Shirts to be worn with PC jacket?

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Does the shirt that's worn with a PC have pleats on the front or no?

The most commonly found style of formal shirt for black-tie events (evening dress) is a white wing-collar shirt with a pleated front, barrel or French cuffs that will accept cufflinks (or stud links), and black studs fastening the front. Many people call this a 'tux' shirt. It's worn under the Prince Charlie jacket and waistcoat, with a kilt, just as with a dinner jacket or other sort of 'tuxedo' jacket and trousers. It can have a plain front, but what one sees most is the pleated front, with quarter-inch pleats topping the list for popularity and availability. Very narrow pleats called pin tucks and half-inch pleats are found, too. The black tie to wear with it is a silk (or silk-like) bow tie; wool can also be found.

Piqué-fronted shirts are properly reserved for white-tie occasions, worn (of course) with a white piqué bow tie and a white piqué waistcoat -- with trousers, though the same look can be achieved with the Prince Charlie and kilt. However, it is usual for the formal kilt outfit with the Prince Charlie coatee and black 3-button waistcoat to be worn with a black tie even for white-tie events, in the same mode as a military dress uniform.

The formal military-style kilt jackets -- Montrose, Sheriffmuir, and Kenmore doublets -- require a white lace jabot at the neck, and (optionally) lace cuffs, so they are best paired with a band-collar shirt without pleats. Both the Sheriffmuir doublet and the Prince Charlie coatee can be worn with a matching 5-button waistcoat. Note that an ordinary 5-button waistcoat, or one made for an Argyll jacket, will not work with the PC jacket -- it must be made specifically for the type of jacket to be worn. Likewise, the 3-button PC waistcoat will only work with the PC jacket.

The Argyll jacket (or similar Crail or Braemar jacket -- these differ by cuff style) bridges from business attire to semi-formal dress, including most 'dressed up' daytime events. In barathea cloth it can be worn with the same type of wing-collar shirt and bow tie, or with a matching 5-button waistcoat and a long tie or ruched cravat ('scrunchy tie'). This style of jacket can be worn with a lay-down collar formal shirt, too, with either kind of tie. The tweed Argyll jacket is for non-formal daytime occasions and is normally worn with a white business-type shirt and a plain wool long tie in a colour to complement the kilt.

Tartan ties and waistcoats are generally not worn for formal or semi-formal events with the kilt, though a silk or wool tartan bow tie and cummerbund set can enliven the look of a dinner jacket and evening trousers.

Whatever you wear with your kilt, may it always be worn in good health, and with pride!

Cyndi