"Rules" for dressing up

[Daaaaang]

I agree about the wing collars. I think they look really weird, and much prefer the look of lay down collars. One of the reasons I started this whole thread was to clarify that it is not just "okay" to wear a lay down up through black tie, but that it is actually "proper".

Thanks for the articles too, everybody, they are really helpful.

If I ever need to go to a white tie event (my own wedding? I dunno) I will get the stand up collar, but until then, I'm happy to never have to touch one.

If anyone has anything else to say, I'm curious about how people feel.

Oh, and yes, I suppose I am talking only about formal wear. Have there ever been rules for casual attire? If there were, I doubt we would be as much of a disagreeing rabble as we are.

[Mr. MacDougall]

If I ever need to go to a white tie event (my own wedding? I dunno) I will get the stand up collar, but until then, I'm happy to never have to touch one.

A few years ago, my best friend was lamenting that she never had an occasion to wear her formal dress. So we invented one. We decided that our New Year's Party that year would be black tie. We printed invitations, gave them to our friends, specified black tie.

Come new year's eve, there were about fifty people in tuxedos and formal gowns in my house! Everyone looked great, we had a good time, and we looked smashing! Moral of the story: if you want to wear it, create an occasion, don't wait for one to come up!

[James MacMillan]

I don't think there are any rules that work any more - I try instead to think in terms of appropriate.

Beach wear for the beach! Hunting clothes to hunt in. Ski wear for sliding down the slopes. etc, etc, etc...

Appropriate clothes to fit the event.

A few years ago, no one would have thought that a black shirt would look nice with formal attire. But we have seen several members that manage to make it look very nice.

Just remember the golden question: "Honey, does this fill in the blank make me look fat?"

[Bugbear]

Hearing that always puts my mind at ease. I find myself avoiding really formal events though, it just feels like I don't belong, kilt or no kilt, just not the same crust. TE=James MacMillan;453972]I don't think there are any rules that work any more - I try instead to think in terms of appropriate.

Beach wear for the beach! Hunting clothes to hunt in. Ski wear for sliding down the slopes. etc, etc, etc...

Appropriate clothes to fit the event.

A few years ago, no one would have thought that a black shirt would look nice with formal attire. But we have seen several members that manage to make it look very nice.

Just remember the golden question: "Honey, does this fill in the blank make me look fat?" [/QUOTE]

[Daaaaang]

A few years ago, my best friend was lamenting that she never had an occasion to wear her formal dress. So we invented one. We decided that our New Year's Party that year would be black tie. We printed invitations, gave them to our friends, specified black tie.

Come new year's eve, there were about fifty people in tuxedos and formal gowns in my house! Everyone looked great, we had a good time, and we looked smashing! Moral of the story: if you want to wear it, create an occasion, don't wait for one to come up!

I like to dress pretty formal all the time. My friends are used to it, and my acquaintances assume I always am on my way from or to some important event. It's funny how people just assume I am important, rather than it simply being my style.

My attitude is that if I'm going to pay for it, I'm going to wear it a lot, because the only expensive clothes are the clothes I don't wear.

[gilmore]

You might get a copy of Charles Thompson's "So You Are Going to Wear the Kilt." It's old, it's a bit dated, but it is reckoned to be the bible of proper kilt wearing.

[ccga3359]

Black tie or white remembers faded Levi's go with everything.

[Chef]

I agree about the wing collars. I think they look really weird, and much prefer the look of lay down collars. One of the reasons I started this whole thread was to clarify that it is not just "okay" to wear a lay down up through black tie, but that it is actually "proper".

If lay down collars were good enough for all the James Bond films and Old Blue eyes could you possibly need any other direction

[Cawdorian]

I like the look of the laydown or spread collar tux shirt, I think it goes very well with an Argyll jacket.