Tartan waistcoat experimentation

[CMcG]

I'm glad you got some help with the pictures, because it is much easier for us to see what's going on. To my eye, the tartan waistcoat is most suited to your dress Argyll. The bottom of it doesn't quite work with either of your two doublets.

For a white tie event, tradition tells us that a doublet is particularly appropriate. That might be a good time to bust out the "black velvet closed with jabot," which you pull off to good effect. Personally I would go with the "Balmoral closed with bow tie" because I prefer less-is-more and would take a bow tie over a jabot any day.

For a really fancy black tie event, I vote "Argyll to the nines" all the way. It is still black tie, but the extras (diced hose, buckle brogues, and tartan waistcoat) take it up a few notches on the awesome scale.

[Downunder Kilt]

Made up my mind on the belt, and for your best outfit for a top event Nathan, I go for the Balmoral with tartan waistcoat, belt and bowtie.

[Highlander31]

I presume "a very fancy ball" would be a "white tie" affair.
I would go with the Balmoral with tartan waistcoat, belt and bow tie.

[Nathan]

I presume "a very fancy ball" would be a "white tie" affair. (snip)

The reason I didn't specify "white tie" is that the big St. Andrew's Day ball here in Toronto doesn't demand white tie as necessary but it's probably the only annual event I know of here where people go all out with their Highland attire, should they own it.

Certainly, there are plenty of Prince Charlies...



but it seems to be a "wear your very best" rather than "white tie" affair.



I know the Royal Caledonian is white tie but they don't seem to deny entry to people in Prince Charlies or even Argylls with a black bow tie whereas they would not accept a regular tuxedo and would demand white tie and tails from the saxon attired.




So given that in actual practice the line between black and white tie is often much more blurred with Highland attire than it is with saxon attire, I didn't want to go down the road of equivalency but specified very fancy ball to indicate an event where Prince Charlies were common but nothing is really overdressed for the gents.

In fact, the dress code for the Oban ball states:

"DRESS: Gentlemen will wear Highland Evening Dress, Mess Dress, Hunt Coat or White Tie. No Dinner Jackets will be admitted. Ladies will wear full length ball dresses (to the floor, all the way round). No stiletto heels admitted.
It is the Vouching Member’s responsibility to ensure that their party is aware of the dress code. Those INCORRECTLY DRESSED WILL BE TURNED AWAY."

Here, I'd think any of my looks would get through the door however the dress code for the Royal Caledonian Ball states:

Gentlemen
Essential: Highland evening dress comprising kilt and sporran, evening jacket of black broadcloth or coloured velvet, white evening shirt and black bow tie or lace jabot, or Evening dress, comprising black evening tail coat, white shirt with wing collar, white bow tie and white waistcoat, or Mess dress, worn according to regulations, with, preferably, where permitted, any more formal variation such as stiff shirt, wing collar and black bow tie. No dinner jackets

Interestingly, I think my Argyll would pass muster at the Royal Caledonian but perhaps not my Balmoral since it states "black broadcloth or coloured velvet" and mine is coloured broadcloth! This is a surprise to me.

[CMcG]

The reason I didn't specify "white tie" is that the big St. Andrew's Day ball here in Toronto doesn't demand white tie as necessary but it's probably the only annual event I know of here where people go all out with their Highland attire, should they own it.

....

So given that in actual practice the line between black and white tie is often much more blurred with Highland attire than it is with saxon attire, I didn't want to go down the road of equivalency but specified very fancy ball to indicate an event where Prince Charlies were common but nothing is really overdressed for the gents.

...

Interestingly, I think my Argyll would pass muster at the Royal Caledonian but perhaps not my Balmoral since it states "black broadcloth or coloured velvet" and mine is coloured broadcloth! This is a surprise to me.

Dress codes are tricky things and it certainly pays to read the invitation carefully! It doesn't hurt to consider whether the non-kilted folk are requested to wear white tie or black tie because this gives a good indication of how formal to go with one's Highland evening attire.

I've read varying theories on the acceptability of black tie kilt attire at a white tie event. In some ways it recognizes the amount of variation and room for panache within the THCD canon... apparently in Perthshire it is not uncommon for men to wear white bow ties with their kilts for black tie formality! In other ways it may be a throw back to a time when Highland attire was harder to come by and kilties may not have had as many options as you, Nathan

[Nathan]

In other ways it may be a throw back to a time when Highland attire was harder to come by and kilties may not have had as many options as you, Nathan

Indeed, I have options, but if I figure out which are the best options, I may be able to sell some things off to buy other goodies.

There are, after all, so many amazing options for evening wear:

[ASinclair]

This is a bit off topic, but I'm curious about 2 things. Why would ladies not be allowed to wear stiletto heels? If their gowns are floor length all the way round, how would anyone know if they were wearing stiletto heels?
Enquiring minds want to know.

[Highlander31]

This is a bit off topic, but I'm curious about 2 things. Why would ladies not be allowed to wear stiletto heels? If their gowns are floor length all the way round, how would anyone know if they were wearing stiletto heels?
Enquiring minds want to know.

I was wondering the same thing. Possibly to protect the finish on the floors?
I'm 6'3" and my wife is 5'2". She wears 3 inch heels and her floor length gowns are sized for those heels.

[ASinclair]

I was wondering the same thing. Possibly to protect the finish on the floors?
I'm 6'3" and my wife is 5'2". She wears 3 inch heels and her floor length gowns are sized for those heels.

My first thought was, what an odd fashion rule. Then, I thought maybe it was for safety. Possibly wearing spike heels with a floor length dress would pose a greater chance of tripping. I also considered it might be to protect the wooden ballroom floor. Since your wife is comfortable with high heels and floor length dress, maybe they are just worried about the floor.

[MacRobert's Reply]

Highland dancing in stiletto heels is a blood sport! It's not so much the floor that's at risk but the feet of dancers ... and the modesty of the ladies.