White Tie Kilt Dress

[Phil]

Here is a good one for those arbiters of taste - http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/lif...cle5882996.ece

[JSFMACLJR]

Functions such as "Caledonian Ball's" are largely anachronisms in this day and age I do agree, however, that there still exist such dinosaurs as "Caledonian Balls" which are the last vestiges of an otherwise extinct society and which exist principally to offer attendees the opportunity to dress up in a way they could not otherwise, and really, to paraphrase Groucho Marks "I wouldn't want to be in any Club that would have them as members".

Phil, I couldn't disagree more with you! The Royal Caledonian Ball is the oldest CHARITABLE ball in the world, having been founded by the Duke of Atholl in the 1840s, and since 1849 has been a subscription dance to raise money for Scottish charities. Over the past 10 years over 300,000 pounds has been donated to Scottish charities, hardly a trifling amount

The 2005 Treasurers Report states:
Set out below is a brief summary of the results of The Royal Caledonian Ball in 2005. We are delighted to report that the Royal Caledonian Ball Trust has donated £72,000 to charity over the last three years.

These calculations are based solely on the ticket price as the Committee pass on the cost of the dinner directly to our guests.

The ticket price was £80, of which 52% was distributed as follows:

Queen Victoria School, Dunblane £5,000
Riding for the Disabled (Glasgow Group) £1,000
Borderline £4,000
Drumpark School £5,000
Childline Scotland £2,000
St Catherine's Homeless Project £3,500
Upper Springland Capability Project £3,500
Total £24,000

Charity Number: 213074

As a supporter of the Royal Caledonian Ball Trust, I find your disparaging remarks ignorant and not welcome on a forum that supports "Family Values." You are certainly entitled to your opinion ( as so many people of late have asserted ) but I do hope you will reconsider what you have said and agree that there is nothing wrong with the generosity of so many. I usually look forward to reading your posts, now I am not so sure.

Kind regards,
Sandford

[Bryan]

Geee
if Wikipedia says it is white tie.......

Agreed. Don't put too much stock in what Wikipedia says.

[Philip S. Tibbetts]

Agreed. Don't put too much stock in what Wikipedia says.

That's why I decided to ask my question here to have things cleared up and validated... Forgive me I'm still new!

I'm really enjoying following this debate and I look forward to passing on all sides to my friend (whose company is at least 400 years old, though no one has told him WHY they don't wear kilts to hite tie)

[Phil]

As a supporter of the Royal Caledonian Ball Trust, I find your disparaging remarks ignorant and not welcome on a forum that supports "Family Values." You are certainly entitled to your opinion ( as so many people of late have asserted ) but I do hope you will reconsider what you have said and agree that there is nothing wrong with the generosity of so many. I usually look forward to reading your posts, now I am not so sure.

I referred to them as "anachronisms" and "dinosaurs" and as such am at a loss to understand how this possibly infringes "Family Values". Whether it contributes to charities is neither here nor there, the fact remains it is an event rooted in the 19th century, maintaining and nurturing the conventions of dress and behaviour of those times with little relevance to people and how they live nowadays. If you consider my opinions to be disparaging, ignorant and unwelcome then so be it, we must agree to differ although I would not presume to claim the high moral ground of "Family Values" for mine.

[JSFMACLJR]

I referred to them as "anachronisms" and "dinosaurs" and as such am at a loss to understand how this possibly infringes "Family Values". Whether it contributes to charities is neither here nor there, the fact remains it is an event rooted in the 19th century, maintaining and nurturing the conventions of dress and behaviour of those times with little relevance to people and how they live nowadays. If you consider my opinions to be disparaging, ignorant and unwelcome then so be it, we must agree to differ although I would not presume to claim the high moral ground of "Family Values" for mine.

I referred to the "family values" issue because I saw in your post an attack on a well-known, well-established charity that does noble work. I would not like some readers of the posts on this forum to assume that members are heartless and attack at random groups that seek to do good. I meant nothing more by it.

But, how is it "anachronistic" for a group of like minded people to get together, dress in their best, dine well, and spend the night reeling? These events ARE relevent to these people and how they live today. They work hard ( for even the wealthiest have to support that wealth and your taxation rates are pretty extreme) and deserve to come together and have fun in the ways they enjoy. They enjoy reeling. They like to look nice when they go out. Do you have some sort of "social class issue" about this? Do you ever gather with your friends at the local? How quaint, and so "British!" 19th century social behaviour, n'est-ce pas? Come on Phil, cheers up! Let people enjoy themselves as they please! I can think of a lot more concerns to worry about than the intentions and attitudes of ball-goers.

Cheers,
Sandford

[Paul Henry]

perhaps Sandford and Phil could take their "discussion" somewhere else....

[JSFMACLJR]

perhaps Sandford and Phil could take their "discussion" somewhere else....

Sorry, Paul, if I upset you. I thought we were still discussing, in a very general manner, "white tie" issues concerning the kilt. I'll stand down.

[Monkey@Arms]

Actually, it's not all that bad. It seems daunting on the page, but when you lay out all of that stuff on the bed and start getting dressed, it really isn't any more of a bother than putting on a suit and tie (except for the sword, which you have to be careful not to close in the car door). Once you are through the door, everybody else is in pretty much the same sort of rig, and you just enjoy the company. It is surprisingly unpretentious, everyone is really going out of their way to be more than superficially nice, and when it's over, and you are back in your car headed home, you find that you really did have a good time, and you rather wish you could do it again next week.

Now a formal outfit like that is not something one sees everyday (or in my case, ever.) You must look resplendent. How about a picture of yourself MoR?

Best regards,

Jake

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Sorry, no. Once an image is posted one has no control over where it may go, or how it may be used. Others may be comfortable with posting their photos. I, for one, am not.