Cheap formal wear?

[Mark Keeney]

I just finished reading this thread "uber formal on the cheap: dollar by dollar" and I couldn't help but think "why?"

**disclaimer - I am just interested in a discussion and I am no way discounting or belittling the need or want for cheap formal wear**

Cheap formal wear may be an oxymoron. If it is formal wear you should feel regal and dressed to impress. If you are using a waiters jacket or even a converted waiters jacket aren't you just posing in a costume? I remember in school in music class we teased mercilessly a boy who had a violin from Sears and Roebuck because it was just posing as a serious instrument.

Do you really fit in if you are in a waiters tux or are you just wearing a costume to pretend to fit in? Do you worry someone will know and not accept your formal wear as real formal wear even if no one mentions it? Something like "Poor guy he can't afford a real kilt jacket."

I work hard to wear my kilts so that they aren't costumes and in my mind a sportkilt or my PV USA kilt won't cut it for dress occasions because it isn't a tank. I love my USA kilt and wear it with a sweater or oxford shirt and maybe even a tie but it isn't one of my tanks and I don't pretend it is.

I don't intend this to be a condemnation of anyone who wears the other kinds of jackets and the like, I just want to start a discussion and see if what I think has any basis at all.

[cavscout]

Basically, you work with what you have.

Would you mock the guy at church who isn't wearing a $500 dollar suit.

If someone can afford to shell out thousands of dollars for a complete outfit great for them. But to belittle someone who cannot is not a good thing.

The real intent of formal wear is for the person to show that they respect and appreciate the event enough to put on their best. Whether that best is bought new from a retail store or second hand from a thrift shop, the person has made the effort to wear their best and most appropriate clothing for the event.

[bikeolounger]

I second that, Cavscout!

What is important to me is not the outer shell but the inner person. Many times, that inner person cannot justify owning a "tank" and full PC regalia, but still wants to be part of the gathering.

[Mark Keeney]

I second that, Cavscout!

What is important to me is not the outer shell but the inner person. Many times, that inner person cannot justify owning a "tank" and full PC regalia, but still wants to be part of the gathering.

I totally agree, but isn't that where rental comes into play?

[pipesndrumsnun]

Dude,
Vow of poverty = cash flow problem!!

[bikeolounger]

Rental has its place, but ill-fitting rental looks even worse than inexpensive.

Besides, I've yet to see a rental kilt in my tartan, but then I haven't looked very hard.

I've been watching for a reasonably-priced kilt in Armstrong, but the best I can find is either from Freedom Kilts or Matt Newsome, either of which cost about twice what I can justify right now. Maybe next year.

And yes, working in social services means I don't make tons of money...

[ChromeScholar]

I recently attended a black tie event wearing an SWK Thrifty kilt, a "converted waiter's jacket" and accessories from SWK. The whole outfit cost me less than $300.00 to put together.

If it is formal wear you should feel regal and dressed to impress.

I did. And based on the number of compliments I got, others were impressed, as well.

If you are using a waiters jacket or even a converted waiters jacket aren't you just posing in a costume?

No.

Do you really fit in if you are in a waiters tux or are you just wearing a costume to pretend to fit in?

Depends on what you mean by "fit in". That evening, my outfit was as dressy and impressive as any of the other tuxes. More so, since I received numerous compliments on my outfit, something that wasn't happening to the guys in tuxes. On the other hand, if you're hanging around with the sort of person who wouldn't be caught dead in a Chevy Suburban, even though their Cadillac Escalade is just a Suburban with a different trim package, it might make a difference.

I work hard to wear my kilts so that they aren't costumes and in my mind a sportkilt or my PV USA kilt won't cut it for dress occasions because it isn't a tank.

99.9% of the people you meet won't know the difference between a USA kilt and a tank, just like 99.9% of the people won't know the difference between your off the rack tux from Sears, and a hand-sewn suit from Oscar de la Renta. Of those who do know the difference, I'd bet most of them wouldn't care. Those that know the difference and care, are probably people I wouldn't want to associate with, anyway.

[auld argonian]

Having been schooled in my youth by one of Marshall Field's best tailors, both my brother and I can tell a cheap suit a mile away (we wince when we watch "Frasier" because we WERE the young Frasier and Niles...blame my mom). My experience, however, has been that most people at a formal event that isn't a Burn's Nicht are so blown away by the kilt that they don't spend much time worrying about whether the jacket is wool or polyester.

I've followed all of the threads about formal-on-the-cheap and applaud the enterprise and ingenuity of the Xmarksers who've managed to put together some very respectable looks without having to take out a second mortgage.

I understand that you're not ragging on the folks who take this approach and are just curious about what their rationale is for not buying the premium stuff or renting. I think that:

1) It's something that they're maybe not going to use all that often and can't justify the expense.

2) They appreciate the challenge of pulling a great look out of humble materials.

3) They just don't have access to a rental place in their area. (Around here there's just one and I have it on good authority that anything that you rent from it smells like cigarette smoke because the owner smokes like a chimney.)

4) ...and, of course, you also have the possibility that we are just a huge bunch of pathologically cheap and penurious bastards who can squeeze a nickel so hard that the Indian cries and the buffalo on the back side farts.

Best

AA

[fluter]

What is important to me is not the outer shell but the inner person.

Full marks to bikeolounger. The important part of the equation is attitude. The hypothetical kiltie is showing appropriate respect for the occasion.

I totally agree, but isn't that where rental comes into play?

Mark, let's suppose that your poor-but-honest kilt wearer could afford to rent a kilt and PC 2 or 3 times a year. I submit that it would be criminal to do so: he should put that hard-earned cash into the kilt fund, and in 3 years he'll have a tank nicer than yours.

Would you (mentally, internally) put down someone who wore a business suit to a black-tie event, because that's what he owns? Don't say it aloud in my presence, or I'll show you some attitude... Yes, it's a trick question.

[Chef]

Formal-on-the-cheap is too wide a brush for me. I have seen outfits that use PC conversions from tail coats, or mess jackets paired with inexpensive (but properly styled) accessories and well made kilts (not necessarily tanks) that have looked just grand whether the wearer was the only one in a kilt at the function or one of hundreds.

Unfortunately I have also seen the formal-on-the-cheap that would look silly at a formal gathering of kilts and while it might fool some if you are the only kilt wearer, it still won't pass as quality garments.

If waiters' jackets passed as formal wear then plenty of people would buy them instead of buying or renting a real tux. Guess what they don't, because they don't look right. Using the excuse that no one else will know is bad form and quite frankly wrong. Certainly there are many people who nothing of clothing who will accept what you wear as the real deal, but plenty others will still see that you are not wearing quality garments.

Can you do formal on the cheap? Sure as mentioned above or by finding bargains on new and used jackets and accessories. So what is my advice? First, to someone who only has a need for formal attire very occasionally - rent. There are plenty of places that will rent by mail so if you really only need it once a year, rent. Two years from now you might not be the same size anyway. What if you need formal wear a few times a year (so rentals are not really cost effective) if you can't find quality goods on the cheap - buy a tux and save up for the kilt. It's not unusual to find sales on tuxes. Are they Armani...of course not, but they will compare to an expensive tux better than a waiters jacket will compare to a PC.

Fluter, actually I do dislike it when someone shows up in a suit when he should be wearing a tux. in the same way I would dislike someone who showed up in jeans when he should be wearing a suit. Sorry, I'm old fashion and think we as a society have gone too far off the edge with this whatever-you-like is fine idea.