formal evening dress: vest or no?

**Snowbear** · 19th April 10, 04:19 PM

From my childhood I have always been tought that a 3 button waistcoat is more formal than a 5 button waistcoat. So to me it is just a matter of how formal the party I am going to is.

**fluter** · 19th April 10, 04:30 PM

Originally Posted by Brian K

OK, Jamie. I thought you were sticking up for the ruche knot. I'm glad to see you're more sensible than that

.

Gentlemen, the nicely ironic feature of this exchange is that the ruche is tied with ... wait for it ... a four-in-hand knot!

:ootd:

**JSFMACLJR** · 19th April 10, 04:32 PM

Originally Posted by Snowbear

From my childhood I have always been tought that a 3 button waistcoat is more formal than a 5 button waistcoat. So to me it is just a matter of how formal the party I am going to is.

And what about 4 button waistcoats?

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 19th April 10, 04:36 PM

Oh NO!!!! Now EVERYONE will want one!

I guess we'll just have to tell them that they can only be worn if one was given one on their twenty-first birthday by Her Majesty.

Right, Sandy?

**Bugbear** · 19th April 10, 04:40 PM

I wasn't going to post in this thread anymore.

I think the four button, scoop front waistcoats are very nice. That is the style I would prefer with a bowtie.

**JSFMACLJR** · 19th April 10, 04:41 PM

Exactly, Scott! Only for the privileged few.

**CMcG** · 19th April 10, 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by JSFMACLJR

And what about 4 button waistcoats?

That is apparently some murky territory:

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 19th April 10, 04:59 PM

For those not in the know, "Club Monaco" is down a wee alley just off Queen Street; only those wearing the club waistcoat are admitted, unless accompanied by either (a) two members in club waistcoats, or (b) the police.

**Bugbear** · 19th April 10, 05:16 PM

Originally Posted by Bugbear

I wasn't going to post in this thread anymore.

I think the four button, scoop front waistcoats are very nice. That is the style I would prefer with a bowtie.

You did not understand what was being discussed; you should not have posted that.

**AFS1970** · 19th April 10, 07:10 PM

The black tie only wedding I was at, was for a friend of mine. At his bachelor party I remarked about renting a tux for the event and he looked at me like I had three heads, and said that he couldn't imagine that at my age (I think I was 34) I did not own a tux. Obviously my friend and I travel in different circles.

Oddly enough, I had thought that my highland attire might have been a distraction, so I went with the standard black tux. Had I realized that the cow print was OK (as well as other individual touches) I would ahve worn my kilt and settled for being the best dressed at the event.

As for rules, I was surprised when I went on my one and only cruise, that Formal night no longer meant black tie. The paperwork from the cruise line simply said a jacket and tie as well as no shorts or sandals. There were a number of tuxes, and one Kilted attendee, but mostly what I would call a sport suit.