Tie with a Prince Charlie

[Gauranga]

What are your thoughts on wearing a tie instead of a bow-tie with a Prince Charlie jacket? My fiancé doesn't like bow-ties and would prefer that I wear a regular tie at our wedding. I don't recall seeing this done before. Can anyone provide me with a picture or explain why this just simply isn't done? Thanks.

[Jock Scot]

Would you wear a drop down tie with a tux? NO! The same answer for a PC is NO! Some , a few, wear the "ruche" style tie with the PC, but it does not look right. How about wearing a black barathea, silver buttoned argyll? A drop down tie goes well with that style of jacket.Just to give you an idea, an argyll as described above, being worn at a wedding as morning coat equivalent, which in fact, is its primary role in life.

[unixken]

Maybe with a 5-button waistcoat, rather than the typical low-cut 3-button vest normally worn with a Prince Charlie. But like it's non-kilted equivalent, the tuxedo, I don't think I've ever seen it done.

[mookien]

I have two thoughts on this subject:

1. It's your's and, especially, your bride-to-be's wedding. Wear whatever you want. There are no fashion police who will give you a ticket for wearing a "regular" tie with a PC. In future years your wedding pictures will look just as lovely and invoke the same sentimental memories "cum or sans" the bow tie.

2. If you care enough about fashion tradition, then Jock is correct (as usual). Wear a bow tie or a black argyll jacket with a conventional tie. You will both be so happy (and nervous) on the wedding day that, hopefully, the cloth tie will be the last thing you think about. The vastly more important "ties" are the oaths you will swear during that sacred ceremony. In time the cloth tie will crumble. The sworn tie is immortal.

Have a great wedding!

[Jordan]

I had occasion once where I wore a regular tie with a Prince Charlie. It really looks weird. Try it once in front of a mirror and you will see what I mean. There's nothig you could do to make it look right. If you want to wear a regular tie then take Jocks suggestion of an Argyle jacket. If you want to wear a PC then wear a bow tie.

[Tobus]

1. It's your's and, especially, your bride-to-be's wedding. Wear whatever you want. There are no fashion police who will give you a ticket for wearing a "regular" tie with a PC. In future years your wedding pictures will look just as lovely and invoke the same sentimental memories "cum or sans" the bow tie.

Yes, but it's also entirely possible that one day he will come to appreciate the proper rules of men's wear, and will then be embarrassed to look at his wedding photos. There are a lot of guys out there who got married in their kilts, not knowing (or not caring) if they were "doing it right", only to look back later and cringe at what they were wearing in their wedding photos. So for that reason, I'd really recommend being as correct and appropriate as possible.

[Chas]

There is a popular misconception that the PC is at the top of the range - it is not. It is mid-range at best. Men want to wear their best for a wedding and mistakenly choose the PC as that jacket.

If we start at the bottom and work up.

1 - Tweed Jacket, no waistcoat - Day Wear

2 - Tweed Jacket, with a waistcoat (5 button) - Day Wear

3 - Black Argyle, no waistcoat - Day Wear

4 - Black Argyle, with a waistcoat (5 button) - Day Wear

5 - Black Argyle, with a waistcoat (3 button) - Tuxedo Equivalent - Black Tie

6 - Prince Charlie, no waistcoat - Tuxedo Equivalent - Black Tie

7 - Prince Charlie, with a waistcoat (3 button) - Tuxedo Equivalent - Black Tie

8 - Regulation Doublet - with a waistcoat (3 button) - Tuxedo Equivalent - Black Tie

9 - Sheriffmuir, with high cut waistcoat (6 button+) - Black Tie or White Tie

10 Montrose, no waistcoat - White Tie

NOTE - There are 1/2 and 1/4 stages in between each number.
a - Brown and Green Tweed is seen as 'Country' or 'Rural', whereas Blue and Grey Tweed is seen as 'In Town' and 'Business'
b - Waistcoats that are matching the jacket are one step higher than waistcoats that are complimentary colours.
c - Waistcoats that are bias cut tartan rank higher than straight cut tartan and both are higher than those in b.
d - Leather buttons are better than plastic, as are real horn or antler.
e - Real silver buttons are higher up the chain than steel cut and the buttons in d.
f - Argyle style jackets come in a variety of colours

These are just the major variations. There are dozens more subtle variations that are often not seen, but known only to the wearer.

The point being that the PC is a tuxedo equivalent. You wear a PC and you, more or less, have to wear a bow tie. Because that is what you wear with a PC.

One last little point, but the biggest overall. Are you intending on being an equal partner in your marriage? If yes, then you should really decide what tie you will wear.

Regards

Chas

[Father Bill]

There's a strong movement in the fashion and style industries to seek to do something "different" instead of doing something "well."

'Nuff said.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

If you have not seen this done before, count your blessings. I see it done frequently and it never looks right to me. Sean Connery is one of the worst offenders.

I agree with Jock. Go with a black barathea Argyle jacket, worn with or without a 5 button waistcoat. You will also likely find more occasions to wear it after your wedding. Plus you can wear this style of jacket equally well with bow-tie and 3 button formal waistcoat.

[unixken]

There is a popular misconception that the PC is at the top of the range - it is not. It is mid-range at best. Men want to wear their best for a wedding and mistakenly choose the PC as that jacket.

If we start at the bottom and work up.

1 - Tweed Jacket, no waistcoat - Day Wear

2 - Tweed Jacket, with a waistcoat (5 button) - Day Wear

3 - Black Argyle, no waistcoat - Day Wear

4 - Black Argyle, with a waistcoat (5 button) - Day Wear

5 - Black Argyle, with a waistcoat (3 button) - Tuxedo Equivalent - Black Tie

6 - Prince Charlie, no waistcoat - Tuxedo Equivalent - Black Tie

7 - Prince Charlie, with a waistcoat (3 button) - Tuxedo Equivalent - Black Tie

8 - Regulation Doublet - with a waistcoat (3 button) - Tuxedo Equivalent - Black Tie

9 - Sheriffmuir, with high cut waistcoat (6 button+) - Black Tie or White Tie

10 Montrose, no waistcoat - White Tie

NOTE - There are 1/2 and 1/4 stages in between each number.
a - Brown and Green Tweed is seen as 'Country' or 'Rural', whereas Blue and Grey Tweed is seen as 'In Town' and 'Business'
b - Waistcoats that are matching the jacket are one step higher than waistcoats that are complimentary colours.
c - Waistcoats that are bias cut tartan rank higher than straight cut tartan and both are higher than those in b.
d - Leather buttons are better than plastic, as are real horn or antler.
e - Real silver buttons are higher up the chain than steel cut and the buttons in d.
f - Argyle style jackets come in a variety of colours

These are just the major variations. There are dozens more subtle variations that are often not seen, but known only to the wearer.

The point being that the PC is a tuxedo equivalent. You wear a PC and you, more or less, have to wear a bow tie. Because that is what you wear with a PC.

One last little point, but the biggest overall. Are you intending on being an equal partner in your marriage? If yes, then you should really decide what tie you will wear.

Regards

Chas

Wow, do I ever appreciate this nice, concise list, Chas. Thank you!