Black tie and white tie for kilts?

[The Wizard of BC]

I am one of those who believes that there is no kilt equivalent to White Tie.

White Tie events are very rare these days. State functions at the White House, Opening night of the Opera in Vienna and the Nobel Prize awards are some of the few true White Tie events.

If you ever receive an invitation to one of these events the way the invitation is worded will usually say "White Tie and Tails". This style of dress is almost as proscribed as a uniform.

Just because you wear a White Bow Tie does not fit the requirements of this form of dress.

Here is a photo of the way you are expected to dress for this level of event.


Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh in White Tie and Tails.


The portion that says "And Tails" refers to the Tail Coat. Neither a Doublet nor a Prince Charlie are a suitable substitute for a tail coat. The tails of the Tail Coat reach down in back to the back of the knees.
This outfit also includes a White Silk Bow Tie, starched bib front Wing Color Shirt fastened with studs and a White Silk Waistcoat without Lapels.

The only time I can think that a kilt would be acceptable to one of these events is if the invitation specifies "Or National Dress". And then only if you are officially representing Scotland on state business.

The other way this is sometimes worded is "Top Hat and Tails". Think Fred Astaire.





WWII pretty well killed off the days of "Dressing for Dinner". In the days when gentlemen dressed in Black and White Tie, Black Tie was considered casual evening wear.
Most of the old photos some of our member like to show of Evening Highland Wear are for those events where the level of formality is actually Black Tie.
Today the tuxedo is the Black tie equivalent. When and where the Tuxedo was invented it was considered 'country casual evening wear'.

The Prince Charlie Coatee with its satin lapels is the kilt equivalent of the tuxedo. My advice to customers is to use the Prince Charlie ONLY when a tuxedo would be appropriate.

And just as with White Tie just because you put on a Black Bow Tie does not mean that you are dressed in "Black Tie".

There are still some who consider Black Tie to be suitable only for events after 6:00pm. Today the invitation would sometimes state the level of formality of the event.
There are some weddings held in the afternoon where the Tuxedo is specified but usually because they have not heard of a morning coat.

This is all my personal opinion of course. But I learned this back in the days when men still dressed this way so still consider it the way I would dress today.

And I'm very sorry, and mean no disrespect of Rocky, but I would not consider a USA Kilts Casual Model kilt as acceptable for either Black or White tie events.