A trans-Atlantic thing?

[McClef]

Four-in-hand is the knot in your scrunchie tie, or my long tie (except when it's a half-Windsor).



And while I might not have the je n'sais quoi to pull that off, I have every confidence that you will, Trefor!

Generally speaking, I'll buy the conventional wisdom about the 5-button vest for the long ties. However your pix with the PC and scroonchie tie did not strike me amiss.

Thanks for the clarification fluter - must be another of those expressions that only lives on on side of the "pond."

I also have a flat cap in the tartan but even I would not see that as appropriate for a PC - see I do have my limits!

From what I have observed in my years (all 33 of them), is a steady decline in formality on both sides of the Atlantic. I would dare say that this side of the pond has declined a bit faster. It's a shame, really.

Fashion designers are often responsible for this but there are more of them over here - Paris and Milan seem to influence the whole world. And when celebrities break conventions at formal events it also encourages others to follow.

It's not just the kilted world, Saxon wear fares no better. How many men under 40 are unable to tie a tie? How many don't own (and have never owned) a jacket? How many don't own suitable dress shoes? Many of my peers fall into this category, unfortunately. It isn't completely their fault, I partly blame those who came before for not passing on these skills and expectations to the next generation. But once you are an adult, there are no longer any excuses. You must educate yourself. You could also blame such institutions as Casual Fridays, which have grown to encompass every day of the week it seems, and promotes some very inappropriate attire.

Well my above comments cover this aspect, more than the kilted world actually.

I recently saw a rerun of the Queen's State visit to the USA and was impressed to see President Bush in white tie and tails for the occasion, despite being " a casual kind of guy." Our own Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, for years attended the Lord Mayor's banquet when he was Chancellor or the Exchequer, in a business suit.

As to casual Fridays, I don't know what you can do short of imposing some king of dress code which surely defeats the whole point. In my last place of employ they were only once per month and you paid £1 for the privilege which went to charity - even though it was a call centre and the public couldn't see us, we had to be smart the rest of the time (except when working weekends or Bank Holidays. I am pleased to report that we had a Scot who wore his kilt every casual Friday!

Another of my mother's golden rules is this: It is generally better to be overdressed than under-dressed. (Within reason, of course.) If you show up to an event wearing a nice suit (or, even better, a kilted suit!) and everyone else is wearing a jogging outfit, they will feel foolish, not you. If you show up wearing a jogging outfit, and everyone else is wearing a suit, you will feel like a fool.

Excellent sentiments. What is over and under dressed on certain occasions is certainly creating an interesting discussion.