Night and Day

[xman]

So there's day wear and there's evening wear, but what about those events, like wedding so commonly, where the daily ceremony turns to an evening dinner. Should one who is not in the wedding party dress for day or evening or for something in between? The PC seems like it might be too much, but an evening sporran and some fancy, even Argyll hose feels right. What about waistcoats? Is tartan too much? Red? Shirt & tie? ... ?

X

[CMcG]

So there's day wear and there's evening wear, but what about those events, like wedding so commonly, where the daily ceremony turns to an evening dinner. Should one who is not in the wedding party dress for day or evening or for something in between? The PC seems like it might be too much, but an evening sporran and some fancy, even Argyll hose feels right. What about waistcoats? Is tartan too much? Red? Shirt & tie? ... ?

X

I'm thinking the safest bet for an event that goes from the day into the evening would be an Argyll jacket (with or without waistcoat), regular tie, and metal cantle hunting sporran or full mask sporran.

That being said, it could also be context dependent. In the loosening of dress codes that I've observed to be common in North America, day and evening dress don't always apply. Contrary to the traditional rules, people sometimes specify formal wear for a daytime event! In that case a PC or Argyll worn with a formal shirt and black bow tie might be required...

[Nighthawk]

To restate CMcG, I'd say it's mostly context dependant, BUT- if there is nothing specified, semiformal is perfectly fine. This is perfect:



It would go well in all but the most formal of circumstances.

***DISCLAIMER- the above statement is for North American events. I don't know the traditions and sensibilities of other countries.***

[xman]

I'm most inspired by some of these gents:



I think the general outlook I am getting is that the jacket, shirt & tie should be day wear, but the accessories can touch it up a little. Would that be fair to say?

[edit] Also, could a Mod please move this to the appropriate forum, Putting It On would be better I think.

[thescot]

If one dresses for an occassion that begins well before 6:00 PM, then it is perfectly acceptable to continue wearing that attire to the function which extends past the 6:00 PM hour. I.e., if the wedding begins at 4:00 and a reception follows which extends past 6:00, then the day dress is fine. One is not expected to changed clothes when attending a wedding.

As to highland attire, I agree that a good argyl jacket is probably the best choice. You could even wear a black leather sporran with silver cantle and well-shined black shoes which will do quite well. The silver cantle is the only real change I would make to the photo of Panache above. Well, maybe lose the green pocket square and replace it with a white one to be a bit dressier.

You could wear a wedding tie, I suppose, but a bow might do better if the evening affair is dressy. I always prefer balck and white

[xman]

I must revisit this:

To recount, my brothers, less myself, will be standing in PC. The groom has chosen White hose (*shudder* I really tried). So I am not in the wedding party, but I am brother and kiltmaker to the groom.

I've decided on a hair sporran with metal cantle.

Since the groom is wearing solid hose, would it be too much if I wore Red or Diced?

Although it might be too formal for a daytime start, I'm thinking of a Barathea Argyll jacket because it would match better with my sporran as well as what the lads are wearing. Should I stick to tweed instead?

[CMcG]

I must revisit this:

To recount, my brothers, less myself, will be standing in PC. The groom has chosen White hose (*shudder* I really tried). So I am not in the wedding party, but I am brother and kiltmaker to the groom.

I've decided on a hair sporran with metal cantle.

Since the groom is wearing solid hose, would it be too much if I wore Red or Diced?

Although it might be too formal for a daytime start, I'm thinking of a Barathea Argyll jacket because it would match better with my sporran as well as what the lads are wearing. Should I stick to tweed instead?

As far as jackets go, a dress Argyll (black barathea) is suitable for day or evening. If the members of the wedding party are wearing PCs, then an Argyll won't out-do them!

As for the whole outfit, you are treading on dangerous ground... I'd like to say yes to argyle or diced hose, dress Argyll jacket, and metal cantled hair sporran. The problem is that then you will outshine the groom! Perhaps a more subdued sporran, four-in-hand tie, and solid colour hose would be better. Dress it down even further with the tweed Argyll if you like but, as I wrote above, a black barathea Argyll would be fine.

[Cygnus]

Since you're not in the wedding party, I think it depends on what you can expect the guests to wear.

If it were me, that's what I'd do.

If I expected the gentlemen to wear the "wedding standard" for my area (slacks and collared shirts, with or without sportcoats), then a tweed argyll with a tie and leather sporran would be fine, even into the evening. If it is more of a suit and tie event, then I would go with the dress Argyll, an evening sporran, and a four-in-hand tie. If the guests will also be in formal wear, then the bowtie and dress shirt should come out.

And I'd only wear Argyll or Diced hose with a formal shirt and bow tie.

[Whidbey78]

If the wedding party is not changing attire through the course of events, guests shouldn't either. On the other hand, since it sounds like the wedding party's attire leans toward formal evening dress to begin with, you could simply wear something like a black argyle with tie and fairly simple black leather sporran, plain hose, etc.--nice but not "fancy" and change hose, sporran and tie for the reception. Considering a recent thread where two gentleman went from t-shits and boots to evening formal in five minutes from the trunk of a car there's no reason you couldn't change sporran and tie between events.

I often take extra accesories, a spare tie, etc. and watch a few people enter the event to gague what people are wearing so as not to be over or under dressed when I enter. This is in cases where they use ambiguous terms like "business casual."

[xman]

... expect the guests to wear.

P@nts. There'll be some nice suits there no doubt.