Over doing it

[creagdhubh]

After giving this far too much thought and trying on a lot of combinations, I am leaning toward wearing the Balmoral doublet open with my plate belt buckle, seal sporran and either charcoal or bottle green hose.

Given that the doublet is barathea and that it is designed to be worn with a black bow tie rather than with a jabot, I'm pretty comfortable with the fact that it can be dressed down. After looking at the ensemble in the mirror and looking at MacRobert's fine photographic example, I think the solid coloured hose and plain polished dress shoes will keep it from going over the top.

I reserve the right to change my mind. ;)

Well done! I think you'll look smashing, Nathan! Fine choice indeed.

Slainte,

[CMcG]

After giving this far too much thought and trying on a lot of combinations, I am leaning toward wearing the Balmoral doublet open with my plate belt buckle, seal sporran and either charcoal or bottle green hose.

Given that the doublet is barathea and that it is designed to be worn with a black bow tie rather than with a jabot, I'm pretty comfortable with the fact that it can be dressed down. After looking at the ensemble in the mirror and looking at MacRobert's fine photographic example, I think the solid coloured hose and plain polished dress shoes will keep it from going over the top.

I reserve the right to change my mind. ;)

That sounds distinctive without over doing it. I look forward to seeing some pics!

[Nathan]

So, the Toronto St. Andrew's Society's Burns Night had a lot of things. It had haggis, music, poetry, a string quartet and a wide array of attire. One thing it didn't have a lot of was cameras. People weren't taking pictures and people weren't posing for them either. My photo was taken near the end of the evening while speaking to someone, but I'm not sure if I'll get a copy and that will most certainly be from the waist up.

Regarding the choice of attire - while I was the only Balmoral doublet there, I saw a few regulation doublets, a wide array of PCs, one BBSBA, two tweed Argylls and a variety of saxon attire including tuxedos, lounge suits, and a tweed jacket with waistcoat and tartan tie.

Most of the attendees I spoke to were native Scots although a few had parents from Scotland. Nobody I spoke to had a family that had been in Canada for several generations like my own although there was a nice couple from New Zealand whose ancestors would have been outwith Scotland since the mid 1800s.

Two of the gents in PCs wore them with jabot and cuffs, one of the gents in the regulation doublets also had a plaid and Mary Janes. There were two pairs of full tartan hose, a few self coloured sets but mostly white hose. For shoes, I saw plenty of ghillie brogues, some buckled shoes, some patent leather tuxedo shoes, regular dress shoes and a pair of ankle boots on the guy in the Prince Charlie with no tie.

I wasn't dressed exactly like any other gent and was somewhere in the middle of the pack in terms of formality. Nobody talked about tartans or clothing all night.

So, since I was flying solo and it would have been weird to ask a stranger to take a picture of me in my snazzy outfit, you'll have to settle for this end of night cloakroom selfie with my deepest apologies.



Here's one shot that came out of some other folks enjoying the evening.



Most importantly, the speeches were entertaining, the company was friendly, the food was well prepared, the poems well delivered and a lovely time was had by all.

[Highlander31]

Sounds like a well planned and enjoyable evening.

That's quite a spread in dress for the evening. You look well turned out in your doublet.
I'm having trouble picturing a PC sans tie with ankle boots.

[CMcG]

Bravo, Nathan!

I appreciate your detailed observation and description of the event. Thanks for reporting back. I would guess that your outfit wouldn't have raised any untoward eyebrows, but rather turned a few heads for its level of polish and nuance. Your look, to me, is a model of restraint, while simultaneously distinguishing itself as being unique and creative. That can be a difficult balance to strike and you have done an admirable job.

[Nathan]

Thanks gents. I was actually just emailed the one photo that was taken of me yesterday evening. Pretty quick turn around, I think! As I suspected - waist up.

[MacRobert's Reply]

"Middle if the pack in terms of formality" and just a wee bit different from the run of the mill: nicely done Nathan.

As others have remarked, the range of clothing was very broad but probably to be expected with no explicit dress code.

[plaid preacher]

Sounds like a great event; and as I suspected, the "rules" of fashion were fairly liberally interpretted. The only thing I have to say about your outfit is ... I'm sorry to say that you did not wear the seal bowtie. Part from that, you have managed once again to pull off that dashing young man look. Well done!

[Nathan]

Sounds like a great event; and as I suspected, the "rules" of fashion were fairly liberally interpretted. The only thing I have to say about your outfit is ... I'm sorry to say that you did not wear the seal bowtie. Part from that, you have managed once again to pull off that dashing young man look. Well done!

Thanks, Plaid Preacher! Maybe I'll work up the courage to bust out that seal bowtie next year, you never know.
For now, I think I'll stick with the self-tie silk.

[creagdhubh]

Well done, Nathan! I'm pleased you had a wonderful time.

Slainte,