The Varieties of Traditional Experience: To Jabot or not To Jabot

[JSFMACLJR]

I believe it was the custom in Perthshire to only wear white tie.

Those who are kilted and who wear black tie to white tie events seem to be following the custom of some military mess dress, rather than civilian standards of attire. White tie is white tie, and that's what should properly be worn, unless one is in uniform and their service regulations decree otherwise.

I think the confusion has arisen as a result of the relaxing of dress standards at Royal events, when during the Second World War HM King George VI gave permission for dinner jackets to be worn on formal occasions by gentlemen unable to obtain formal evening clothes due to rationing, and other exigencies of war.

We may have gone over this before, Scott. It is a bit puzzling that most gentlemen wearing the kilt to THE Highland balls ( and the Royal Caledonian Ball in London ) wear a black tie. Men not in Highland dress MUST wear a tail coat and white tie. This doesn't seem to be a "modern" trend. Here is a photograph of The Hon Andrew Elphinstone--a cousin of HM The Queen--at the Callie in 1938.


Your theory about civilians following mess dress regulations and wearing black ties may have some validity. I do know from personal experience that most men wear black ties with the kilt to white tie events. I don't. I wear a jabot; occasionally a white tie. Still though, it is odd how this anomoly is commonplace.

PS. Of course there is this photograph:
two of the Royal Dukes at this State Banquet are wearing black bow ties to the whitest of white tie events!