Tweed for evening wear? - a call for pics

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I've had some thoughts about tweed running through my head the past couple of days. The general rule of thumb I have subscribed to highly recommends tweed as a superb cloth for day wear, whether in jacket, waistcoat, or kilt. I don't think that fact would be disputed.

But, as a rather course cloth, for eveningwear something else is recommended. A good worsted wool, barathea, or silk or velvet would generally be preferred materials.

However, I'm starting to rethink this just a bit. I'm speculating that certain tweeds might not look bad in more formal settings, especially darker colors. I've seen some lovely tweed cloth in black, charcoal grey, and other colors that I think would lend themselves to formal use. But I think it would require the right outfit to pull it off.

For example, I just cannot envision a Prince Charlie jacket in tweed. And an Argyle jacket in tweed is so much associated with daywear, it would take a lot to make it look like something evening wear appropriate. But what about other formal doublets? Might they work in a good dark tweed cloth? Maybe as a part of a suit with matching tweed kilt?

I'm not saying yay or nay on this one, just toying with the idea. So what I'm asking from the rabble is this -- has anyone attempted to make tweed work for evening wear or other more formal events? Please post your pictures of tweed looking its most formal, as dressed up as you can. And then let's comment to see whether we think it "works" or not.

[English Bloke]

I haven't got any formal tweed myself but this charcoal tweed PC and 5 button weskit is available in various sizes on ebay at the moment.

[McMurdo]

Most of the time I will wear my Prince Charlie or my Montrose Doublet to an evening function. However there are times when Black or White Tie are not called for, one event that comes to mind is the "Scot of the Year Awards". I've gone for the past two years and normally meet up with scores of people that I know. It is not a formal event, the first year I wore my Prince Charlie as I was ill informed, however I knew better this year and so wore my Gray Tweed Argyll jacket with Braemar cuffs. I dressed it up a wee bit with diced hose, ghillie brogues and my Ferguson Britt sporran. Let me say in a sea of Sealskin L&M sporrans the Ferguson Britt certainly garnered some attention. I've said it before this jacket and waistcoat have got to be my most versatile they work for most any occasion I can think of, I've worn it to weddings, including my own, funerals, even just smart day wear or even dropping in at the Scottish Tartans Museum. It is the accessories to my mind that can take a jacket like this and make it suitable for a myriad of uses. In fact I'll most likely be wearing it fro a Christmas dinner with friends later on in the week. Here are some photos from the Scot of the Year Awards:

[ForresterModern]

Like English Bloke I have seen the Charcoal Tweed PC adverts on ebay, along with variuos other colors available in Barathea--typically forest green, navy blue, and burgundy.

I am not a particular fan of the look of the grey Charcoal PC as shown on the ebay ads. Also not being that deep into the Scottish heritage regardsing socially acceptable expectations in this regard I can only say that I think if done well with the right material it could pass muster, similar to some of the tartan jackets and waistcoats that I have seen on threads here under dress apparel.

Just one man's (relatively ignorant) opinion.

[RockyR]

Matt...

I think the buttons may have something to do with it.

Immitation Stag buttons (for those of you who don't know, they're pretty much standard on tweed jackets) lend themselves, IMHO, to daywear. If you switched the buttons to plain BLACK buttons or to the square chrome buttons of an Argyll / PC, it might dress it up a little.

Then again, chrome buttons might just look 'odd' and take away the VERSAILITY of wearing the jacket for daywear to a degree. Thoughts?

Perhaps this combo with plain black buttons would be up your alley:

[M. A. C. Newsome]

John,

Re: the grey Prince Charlie, I saw that posted in another thread, and as I commented there, the cloth is not actually a tweed, but a worsted wool. This is especially apparant if you look at the close up pictures on the ebay pages.

Worsted wool has a smooth hand, but tweed is rather more course -- think of it with all the little fibers sticking out of it -- that's tweed. So my question is really whether a course fabric like this could ever work for more formal occasions.

I like the suit Rocky posted, though I cannot tell in the pics if it is worsted wool or a fine tweed. I think adding silver buttons to it would definitely give it a more formal look, but at the same time would take away some of the versatility.

How do we think Rocky's outfit might look if worn with a three-button vest and bow tie? Or perhaps a lace jabot?

[piperdbh]

I think a lovat green jacket with matching six-button waistcoat would look very nice for evening wear. Don't you, Professor? If only we knew where one was...

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I think that this may be as much a question of interpretation as it is about fabric. Here is my take:

LINEN: Day wear only (in hot weather).
TWEED: Day wear or informal evening wear.
WORSTED WOOL: Day wear or dressier informal evening wear.
BARATHEA & VELVET: Formal evening wear only.

Jackets fall into two categories: those intended to be worn only for formal events, and those that are worn when the wearing of a suit or sport coat would be appropriate. The cross over is the redoubtable Dress Argyll jacket which can, in suitable fabric, be worn as a rather formal day wear jacket and still do duty at a full dress function in the evening.

[English Bloke]

... Re: the grey Prince Charlie ... the cloth is not actually a tweed, but a worsted wool... Worsted wool has a smooth hand, but tweed is rather more course -- think of it with all the little fibers sticking out of it -- that's tweed. So my question is really rather a course fabric like this could ever work for more formal occasions...

I agree that the ebay pictures are showing smooth worsted and not course tweed but the jacket and waistcoat are described as tweed (presumably because it's not black barathea) I must have missed that other thread you refer to Matt, sorry.

To further your thought, I think a PC and 3 button waistcoat in a dark, hairy tweed (or even light depending on the Tartan one is pairing it up with) would be fantastic but that's just my personal opinion. I have no occasion these days to turn out to proper formal affairs so the rights and wrongs of such a thing don't really affect me. I would imagine though that turning up to a proper black tie gig wearing a hairy jacket (PC styled or otherwise) would probably lift a few eyebrows. Still think it would look great though.

Are you thinking of making one?

[Jock Scot]

I really don't think tweed is suitable for formal dress attire, although I can think of many occasions at some highland houses where tweed may have been more sensible from a prevention of hypothermia point of view!