Black Tie Event - Shoe Advice Needed

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

BTW: back to AA's post on the waistcoat, is a 3 button the proper one to wear with an Argyll for an evening black tie event?

Absolutely. The black Argyll jacket is incredibly versatile-- with a three button waistcoat, white shirt and studs, and a self-tied bow tie it is 100% as formal as anything else. With a five button waistcoat, white shirt, and four-in-hand tie it is perfect for a dressy evening out with the wife, or for attending a formal event during the day. They just can't be beat.

[artificer]

Artificer, from what you said in your last post, I would suggest you invest in a new set of brogues (wingtips) that you are comfortable in. and give them one of your blinding spit shines.

If you are going to a formal dinner where there are going to be other kilties, you will probably find many ghillie brogues with thick soles there anyhow.

You obviously wear regular brogues a lot and as you need a new pair anyway, I think it would be false econmy to buy a pair of Glenfinnan that is a once a year wear, and then buy a pair of brogues for everday wear.

I think your use of the Argyll with a 3 button waistcoat would be most acceptable and a sporran based on your No 11 would set off the outfit a treat (no one would look at your shoes anyhow after seeing the sporran)

Thanks Downunder! I may just cave and buy the new Allen Edmunds I've been wanting. It's a lot easier to justify $300 US for shoes you'll wear for the next 30 years (or at least until I have my knees rebuilt) than it is to spend $150US for, as you said, a once a year pair of shoes.

I do love wing tipped brogues My last pair has been the subject of several heartfelt, slightly teary toasts

As for making my own #11, my wife (who dislikes fur) said to me, after I finished #11 "NOW I see why people want fur sporrans... It's VERY lux". I fear for the future of my extra skunk pelt... With luck, I'll start cutting for my own formal sporran before she "puts her order in" again for another handbag.

Absolutely. The black Argyll jacket is incredibly versatile-- with a three button waistcoat, white shirt and studs, and a self-tied bow tie it is 100% as formal as anything else. With a five button waistcoat, white shirt, and four-in-hand tie it is perfect for a dressy evening out with the wife, or for attending a formal event during the day. They just can't be beat.

Excellent! Thank you again for your wealth of advice. It's always appreciated and makes this forum an invaluable place to dwell. I'm glad to see that I wasn't far off.

[Jock Scot]

Absolutely. The black Argyll jacket is incredibly versatile-- with a three button waistcoat, white shirt and studs, and a self-tied bow tie it is 100% as formal as anything else. With a five button waistcoat, white shirt, and four-in-hand tie it is perfect for a dressy evening out with the wife, or for attending a formal event during the day. They just can't be beat.

Bang on the button there Scott. I think this route of the three button waistcoat with an argyll is a fairly modern(?) innovation and one that I fully approve of.

These days, I don't do formal evenings any more, no puff, and as my Sheriffmuir has shrunk and my black barathea, silver buttoned argyll seems to be resistant to shrinkage, a three buttoned waistcoat is certainly the route I would go down..............although I do have a hankering for a dark green, almost black, velvet Argyll and three buttoned waistcoat......just in case........!

I think black Oxfords, well polished, are the best and most versitile option to take. We are, after all, talking "black tie" here, not some ultra formal occasion.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Bang on the button there Scott. I think this route of the three button waistcoat with an argyll is a fairly modern(?) innovation and one that I fully approve of.

Jock, believe it or not, the "Dress Argyll" in velvet or barathea enjoyed a popular vogue before the Hitler war. On my list of things I'd like, but will probably never get around to, is a velvet dress Argyll in deep violet, sort of the Highland equivalent of a proper smoking jacket...

[Jock Scot]

Jock, believe it or not, the "Dress Argyll" in velvet or barathea enjoyed a popular vogue before the Hitler war. On my list of things I'd like, but will probably never get around to, is a velvet dress Argyll in deep violet, sort of the Highland equivalent of a proper smoking jacket...

As I say"----a fairly modern innovation---" then!

My Grand father had a velvet one that colour with black cuffs and it looked absolutely fabulous. I think that possibly one needs to be of a certain age to wear a jacket like that? I think I may be about to qualify!

[svc40bt]

I have only attended one function in black tie highland dress, the 2010 Fredericksburg VA Burns Dinner. I wore a black Argyll, three button waistcoat, fold down collar pleated front dress shirt with studs, tartan hose and cap toe oxfords, the only pair of black shoes I currently own. Here is a pic that may help with the waistcoat question.

All three in Argylls, Mael Coluim with five button waistcoat, myself with three button waistcoat, and Ambjack with belt and no waistcoat. Note the shine on those shoes, perhaps not freshly flaked obsidian, but an effort was made.

[Cygnus]

Jock, believe it or not, the "Dress Argyll" in velvet or barathea enjoyed a popular vogue before the Hitler war. On my list of things I'd like, but will probably never get around to, is a velvet dress Argyll in deep violet, sort of the Highland equivalent of a proper smoking jacket...

I realize you don't often post pictures on here, but I would have to see this jacket if you ever have it made! In fact, being one who likes the colour purple, I'd love one for myself someday...

...The list just keeps growing.

[Irish Jack O'Brian]

Originally Posted by MacMillan of Rathdown
On my list of things I'd like, but will probably never get around to, is a velvet dress Argyll in deep violet, sort of the Highland equivalent of a proper smoking jacket...

Aaaahh! Sounds luxurious. Perhaps with a tasseled smoking cap and a pair of these.

("Yes, please, one of the Arturo Fuentes tonight and a wee dram from the amber decanter.")

[artificer]

("Yes, please, one of the Arturo Fuentes tonight and a wee dram from the amber decanter.")

Slippers I could take or leave, but I LOVE a Fuentes "Hemingway" or "Opus X" in my smoking jacket. ESPECIALLY with a dram.

Of course, I rarely wear said smoking jacket anymore, as I haven't smoked cigars in the house since before my wife was pregnant with our son.

Oh well, if I'd only saved said money from insanely expensive smoking jacket, I could have bought the velvet doublet of my choice AND still had money for a bespoke kilt

[Vegan Scot]

Having no idea about formal footwear, I Googled "men's formal pumps" and came up with this syntax-ical gem

Good advice though, and seems to be in line with what others have said so far.

---

Do not the Manolo get started on the disgraceful state of the modern American formal wear! If the Manolo sees one more pastel ruffle shirt, or the brightly-colored plaid cumberbund and matching bowtie set he will hurl. Especially do not mention the shoes! Ayyyyy! The shoes, the shoes! Such horrors.

Ideally, there is only one type of the shoe that the man should wear with the black or the white tie, it is the opera pump: the low black patent leather slipper with the discreet black gros grain bow (pinched or straight).



This shoe, it is the final, unchanged remenant of the 19th century formal wear, the only item still sometimes worn, that would have been worn by the gentleman who was to be received at the royal court 150 of the years ago.

Such the gentleman he would have appeared in the knee breeches with the silk stockings. Today, the knee breeches they are gone, the cut of the coat it has changed, the neck tie it is different, but the formal shoes, they are the same. And so these they are the original “court shoes”. (The word “pump” for the shoes, it is thus the derivative of the word “pomp”.)

In the general, the American men, when they can be wrestled into the formal wear, do not wear the opera pump, mostly because they believe it to be too sissified for the mucho macho man to wear. In such cases, the plain toe, patent leather or highly shined calf blucher or oxford, it is the most appropriate and suitable substitute.

Any other option, it is ridiculous.