it should not, if the terminology is used correctly-------so if in doubt, ASK. Why? Because your hosts may not know the correct terms either and a quiet conversation may be beneficial all round.

Mind you it has been known for, er, well, "someone" to turn up at an event incorrectly attired! Some quick thinking may be required and in some case(s), a speedy and quiet retreat has been prudent! It happens.

[davedove]

I think the problem lies in people using the term "formal", because that seems to be open to interpretation for a lot of people. We need to be honest; for many (maybe most) people, the only times they get anywear near a tuxedo is when they rent one for a wedding or prom, and many have no real idea what "formal" means. So, for many, that means putting on a tie.

Terms like "black tie" are better, because there is a more defined standard, although again many don't know it. The term "black tie optional" can cause all sorts of problems. Many issue the dress code wanting people to wear black tie if they have it, but not to feel left out if they don't. What ends up happening though, is guests see this as meaning that they can choose not to bother with the black tie, even if they have it.

And that brings up the next issue. Many people see dressing up as a nuissance, to be avoided if at all possible. They haven't realized the fun of being the best dressed man in the room.