Cheap formal wear?

[Dukeof Kircaldy]

DWFII said it very well.

Mark you haven't offended anyone. Wearing inexpensive formal wear v. "Cheap" can be very satisfying if done correctly. Cheap can be anything which isn't up to standard (e.g., expensive designer, yet ugly, Lemon Yellow tail coat at a white tie function where the Queen is present).

If I have a well treated, second hand Geoffrey Tailor doublet that I bought for 50 quid, is it any worse quality than a brand new one that costs £500 (10x)?

Yes, there are certain standards, but there are also some latitude in those standards. Look at some of the variances in doublets in the 19th century.

[ThreadBbdr]

This is a discussion that is almost always in motion on the personal finance boards as well. What is "Frugal" vs what is "cheap". Perhaps the title of this thread should be "Frugal Formal Wear".

Because when you come right down to it, Frugal people care about quality as well as cost. Cheap people look only at the cost with no concern for quality or craftsmanship. Price vs Quality is always a balancing act and can/should be an individual judgement call.

Personally, I love the idea of continuing to use and love old things or making things using old tools and techniques. Cutting edge fashion means nothing to me and I'm constantly on the lookout for vintage and antique items for my home.

[Dukeof Kircaldy]

Karla (ThreadBbdr ) is a good person to mention this as she is working on fixing up a vintage kilt that I won in a charity auction for me, which has become a prized possession.


So, old and/or inexpensive is not a reliable measure of "cheapness".

[Dukeof Kircaldy]

DWFII, sort of sounds like me when I lived in the WDC area and would go to Alexandria, VA's Scottish Walk to watch how people would dress. It was amazing how people would turn out (WWII RAF uniforms, people carrying flintlocks, etc.).

I am also one of those people who would expect some respect for Scottish heritage and custom if you wish to wear the kilt. That said, you don't need to be Scottish to do that. Just respect the culture.

While it is a costume, it isn't fancy dress (I.e., a masquerade costume chosen to suit the wearer's fancy).

[macwilkin]

DWFII, sort of sounds like me when I lived in the WDC area and would go to Alexandria, VA's Scottish Walk to watch how people would dress. It was amazing how people would turn out (WWII RAF uniforms, people carrying flintlocks, etc.).

I am also one of those people who would expect some respect for Scottish heritage and custom if you wish to wear the kilt. That said, you don't need to be Scottish to do that. Just respect the culture.

While it is a costume, it isn't fancy dress (I.e., a masquerade costume chosen to suit the wearer's fancy).

Since I wasn't there, I can't say for certain, but were those individuals you saw reenactors? Granted, there are reenactors and reenactors -- I saw my fair share of both in a decade of participating in living history with NPS.

T.

[DWFII]

Since I wasn't there, I can't say for certain, but were those individuals you saw reenactors? Granted, there are reenactors and reenactors -- I saw my fair share of both in a decade of participating in living history with NPS.

T.

I have a very close friend in Williamsburg...he's actually head of his department at Colonial Williamsburg.

He has done a lot of re-enacting in his career, all time periods including the Colonial period. At present he is a corporal in the 2nd Glasgow.

Of course he is an historian of the first water, but one thing he has drilled into my head over the years is the necessity to pay attention to detail, to get it right, and to respect the tradition--that it does matter, in other words...

In fact, from talking to him about his Civil War reenacting, I gather they even have a word for someone who doesn't realize that it matters--they call them "BOB's"--short for "Better Off Bowling."

[macwilkin]

I have a very close friend in Williamsburg...he's actually head of his department at Colonial Williamsburg.

He has done a lot of re-enacting in his career, all time periods including the Colonial period. At present he is a corporal in the 2nd Glasgow.

Of course he is an historian of the first water, but one thing he has drilled into my head over the years is the necessity to pay attention to detail, to get it right, and to respect the tradition--that it does matter, in other words...

In fact, from talking to him about his Civil War reenacting, I gather they even have a word for someone who doesn't realize that it matters--they call them "BOB's"--short for "Better Off Bowling."

BOBs...I'll have to remember that one. In my day, we just called 'em Farbs.

Your friend is quite correct...that was the same thing that was drilled into my head in NPS.

T.

[DWFII]

While it is a costume, it isn't fancy dress (I.e., a masquerade costume chosen to suit the wearer's fancy).

Well said.

I might add that if I had an audience with the Chieftain...or even if I were just making a pilgrimage to castle MacSween...I might wear a well-done-conversion Argyll jacket if I did not have a PC, but I'd rather wear jeans and a windbreaker than a kilt with rolled down socks and athletic shoes.

[DWFII]

Yay!! Now I'm a Japanese warrior wearing a Scots kilt!!? Yikes!!

[DWFII]

Farb??

BTW, I grew up in Rolla, Missouri...not far from the Ozarks.