Equivalent to a tux

[MacLowlife]

I believe 007 / Sir Hillary Bray is sporting a regulation, not a PC, but I can't tell from the photo. If I go into the other room and watch ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE I won't get anything done.

AA, I am no expert, but I believe two opposing forces are at work:
1) The great tendency by many men to distrust formality, especially "effete" formality, and specialized clothing in general. This leads to notched lapels on tuxedoes ( it looks like my regular suit, so I don't feel so uncomfortable) and to all-purpose jackets like the Argyle ( which frequently comes with interchangeable buttons for day/night). This is admirable, but it tends to blur things. It is aided by the manufacturers who would rather sell you one jacket than rent you two. And they can use their suit jacket patterns to make dinner suits. And it flies directly in the face of

2) the tendency of some men to prize specialized equipment and clothing in all forms. This leads to one-upmanship, ghillie brogues, kilt watches, jewelled dirks, etc.. A similar phenomenon is the trap-for-the-unwary of buying the fanciest example available, whether or not it is appropriate for your needs. Thus Prince Charlies are bought before argyles and black argyles before tweed ones, even though the wearer might really need a good standard day coat more than anything else. Consumers like flash and sparkle. Look at all of the fur-and-chrome sporrans on eBay and then try to find a simple brown leather one.

So what are we to do? I believe formal wear is anachronistic at best, as is the wearing of neckties, honestly. So, we may as well acknowledge that it is impractical and different. I love getting dressed up and I do it because it is unusual. It is intended to make the person feel special and to make the people around him feel it, too. I think a certain amount of leg-lifting is inherent among men and probably mankind when we gather. I don't know that it is better or worse to look like the man on the shortbread tin, as compared to a James Bond villain ( the Dr Evil look is tres moderne, non?). I would simply echo the man who said here or elsewhere to wear your clothes, don't let them wear you.

It would be nice to be able to rely on films for hints of what is really authentic, but a lot of them are theatrical and geared for novelty rather than "correctness". Old photographs are fine, so long as you want to dress like someone did at the time of the photo. I have seen the same picture of that other 007, the fat bald guy, wearing a jabot in broad daylight, citing it as either the epitome of style or the epitome of misguided dressing. As soon as we have Mr. Connery's reputation and adoring fan base, we can dress like him, let the deil take the rulebook, code, guidelines, and humble opinions. Until then, we can console ourselves with having his waistline and hairline, I guess.

[Bugbear]

I believe 007 / Sir Hillary Bray is sporting a regulation, not a PC, but I can't tell from the photo. If I go into the other room and watch ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE I won't get anything done.

AA, I am no expert, but I believe two opposing forces are at work:
1) The great tendency by many men to distrust formality, especially "effete" formality, and specialized clothing in general. This leads to notched lapels on tuxedoes ( it looks like my regular suit, so I don't feel so uncomfortable) and to all-purpose jackets like the Argyle ( which frequently comes with interchangeable buttons for day/night). This is admirable, but it tends to blur things. It is aided by the manufacturers who would rather sell you one jacket than rent you two. And they can use their suit jacket patterns to make dinner suits. And it flies directly in the face of

2) the tendency of some men to prize specialized equipment and clothing in all forms. This leads to one-upmanship, ghillie brogues, kilt watches, jewelled dirks, etc.. A similar phenomenon is the trap-for-the-unwary of buying the fanciest example available, whether or not it is appropriate for your needs. Thus Prince Charlies are bought before argyles and black argyles before tweed ones, even though the wearer might really need a good standard day coat more than anything else. Consumers like flash and sparkle. Look at all of the fur-and-chrome sporrans on eBay and then try to find a simple brown leather one.

So what are we to do? I believe formal wear is anachronistic at best, as is the wearing of neckties, honestly. So, we may as well acknowledge that it is impractical and different. I love getting dressed up and I do it because it is unusual. It is intended to make the person feel special and to make the people around him feel it, too. I think a certain amount of leg-lifting is inherent among men and probably mankind when we gather. I don't know that it is better or worse to look like the man on the shortbread tin, as compared to a James Bond villain ( the Dr Evil look is tres moderne, non?). I would simply echo the man who said here or elsewhere to wear your clothes, don't let them wear you.

It would be nice to be able to rely on films for hints of what is really authentic, but a lot of them are theatrical and geared for novelty rather than "correctness". Old photographs are fine, so long as you want to dress like someone did at the time of the photo. I have seen the same picture of that other 007, the fat bald guy, wearing a jabot in broad daylight, citing it as either the epitome of style or the epitome of misguided dressing. As soon as we have Mr. Connery's reputation and adoring fan base, we can dress like him, let the deil take the rulebook, code, guidelines, and humble opinions. Until then, we can console ourselves with having his waistline and hairline, I guess.

Ehh, what can you do.

MacMillan of Rathdown has sited at least one source, Scottish Tartans & Highland Dress by C.R.MacKinnon of Dunakin, that describes the dress argyle as being traditionally used for evening wear, but I don't have that book.

I have shifted from wearing to studying, so I do pay attention to what people say about other people's notched lapels.
Older styles of Highland attire seem to be valued among "those in the know," and I have read of and seen pictures of older style tuxedo jackets having notched* lapels (single breasted tuxedos). The admiration of old styles does not seem to hold up in non-Highland attire from what I have read...

* Even if I do misspell "notched" from time to time... it seems like one of those words that should have a silent "k" at it's beginning.