Finding the correct level of formality

**Pour1Malt** · 15th October 09, 08:12 AM

Originally Posted by Heming

Would it be wrong to wear buckled pumps with a PC and waistcoat? Or with a converted dinner jacket?

nay... jus dinnae wear a belt wi' a waistcoat....

**Heming** · 15th October 09, 01:55 PM

I'd never even consider it! One isn't that common!

**Bugbear** · 15th October 09, 07:10 PM

Heming, I know you have experience with tailoring, and could retailor a dinner jacket into a proper kilt jacket. Buckle pumps sound very nice, and why not with a five button waistcoat and jabot...

**Heming** · 16th October 09, 05:14 AM

I have an Idea for shortening a double-breasted, silk-lapelled dinner (tuxedo) jaket to fit a kilt, with no vents, and using that for black tie wear. Maybe in a hundred years that'll be known as the Heming doublet ;-)

**A Hay** · 18th October 09, 07:22 AM

Here is a picture of one of the January 2009 suppers at Ferintosh. As you can see, there were varying degrees of formality. It was fun for me to dress in the highest level of formality I was able to do at the time. (I'm third from the right) One doesn't get the chance to do that very often. Of course Hamish was beyond any of us, but he is an example to aspire to.

The most fun was in being able to join together with like-minded people from many different backgrounds. So I suggest you wear what you like and are able to assemble. It is highly unlikely anyone will say anything unkind.

Hope you are able to make the Friday night pub crawl also. You can wear another kilt to that!.

I was able to book for the weekend for the second year in a row, so I look forward to meeting you there!

Regards,

Tom

**Heming** · 27th January 10, 01:04 PM

Well, it seems we're settled. Due to budget, time and skill issues, the final vote from the Norwegian jury is:

Heming:
-Red fashion-tartan(ish) self-made hand sewn PV kilt
-Oatmeal/tweed self-knit hose
-Black pumps with small chrome buckle
-Black barrathea 5-button waistcoat
-Black barrathea kilt jacket from TFCK
-Striped mellow pink shirt and silk tie, both from Thomas Pink, who should be canonised
-Sealskin sporran with chrome cantle from Scotweb

The Better Half:
-Machine-sewn (by me) 5-yard PV black watch kilt
-Bottle green wool-rich kilt hose from Scotweb
-Black pump-like shoes (no buckle)
-Belt and buckle yet to be purchased
-Notched-lapel black dinner jacket modified (by me) to fit a kilt and fitted with silver buttons
-Semi-formal black sporran from TFCK
-White shirt and blue silk tie with tiny floral pattern

This should probably make us both look adequately Norwegian-but-trying-their-best without being too informal. I hope.

:ootd:

**Jordan** · 27th January 10, 01:10 PM

Heming I look forward to meeting you this weekend and finding out what a Striped mellow pink shirt acctualy is
Jordan

**Phil** · 27th January 10, 02:09 PM

I have to admit that every Burns supper I ever attended I wore a normal business suit (as did everyone else) so don't get carried away with kilting up. Dress as formally as you like but it is not an uber formal affair at a Burns supper. You are there to enjoy the experience and the poetry.

**Jock Scot** · 27th January 10, 02:24 PM

I agree with Phil, Burns suppers seem to be getting more and more formal and in my humble opinion overly so. Perhaps it is just an excuse to dress up in your kilted finery? However, any event including a Burns event is as formal as the host wishes and it really is not for the guest to dictate what should be worn.The original poster is quite right to do his reconnaissance and I think I noticed that P1M has posted a helpful picture to guide new guests towards the dress code for HIS event.