Holiday Black Tie Ball - what hose? Decoration or not?

[HootinHoller]

The event is a Holiday Ball put on by a military command here in the US. So there will be lots of folk in uniform mess dress as the invitation specifies black tie. I have miniature badges and the one medal I've earned which will I'm still thinking about whether or not I should wear them. On the one hand, civilian wear of decorations is now encouraged in the US for formal dress, but, on the other hand I'm not sure how silly I will feel amongst the fruit salad crowd with only a good conduct, my dolphins and patrol pin.

I'm already cheating a bit because my sporran is more daywear than formal (knotted leather without tassels and a silver badge) but I'm wondering which hose and flashes to wear?

I do not have Argyle or diced hose but I do have a selection: black, gray, green, claret, cream and dead white. I'm leaning towards black with red flashes, but thought it might be in keeping with the season to wear green with red flashes or claret with green flashes.

The kilt itself is in Rocky's Celtic Pride tartan (great deal going on there on ex-rentals) which when my boy saw it, asked is that your Christmas Kilt because it features red/green.

So what options are the most fitting for a black tie event?

Edit: The decorations may be moot at this point, FedEx says they delivered the package yesterday, except it wasn't here. Now that I'm comfortable wearing them, if they can't track it down this morning I won't have them to wear tonight.

[Santa Kona]

Don't worry about how many medals others at the dinner are wearing. You served your country wear what you have earned and wear them with pride.

[Jim Simmons]

don't worry about how many medals others at the dinner are wearing. You served your country wear what you have earned and wear them with pride.

exactly !!

[Tarheel]

Go with your first choice of black hose and red flashes. I think even one medal says it all (salad on a lapel wise). You served and it will be noticed. Understate with sharp bow tie, shirt, and pocket watch if you have one. I wouldn't worry about the sporran much if your smile and hardy handshake is offered. Enjoy fellow veteran.

[Cerebite]

This Chief for one approves of you wearing your fish and your medals, you have earned them both. I like the growing acceptance of military awards on civilian dress in the country following the lead of the Commonwealth. I have even given consideration to having my medals done up Court Mount style.
-ISC/SS [ret]

[HootinHoller]

This Chief for one approves of you wearing your fish and your medals, you have earned them both. I like the growing acceptance of military awards on civilian dress in the country following the lead of the Commonwealth. I have even given consideration to having my medals done up Court Mount style.
-ISC/SS [ret]

Well then Sea Daddy, that does it. Having approval from the goat locker is all I ever needed to proceed. The fish mean (and say) more than anything else in my opinion. I was a NavET3/SS - USS John Adams. My second biggest accomplishment was never winning a golden flapper ;)

[Nile]

but I'm wondering which hose and flashes to wear?

I'm leaning towards black with red flashes, but thought it might be in keeping with the season to wear green with red flashes or claret with green flashes.

I recently attended a Black Tie banquet with our local St. Andrews Society and I wore Claret hose with green flashes and got more than a few comments about the "red" hose.
SASES dinner 2014-19 (4).jpg

Last year, attending the same event, I wore more conservative dark gray hose with red flashes (no comments but, very matchy, matchy for sure).

The claret hose worked fine with the outfit and, they certainly weren't any brighter than diced hose, especially a red and black check.

Nile

[Cerebite]

I was a Nuke wirebiter on the USS Bergall and the USS Salt Lake City then finished out my 20 in the Reserves doing Intel. Another point about the "Salad Bowl" or Mexican General rig is that many of those entitled to that array opt to only wear their most senior award or only the top row -your miniature fish and Good Conduct will go over like a house afire , wear them with pride.

[HootinHoller]

I was a Nuke wirebiter on the USS Bergall and the USS Salt Lake City then finished out my 20 in the Reserves doing Intel. Another point about the "Salad Bowl" or Mexican General rig is that many of those entitled to that array opt to only wear their most senior award or only the top row -your miniature fish and Good Conduct will go over like a house afire , wear them with pride.

Now that I was all warm and fuzzy about wearing them, FedEx decided to deliver them to the wrong address, or else some kid picked it up off of my porch. (Wrong address is most likely as there is a similarly named street that has my house number). Hopefully FedEx can figure it out today, or I'm SOL. I will say that the company I ordered them from stepped up to FedEx's mistake and is shipping a replacement set free of charge, so worst case is I will have them for next time.

[Cerebite]

Now that I was all warm and fuzzy about wearing them, FedEx decided to deliver them to the wrong address, or else some kid picked it up off of my porch. (Wrong address is most likely as there is a similarly named street that has my house number). Hopefully FedEx can figure it out today, or I'm SOL. I will say that the company I ordered them from stepped up to FedEx's mistake and is shipping a replacement set free of charge, so worst case is I will have them for next time.

I had similar "tight timeline" concerns with the sporran, sashes & broaches I ordered for my wedding last August. The goods showed up with 4 days to spare, unfortunately the bill from Fed Ex for Customs and Tariffs showed up two weeks later :0