Seeking more opinions about White Tie and a velvet Sheriffmuir

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

With a velvet Sheriffmuir I'd suggest a seven-button black grosgrain silk waistcoat that buttons to the throat would be your best choice (not as hot as a velvet waistcoat). I'd also suggest that you have the turn backs (the Argyll-style "bucket" cuffs) done in black grosgrain silk as well. My preference for a shirt (and tie) would be one with a wing collar and a very full lace jabot. With a Sheriffmuir jacket you will want the sleeves somewhat shorter than on a regulation doublet or Prince Charile coatee to accommodate lace cuffs, which should fall mid-way between your wrist and knuckles. It is best to have the lace cuffs attached to the inside of the sleeve, either by small snaps, or by velcro. Since most shirts with attached wing collars come with French cuffs, I tend to buy them with an extra 2-inches of sleeve length. I then have the cuffs removed and a simple button placed at the wrist. This allows for much better freedom of movement. If you are wearing the Sheriffmuir at a black tie event, then you can dispense with the lace cuffs and wear a wing collar shirt with French cuffs-- the jabot is worn with black as well as white tie.

Something that I think looks quite smart with a Sheriffmuir is a silk brocade waistcoat, or a tartan waistcoat cut on the bias-- both really "lift" the look of the outfit.

Black tie or white tie, diced, argyle, or tartan hose really are de rigueur. Formal evening shoes (with either buckles or bows) should be worn. If you don't have formal evening shoes then a pair of highly polished black oxfords (not wingtips) will do every bit as well. Ghillie brogues should be avoided for formal or evening wear.

[MacLowlife]

You ought to try this with some other jacket before committing to doing it with your velvet sheriffmuir, but I expect you might be able to run the fly plaid through your epaulette and then pin the broach through the plaid AND some trick appendage attached to your breast pocket. As I say this, I am reminded of a popular "custom tailored" trick of days gone by: the pocket lining that can be pulled out to look like a handkerchief. I am not advocating that, but what if you had your tailor sew a button or velcro inside the pocket? The button could be used to secure a velvet flap ( or the flap could simply be sewn into the pocket) that could be deployed specifically for purposes of pinning the plaid/ brooch. Once you lose interest in the plaid, you either unbutton the flap- extension or tuck it back inside the pocket. All of this takes a little finagling and it assumes the presence of such a pocket, which none of the doublets I have looked at include. But the pocket itself is no big deal- most other formal jackets include a breast pocket of some description. You'd have to be certain that the upward flipped flap showed velvet and that it was stiff and large enough to hold the brooch. Again, the real securing would probably be elsewhere, such as the epaulette.... The whole flap rig is concealed by the tail end of the plaid and the brooch. And, as mentioned before, it tucks in or unhooks when you don't need it. But when you do, it takes that pin hole instead of the front of your doublet.

As for the waistcoat, I think MacMillan has an excellent point about the warmth, but I expect it would look very good and entirely appropriate. AND, being a waistcoat, you could always abandon it the next time out in favor of one of the many excellent suggestions above...