"Balmoral" Doublet Help?

[CMcG]

CMcG.

Well not quite! What is this semi-formal thing? Never heard of it. White tie is height of formality and black tie is formal. It is the degree of formality that one needs to be aware of to dress appropriately. Most of us have no need for white tie attire , for very good reasons, but the more normal and more usual black tie events can range from a high society event where bells and whistles might be required(or NOT!) to a private dinner where just dress attire is required. However, please let us not go down this semi-formal route, it is a misleading dead end.

You are quite right that semi-formal is misleading. I continue to find dress codes confusing because people use such different terminology, without even counting people using one term but meaning something else! Perhaps referring to black tie as semi-formal is archaic because of today's more relaxed social standards of formality

I have read that black tie can be referred to as formal or semi-formal, as well as just evening dress, depending on who you are talking to. White tie can apparently be called formal, full formal, or full dress... there are probably other names too This is further complicated by the fact that black bow ties seem to be considered acceptable for white tie Highland attire! I prefer formal for black tie and full(est) formal for white tie

Truthfully, I don't really need white tie attire at this point in my life, but depending on which university I end up at once I get my PhD, I hear that it might become more necessary for some official functions and ceremonies. It doesn't hurt to be prepared and at least I know I can also wear my new doublet for black tie too. Besides, it leads to interesting discussions on Xmarks