Civilian Mess Jackets

[macwilkin]

I think Red Sea Rig mostly works for those who don't need it- and, of course, if you are on the Red Sea.

I understand the origins of Red Sea Rig and I think it makes sense in certain environs, much as I understand when a host removes his jacket at a hot party, but I am afraid Red Sea Rig in the kilt mostly comes down to a black tie. And that is a lot of distinction to hang on a narrow strip of fabric.

I like to wear a linen jacket with my kilt in hot weather, to cut down a little on the suffering. I am talking about SC weather, where it has already gone to the 90s this year and will stay that way, with accompanying humidity until sometime in September. Part of life here is taking more showers and sweating through a lot of shirt linen. Sometimes you have to suffer a little for style.

The problem is, waiters in black tie with no jackets look like waiters. Adding a dirk belt doesn't make them look like officers. In most situations where guests and staff are all in black tie, you can tell the difference, even if a guest has removed his jacket. But so much of this forum is devoted to helping people who don't yet have that certain "look" that helps distinguish the two groups. If your full dress clothes came from a business that has "wearhouse" in its name, or your shirt is easy care, just be prepared to help clear the tables.

I don't think I'm that brave to tell a Royal Marine officer he looks like a waiter in "Red Sea Rig", but it's your funeral.

And methinks you misunderstood my reference to RSR -- I simply stated that it was a variant of formal attire in the tropics/"East of Suez". I have, however, seen a Highland variant of RSR in an article on the Clan Campbell Society's web site:

The military version consists of a long sleeved white dress shirt, black bow tie, tartan trews and a silk cummerbund in the regimental tartan (unless this is the very dark Campbell tartan, in which case a red, green or blue cummerbund may be substituted). The civilian version is usually a long sleeved white dress shirt, black or red bow tie and kilt.

-- http://www.ccsna.org/jsep46.htm

When I get my pair of trews in the Campbell of Cawdor/Argyll District tartan one of these days, I might just have to try this look at a formal do in the Summer. Horses for courses...

T.