contemporary dressy/formal

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

is it me or do all the jackets in those pictures seem a tad on the longish side? which is weird because i think the prince charlie is way too short....is this the new style in kilt jackets (being longer)? or am i just seeing things? what do ya'll think of this? is it also longish?

The problem with 90% of the photographs used by retailers to promote the sale of various items of Highland attire is that the clothes rarely fit the model. Sleeves can be too long, the body of a PC too short, or the kilt isn't worn at the proper height. It is hard to say for sure in this photo if the jacket is too long, although it does look as if the body of the coat could be a tad shorter-- although it may just be the way the model is standing. The overall "look" is good, the ruche tie excepted. The colour of the tie is excellent, but turning up the collar of the shirt is, in my opinion, very untidy and looks like exactly what it is-- the wrong shirt and tie combination. My objection to all ruche ties is that they are quite obviously fake; in my book a pre-tied tie is no tie at all, and a gentleman should avoid fakery at all costs.

[MacLowlife]

Mull, I was interested by your comment about wearing and not wearing a tux. My experience is that many women LOVE to dress up and will jump at the chance. When I was a young lout, girls would host parties they dubbed "creative black tie" which meant you could wear what you wanted. Of course, they were going to be dressed up and you could either follow suit or, well, maybe sit at the children's table. If pressed, most men can come up with a dark jacket, maybe even a dark suit and a white shirt. Those who don't own a black bow tie can probably fake something. That's where the creative part comes in. I remember one guy wearing a pair of charcoal coveralls and a white shirt with bow tie underneath. Many of us remember the whole "black tie and blue jeans" look from the 80s.

I am not advocating taking food from the mouths of children, or even going into debt just to have a tuxedo, but I do believe a man can manage a formal outfit for under $50- especially if he already owns a kilt. It may not pass muster at the Caledonian Ball, but it will probably work for an elegant dinner at home with friends, candles, and salad forks.

As they say, every person in the world is either wearing used clothing or going naked. "Vintage" formal wear is a great way to go.

But even then, I'd stay away from the ruche ties...

[mull]

MacLowlife,

You are correct, in that all the women I know enjoy dressing up and would no doubt jump at the chance to have a formal dinner.

It might be the only motivator to push the men to join, although if they choose not to and I have to entertain all of the ladies alone...

[Jock Scot]

MacLowlife,

You are correct, in that all the women I know enjoy dressing up and would no doubt jump at the chance to have a formal dinner.

It might be the only motivator to push the men to join, although if they choose not to and I have to entertain all of the ladies alone...

Well this germ of an idea is about to take root! Well done. Don't forget the Host and hostess dictate the dress code, if THEIR wish for black ties(bow) to be worn then it is down to your guests to respect that. If they can't, then they must respectfully decline the invitation and in good time. These events are PRIVATE affairs in your own home and what the hosts ask for, the hosts get!With no ifs or buts.

Alright when you are getting started there will be teething problems, but if the idea catches on, before long "Dress codes", conventions call them what you will, will become almost second nature to your circle of friends and guests. Just like some of us in Scotland! It is just harmless, if a bit expensive fun. Don't go mad though. Go for it!

[CMcG]

<snip> My objection to all ruche ties is that they are quite obviously fake; in my book a pre-tied tie is no tie at all, and a gentleman should avoid fakery at all costs.

On the subject of tying ties, apparently a ruche tie is just an Ascot/cravat tied with a half-Windsor. While many of the images in the OP probably showed pre-tied examples, one could do it oneself. Although I haven't tried, this would lead me to believe that the "scrunchiness" could be adjusted to a more reasonable level.

Or one could just go for a big ol' Windsor knot on a regular tie.

Either one, combined with a spread collar shirt instead of those giant wing collars most of the models are wearing in the OP, this might better compliment the modern cut of the jackets.

Here are some examples to illustrate what I'm suggesting:



This tie is still quite "scrunchy" but I still think it looks better with this type of collar:



I don't like the pattern and colour of this ruche tie but I do like the way it is worn. Less scrunchy:


Thoughts?

[wildrover]

The guy is dressed a lot sharper to my eye than the pictures in the OP. My only complaint is the color scheme...it looks like a guy and girl met at a church where a wedding and a funeral were being held at the same time.

The kit can use some color...in fact, the kit could match the girl. The guy's outfit would look a lot better, and the couple would look better as well. It wouldn't take much, either...some color in the tie, a pocket square, hose to match the kilt, and some color in the flashes. The jacket and vest look really good, and the shirt gives some good contrast since it isn't stark white (at least, on my monitor).

*edit* Specifically...because hopefully I'll get similar suggestions soon from you guys...a pair of Argyle socks to match the kilt (possibly with a dark hose top), and blue flashes the same color as her dress, a tie with a similar color blue and some sort of pattern (but not red), and a pocket square in a subdued color that complements her wrap. What do you guys think?

The kilt is dark, but not everybody has or wants a brightly colored kilt, so I didn't mention changing it...rather, if that were my chosen tartan, I'd throw some appropriate and subdued color toward the accessories. Even a flower in the jacket would lighten it up.

I don't have anything good or new to say about the next two photos, but I do agree about the cleaner ruche tie, and I'm having a difficult time biting my tongue in reference to the picture from the kilt hire shop a few pages back, showing what appears to be a schoolgirl with a five o'clock shadow.

-Sean

[Lyle1]

The problem with 90% of the photographs used by retailers to promote the sale of various items of Highland attire is that the clothes rarely fit the model. Sleeves can be too long, the body of a PC too short, or the kilt isn't worn at the proper height. It is hard to say for sure in this photo if the jacket is too long, although it does look as if the body of the coat could be a tad shorter-- although it may just be the way the model is standing. The overall "look" is good, the ruche tie excepted. The colour of the tie is excellent, but turning up the collar of the shirt is, in my opinion, very untidy and looks like exactly what it is-- the wrong shirt and tie combination. My objection to all ruche ties is that they are quite obviously fake; in my book a pre-tied tie is no tie at all, and a gentleman should avoid fakery at all costs.

I agree, but models in other ads for non kilt related fashions seem to be given clothes that fit.

I really hope that the shirt collar was not turned up on purpose. I think he forgot to put in the collar stays!

[kid icarus]

what type of jacket is this?

[CMcG]

It looks similar to many of the jackets in the OP but different manufacturers call them different things: Wallace, Glen Orchy, K1, contemporary, Kilt Kut.

Basically a suit jacket with shorter length and sporran cut away.

[MacLowlife]

I am a member of a St Andrew's Society that has a limit on membership. I guess anyone can apply, but getting in would be much simpler if you had the support of members. There are two lists of applicants- related ( who get priority) and unrelated ( who get in, but not as quickly.) You have to assert (but not prove) Scottish ancestry. Even related applicants must wait until a slot is available, which means waiting until someone resigns or dies. It takes several years.

I believe this is how most clubs work. If there is a limit on membership, either because of space or other considerations, there will usually be a waiting list. I know of some clubs ( and/or societies) that bar membership to all but the descendants of other members. I also know of clubs whose structure is so loose that nobody quite knows how membership is obtained.

I would think, in a city the size of metropolitan Philadelphia, that there is more than one Scottish Heritage organization, or if there isn't, that a group of energetic people might organize their own. I expect that second part is true just about anywhere.