Over doing it

[guardsman]

Hi fellas , out on a limb here , I always look upon a black tie event as dinner jacket , all men in same type of suit , so that the women in their gowns stand out . So for me it would be Argyll or a P.C. so that I didnt stand out from the rest of the gentlemen .Only my opinion , do admire the look of adoublet , but I dont think I will ever be at a white tie event .

[Nathan]

Nathan.

Actually in this instance, I would go with the black barathea silver buttoned argyll (BBSBA) if you have one and three buttoned waistcoat, but the Prince Charlie comes a close second. Both with turn down shirt collars, please. Those wing collared things make one look like a Dickensian clerk!

Interesting. I have both but why choose the BBSBA over the Charlie? Do you just find the PC too "kilt hire attire" or is this a question of appropriate formality? Would you ever personally wear a PC?

[Jock Scot]

Interesting. I have both but why choose the BBSBA over the Charlie? Do you just find the PC too "kilt hire attire" or is this a question of appropriate formality? Would you ever personally wear a PC?

I actually see nothing wrong with a properly fitted PC and have worn one for years. I suppose in the days when I regularly attended black and white tie events then my green velvet sherriffmuir was my do-it-all choice though. These days when I dress for dinner,-------- Yes! We still do that at least once a week------then I wear a BBSBA. I am toying with the idea of getting a dark green velvet and low cut waist coat, argyll made, but I am not too sure that I will survive long enough to get my monies worth out of it!

Sorry, I digress! To answer your question, I think the BBSBA covers the lower end of the black tie scale of events, perfectly. As I have said earlier, it is really very easy to end up looking like a clown if you don't judge your kilt black tie attire and fail to match it to the event
correctly. A PC however and without too much bling, will get you by at ANY black tie event that you can conjure up, though.

[Nathan]

I may have missed it, but what does the invitation say about the dress code? If it is black tie, your doublet should be fine. If it needs to be dressed down then, as others have suggested, you could wear it partly unbuttoned or open. The chap with the jabot will look much more formal anyway.

Very smart looking attire there MacRobert's R. The invitation says absolutely nothing about attire. They just provide a photo from the previous year on the registration form.

[Nathan]

I actually see nothing wrong with a properly fitted PC and have worn one for years. I suppose in the days when I regularly attended black and white tie events then my green velvet sherriffmuir was my do-it-all choice though. These days when I dress for dinner,-------- Yes! We still do that at least once a week------then I wear a BBSBA. I am toying with the idea of getting a dark green velvet and low cut waist coat, argyll made, but I am not too sure that I will survive long enough to get my monies worth out of it!

Sorry, I digress! To answer your question, I think the BBSBA covers the lower end of the black tie scale of events, perfectly. As I have said earlier, it is really very easy to end up looking like a clown if you don't judge your kilt black tie attire and fail to match it to the event
correctly. A PC however and without too much bling, will get you by at ANY black tie event that you can conjure up, though.

A velvet Sherriffmuir as a "do-it-all"? Woah. That's far fancier than a BBSBA and a touch fancier than my green barathea silver buttoned Balmoral doublet (GBSBBD).

I've tried the BBSBA with the three button waistcoat as well as with the waist belt rather than the waist coat and it's a smart look to be sure. The PC, too, has it's advantages.

Based on Colin's suggestion, I also tried the green Balmoral doublet open with the waist belt under and it wasn't bad either.

Since I already had my stud shirt and bow tie on, I have to say my black velvet doublet looks fantastic open with a black bow tie and waist belt under it but I'm not sure how traditional that is considering how atypical the jacket is to begin with.

On the subject of that black velvet doublet I think I'm going to start calling it my "Dunvegan" doublet in honour of MacLeod of MacLeod after whose doublet I modelled it. It'll probably catch on if we all do it.

So I have it narrowed down to one of four jackets. ;)

I read Jock's "over doing the bling?" thread and now I have to consider whether my default evening wear choice of diced hose and buckled shoes is over the top.

Decisions, decisions!

As fun as this is, I have to admit it was much easier when I only had two jackets to choose from. If the event wasn't Prince Charlie, it was tweed and vice versa. First world problem.

I admit to being surprised at how much I like the BBSBA with the three button waistcoat. It might be a fit thing but I'm really digging it. I thought the self faced lapels made it an "also ran" for black tie but I may be coming around.

[chasem]

I'm really enjoying this thread, thanks for getting it started. There's always something new to learn from something like this.

That said, I'm struggling with the BBSBA abbreviation. I get that we're discussing the standard Argyll, but I'm not quite getting each letter... Black Barathea S____ B____ Argyll?

[Carlo]

I'm really enjoying this thread, thanks for getting it started. There's always something new to learn from something like this.

That said, I'm struggling with the BBSBA abbreviation. I get that we're discussing the standard Argyll, but I'm not quite getting each letter... Black Barathea Silver Buttoned Argyll?

Black Barathea Silver Buttoned Argyll.

Or something like that. Silver and Button...
I need some sleep

[Downunder Kilt]

"black barathea silver buttoned argyll (BBSBA)" From Post 37 by Jock

[CMcG]

"black barathea silver buttoned argyll (BBSBA)" From Post 37 by Jock

That acronym could be useful, although I think it will give a certain kilted Father conniptions Perhaps we could just refer to it as a dress Argyll, to distinguish it from a tweed Argyll...

...

So I have it narrowed down to one of four jackets. ;)

...

You might find it helpful to compile photos of yourself in each of the four jackets, under similar light, and any relevant variations of the outfit, then compare them side by side. We would all appreciate you posting the results too

[Nathan]

That acronym could be useful, although I think it will give a certain kilted Father conniptions Perhaps we could just refer to it as a dress Argyll, to distinguish it from a tweed Argyll...



You might find it helpful to compile photos of yourself in each of the four jackets, under similar light, and any relevant variations of the outfit, then compare them side by side. We would all appreciate you posting the results too

I agree re: dress Argyll.

Great idea! When do you want to meet up to take my pictures?