The Varieties of Traditional Experience: To Jabot or not To Jabot

[Biathlonman]

Don't even look at soup if you have a jabot, or lace cuffs. Closed jackets were meant for the pre-central heating halls of chilly Scotland.

[creagdhubh]

just to throw fuel on the fire...it is perfectly acceptable for black bow ties to be worn with the kilt for white tie events. Has been so for a long, long time!

I believe the wearing of a white bow tie with the kilt is a custom followed by gentlemen from perthshire. One rarely sees others doing so.

Exactly!!!

[Bugbear]

All right then, how does one eat dinner while wearing a jabot without soiling the lace?

I'm asking on behalf of MacLowlife.

[MacLowlife]

I find slurping the milkshake through a straw is usually pretty safe, but dripping mustard is always a risk

[CDNSushi]

Just found this thread -- was hoping I'd get a bit more info, but not yet. I'm terribly curious as to why everyone finds the ceangail so repugnant and off-putting?

[Bugbear]

You know, CDNSushi, I don't even know what it looks like and I hate the way it looks.

[Cygnus]

Just found this thread -- was hoping I'd get a bit more info, but not yet. I'm terribly curious as to why everyone finds the ceangail so repugnant and off-putting?

I dislike it because it is an obvious mimicry of how some of the highest and most esteemed military and social honours are displayed. It just smacks of somebody wearing medals that they didn't earn and telling tall tales of their "exploits" to anyone who will listen.

[Zardoz]

I dislike it because it is an obvious mimicry of how some of the highest and most esteemed military and social honours are displayed. It just smacks of somebody wearing medals that they didn't earn and telling tall tales of their "exploits" to anyone who will listen.

And just when I was thinking about getting one to replace the damaged ribbon on my 'social honor'

[davidlpope]

Just found this thread -- was hoping I'd get a bit more info, but not yet. I'm terribly curious as to why everyone finds the ceangail so repugnant and off-putting?

Three reasons-

1. It's brigadoonery. It appears that some American has taken it upon themselves to "improve" Highland Dress (or some sort of pan-celtic dress, since the fellow's website seems to be a confused mix of Highland attire and "Irish kilts") by inventing this thing with absolutely no basis for existing. Giving it a Gaelic name continues the charade. Can you even imagine trying to explain this bit of quack get-up to a real Highlander??? This is the same sort of problem that makes American Highland Games more like a Halloween costume party and less like a celebration of Scottish culture.

2. It's misleading. At first glance this thing looks like a legitimate honor or award. Upon close inspection, it's just a dolled-up clan badge or piece of military insignia (don't get me started on wearing uniform items with civilian dress!) and a bit of ribbon.

3. It's silly, ugly, and expensive. I think it looks absolutely awful and silly when compared with traditional highland evening dress. Plus, you're going to spend between $25 and $45 for something you could make in about an hour out of things that you probably already have laying around? Wear a jabot, black tie, or white tie, as appropriate, as Scots have done for centuries.

David

[Bugbear]

Well, since everyone is expressing their opinions, I might as well make a fool of myself... again.

Were I attending a black tie event, I would not want to dress in a way that would be unusual. That specifically excludes Highland attire; I am not a Scot, and I am not in Scotland. Shame on me!

Thankfully, my principles and ethics allow me to not worry about what someone else may or may not be wearing.

I am assuming, in America, that anyone dressed in clothing somewhat like eighteenth century colonial formal attire with a lacy stock (minus the powder in the hair) would be mocked and laughed at behind his back as some kind of idiot, if not turned away at the door, in spite of depictions of the American Founding Father's in such garb being all over our money.
I find the jabot appealing, and that is the only other type of attire I can think of being worn with that type of neckwear in America. Yes, I know it is historical garb, and has no place in contemporary black or white tie attire.

But it aught to!