Over-dressed for the occaision?

**northernsky** · 6th November 10, 09:53 AM

I recently attended an 'anniversary gala' event celebrating a venerable environmental legal foundation. The event was held in the law courts building in their restaurant. Thinking that this must be a dress up occasion I went kilted in my tank and Balmoral. My escort wore a beautiful semi-formal black dress, and I think we cut a pretty dashing path. Imagine our surprise upon our arrival to see that half the men were dressed in chinos and polo shirts and the other half in day suits without ties. Most of the ladies were better dressed, but no one was close to how we were attired. Not the first time I have been caught out by the so called 'west coast informal' attitude. To my great surprise and delight, many, many people came over to complement us, and especially my kilt. Another fellow even said he was going to wear a kilt as well but at the last minute changed his mind and now wished he hadn't. I have been caught out before, but even if a tad over-dressed always get compliments, so leave with a bit of a smile.

**artificer** · 6th November 10, 10:21 AM

It's the way of things. Gala SHOULD mean black tie, at the very least.
It wasn't you that was incorrect, it was everyone else.

**gary meakin** · 6th November 10, 11:40 AM

Agreed, Gala definitely indicates formal or at the very least semi formal attire.
You were not overdressed. Everyone else was under dressed.

**The Thing** · 6th November 10, 02:39 PM

Originally Posted by gpmeakin

Agreed, Gala definitely indicates formal or at the very least semi formal attire.
You were not overdressed. Everyone else was under dressed.

I fully agree with you, plus it is a great way to promote the wearing of the Kilt and keep traditions alive and kicking.

**robthehiker** · 6th November 10, 03:04 PM

Better to be overdressed than underdressed. Sounds like you were the only guy there who wasn't underdressed!

**rsvpiper** · 6th November 10, 03:10 PM

I recon you made the right choice, putting in the effort to turn out smart credit to both yourself and your lady 10 out of 10

**bchunter** · 6th November 10, 03:12 PM

I'm with those fellas before me. I think the let-down was the underdressed crowd, and you were the only ones there properly attired.

**Bill aka Mole** · 7th November 10, 03:22 AM

While I don't get invited to those types of events, if it said "Gala" I'd be dressing up a bit! Good on you!

**Schiehallion** · 7th November 10, 05:29 AM

Well done!

These days I see the ladies in such wonderful dresses shoes etc, for dinner parties and garden parties and such, and the men in jeans and polo shirts or cotton shirts outside the trousers. Sartorial elegance is not thought about and many men forget to compliment their partners.

I think you dressed well and not a bit overly so. Congratulations!

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 7th November 10, 09:24 AM

Originally Posted by robthehiker

Better to be overdressed than underdressed. Sounds like you were the only guy there who wasn't underdressed!

Rob, I appreciate your sentiments, but I must beg to differ with you on this. Overdressed is always social "over-kill" as it as it leads to the impression that one is showing off (certainly not the case here, but for different reasons).

Part of the problem is the use of the word gala which means "festive", not formal. Since the "mouth breathers" who issued the invitation failed to indicate the level of formality required, one could be forgiven the assumption that given the purpose, location, and time of the event, that formal would go hand in hand with festive. That said, Northensky wasn't overdressed, but it sounds as if many of the attendees were grossly, or should that be grotesquely, under-dressed.