formal evening dress: vest or no?

[macwilkin]

Thanks, MoR,

I am / was among those interested to hear about the Broad Riband, including civilian Black Tie.

I am a member of an organization that bestows a medallion (on a neck ribbon) on its past presidents, but has no badge of office for the current president. I had thought that a sash in the same color, not unlike the Order of the Arrow, might be a good insignia for the office, but got no particular enthusiasm. We may end up with a chain, like a Lord Mayor's, or some kind of staff, like a bishop's crozier. Or we may stick with the status quo- zip. The president appears only once or twice in full dress during his year of office, so it may be simplest to remain unencumbered. Perhaps a live badger on a leash...

I have always admired the regalia of the St. Andrew's Society of St. John, New Brunswick, the second oldest Scottish society in Canada (The North British Society of Halifax being the first):

http://sassj.ca/wp/officers/

A number of hereditary societies in the US have very nice regalia; Bailey Banks and Biddle produce ours in the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the USA, and our rosettes come from Dexter Rosettes:

http://www.dexterrosettes.com/

T.