"Rules" for dressing up

[Jennifer D]

IMHO - which is not worth much in that I rarely attend formal events - however, IMHO it would be better to be sighlty formally underdressed that to be overly formally dressed. To be overly formally dressed would stand out more than to be slightly under dressed.

I was taught that it's better to be overdressed than underdressed. If you're way out of line with the rest of the group you can always say that you're on your way to a fancier event after that one. But that may be something women worry about more than men...

[Fedgunner]

An evening plaid in the daytime is as bad as tails; it's simply out of place.

Ok, I'm ignorant and willing to admit it.

What's an evening plaid?

[Chef]

thescot you are right on the mark.

Where black tie gets stretched these days is of course weddings. Unlike formal affairs of the past, weddings are often timed for the venues they are using. It is not unusual for a couple to get married at 2 PM and not start the reception until 5. Strictly speaking if they want guests in formal attire the men should wear morning coats to the ceremony and black tie to the reception however that is rarely, if ever, done. Black tie is considered acceptable for both the ceremony and reception in such situations. What is not acceptable is black tie dinner jackets when the ceremony is at 11 AM and the reception finishes by 6 PM.

[Daaaaang]

So, a PC or Doublet would be an evening jacket and a grey Argyle would be a morning jacket?

And I would assume that you could wear the same kilt throughout—why not? If you can wear a kilt to a white tie event, and later wear the same kilt with a t-shirt while taking out the garbage, I don't see why you couldn't use it for everything in between. That's my opinion, anyway.

[Archangel]

Learn the rules, bend them until they just about break.

But, hey, they're all made up anyway so just keep a straight face.

These are pics from Geoffrrey (tailor) Kiltmaker's site. I'd go with that as the authority.

Here's a tweed formal enough for day events:


This is the Argyll, formal for evenings and most events:


This is the Prince Charles, think black tie and tux, this is formal:


Casual would be casual, or else it isn't casual. Flaming tongue Stones shirt and sandals works for me. Docs if I'm going to an event.

[scoutniagara]

All good information here. In addition;IMHO
Re: the shirts. My wife and I dance ballroom/Latin/social and find ourselves dressed formally and semi-formal quite a lot. I recently bought some laydown-collared pleated shirts in black, red and blue (JCPenny) to match my wife's dresses. We had quite a few compliments with our red (with black) "outfits" at my recent trip to the Catskills for a dance weekend. Most pleated shirts, lay-down or wing, have both buttons and holes for studs. If you're wearing a vest (waist coat) or long tie, the studs are redundant but French cuffs allow you to dress up the wrist with cuff links.

As well, as a retired officer with the Lincoln & Welland Regiment (but commissioned Navy), I attend an annual formal "Queenston Dinner" remembering the Battle of Queenston Heights at Navy Hall which is a white/black tie event. I don't think I'd ever wear white tie with a kilt, I reserve that for my all-white tuxedo (seldom worn, except for colour-themed dances). I may try a white tie with my white dinner jacket, black shirt and black pants, though...and I may sometime, try my blue shirt with my kilt and navy Argyll. Black on black is a contemporary option.

The best formal option with a kilt, is still a white pleated shirt (lay-down or wing collar), Prince Charlie (or Argyll jacket) with a black tie. I tend to wear cream hose during the day and dark hose at night. Both dark green and navy are in my MacIntosh tartan, so green for Butler's Rangers, and navy for my RCN beginnings. Also, my only wool kilt jacket is a navy Argyll (again for my naval roots). No one has ever told me that I need a black PC for a black/white tie formal dinner...but the ladies love the kilt. My brother has a Montrose doublet (too small) but wears his green with black, Prince Charlie.

[Don Patrick]

Really interesting thread.

Being from the military, our rules have always been rather simple. Black or Navy for semi-formal, and white for formal wear. Four-in-hand during the day and bow tie after Retreat.

I know the Brits tend to be fairly strick with dress rules. One late evening in Bremerhaven, Germany, I awoke to knocks on my door. Several of my Brit 'NATO Sergeant' buddies had come to take me to their club. Complaining I didn't have anything to wear, they said no problem. There I went downstairs to the club in my underclothes - except for a tie, I did have to don a neck tie. Rules were rules.

Another time at Picadilly Circus in London, several of my German friends and I stopped to dine at a small restaurant there on a corner. The restaurant resembled a 'Denny's'. We were refused admittance because we didn't have coat and necktie on. We ended up across the street at a fish and chips place. Doors laid on top of saw horse legs for tables - covered with newspaper. Good food. Had my first white tea there.

Interesting to see how many dress rules there seem to be.

[Thunderbolt]

I have three "modes" of dress, if you will..

Informal/daywear;

Kilt (of course), Dark colored hose (navy, green or dark grey are my usual), solid flashes, usually red or green to accent the kilt, horn or bone sgian dubh, t-shirt or polo shirt (without any logos or writting, I'm making enough of a statement with the kilt!), Ballcap if very informal/friends. Medium brown belt and sporran (pigskin) with a matching strap, no chain, brass buckle. If I'm going to meet someone new or someone who's not a close friend, I omit the ball cap and wear a nice polo. Footwear depends also. Usually black wingtips or hiking boots for the contemporary look.

Semi-formal/business/evening;

Kilt, white or cream hose, red or gree flashes, black wingtips, black w/white fur-front sporran w/chain strap, black belt w/silver buckle, black and silver sgian dubh, button down light-colored shirt with or without tie, depending on the situation. I usually don't wear anything on the head unless I'm going to be outdoors, then it's a navy balmoral, ribbons loose, no diceing, please. Usually, I'm not in a jacket for a couple of different reasons. 1, I live in Phoenix, 2, I don't own one.

Formal

Kilt, PC and vest, tartan hose, ghillie's, same sgian dubh, bowtie and shirt with the stand-up collar, waist coat, formal full-fur sporran with a silver cantle and chain. I might wear a bal if the weather calls for it. Also, I have a plaid I might pin on with a brooch if I feel like it. Many times, this is what I'm wearing doing events while playing my pipes for the event, if it's formal.

These are the styles I've had good luck with. I guess you could add or subtract as needed.

Cheers,

T.

EDIT: P.S. Notice I didn't mention a kilt pin..I usually don't wear one. I've had a number of bad experiences with the pin catching on various things, threatening to rip the apron. Unless I'm going to something and I feel like it, I'll put it on when I get there.