Impressive Surroundings

[MACKAY]

I am a long time member, actually a 'Fellow', in a UK chartered industry organization called "The Business Continuity Institute", or the BCI.

For those of you who are interested, I am a Business Continuity Professional - the guy that plans for the unexpected disaster or other interruption (fire/flood/terrorist attack) that has the potential to put my company out of business for any period of time through either impacting our production data centers, or inhibiting our employees from getting to work or occupying their work space. I'm one of those Private Sector Emergency Management idiots that you see running towards the disaster, if you see me running away ... then you damn well better follow because it's big! For more info please feel free to go to http://thebci.org/design2005/

Now, for the pupose of my post (I promise it is kilt related) The BCI holds an annual meeting in the UK each November, and it is usually a very formal affair, usually held in a prestigious hotel or establishment somewhere in the UK. The last one I attended a few years ago was held at the 'Reform Club' in London where the guest of honor was PM Tony Blair, the other I attended was held at the Tower of London.

A few months ago I received permission to attend this years event from my current employer as they are very supportive of my Fellow status, as well as being a way to reward some hard work without really giving me a pay raise - not what I or the wife wanted as a trip to the UK doesn't pay the mortgage, but I'm smart enough to know how things work so I'll take it.

Well anyhow, I received this month’s newsletter and to my surprise the annual meeting was to be held in Edinburgh, which was cool enough for me as I had visions of hitting the pubs and getting a wee bit of Scottish dirt rubbed into my kilts! But then I read the following:

"BCI Symposium 2005 - 3/4th November – it has just been confirmed that the BCI Gala Dinner will be held this year in the Grand Hall of Edinburgh Castle on 3rd November 2005. We are extremely honoured to have been granted permission to hold our major annual social event in such impressive surroundings."

How cool is that! Of course I now need a few things as I have absolutely no intention of missing this opportunity to wear my Mackay Kilt to this dinner, and since it is black tie, I have some shopping to do.

For this I would appreciate any feedback on the following from those in the know so as to not embarrass myself, or any of my Scottish American brothers, other members and my UK hosts. What do I wear? Should I go Prince Charlie or Argyll? Dice hose or plain, gillies or wing tips, knife? Fly Plaid? Fur sporran or leather? Etc... Should I rent all but the kilt, or should I bring my own?

I figured I am only going to get one chance this lifetime to attend a major social event in Edinburgh Castle, so I might as well go all out!

Thanks much all ...

Brian Mackay
'Manu Forti'

[bubba]

Definately go with the Prince Charlie if it's formal and you have the option, complete with bow tie and wing collar shirt. Plain off white hose would be the ticket in my opinion. The shoes I'm not sure about. Gillies are traditional with the full rig but I don't know that wing tips wouldn't work as well. Definately a dress sporran. I know there are some leather ones with the cantle sold as dress sporrans, but to my eye they don't seem quite right for formal, go with the fur. The sgian dubh would be a nice touch if it won't create a problem and I'd pass on the fly plaid, I don't think it's neccesary and would probably be overkill since it's a dinner and not a wedding.Buy the articles you expect you'll wear again if you can, but anything you have doubts about ever needing in future you'd be better off renting.

[macwilkin]

Definately go with the Prince Charlie if it's formal and you have the option, complete with bow tie and wing collar shirt. Plain off white hose would be the ticket in my opinion. The shoes I'm not sure about. Gillies are traditional with the full rig but I don't know that wing tips wouldn't work as well. Definately a dress sporran. I know there are some leather ones with the cantle sold as dress sporrans, but to my eye they don't seem quite right for formal, go with the fur. The sgian dubh would be a nice touch if it won't create a problem and I'd pass on the fly plaid, I don't think it's neccesary and would probably be overkill since it's a dinner and not a wedding.Buy the articles you expect you'll wear again if you can, but anything you have doubts about ever needing in future you'd be better off renting.

Depending on how formal the gala is (black tie, white tie, etc.), you may want to wear a tuxedo shirt with a "stand-and-fall" (regular) collar & black bow tie rather than the wing-collar shirt -- the wing collar is traditionally reserved for white tie, but American tuxedo rental places have pretty much done away with that custom. And dress wingtips are fine with formal wear -- I wear mine with my formal "rig" all the time, never owned a pair of ghillies.

Cheers,

Todd

[Hamish]

Between them, Bubba and Todd have said it all. The combined outfit they describe is precisely what I would aim for were I to be attending this function.

I have to say I am really envious as I just love getting all that kit on!!

Have a great time in Edinburgh. It's a fabulous place .......... even in November!!!

[mkmound]

I am a long time member, actually a 'Fellow', in a UK chartered industry organization called "The Business Continuity Institute", or the BCI. . .

What about this for use as a dress sporran?

Black Crocodile Pattern Dress Sporran


http://kiltstore.net/sr_swhdr_sporra...ml?id=5uEYRjIx

Regards,
Mark

[Kiltedmusiclover]

:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: OK. So I'm extremely envious of you.

Having been to that hall all I can say is
"You lucky Son of a Gun!"
All that and you
get to write it off as a business expense or better yet get your
employer to pay for it.
Congratulations and go with the Prince Charlie!

[Planopiper]

White or off-white hose are not formal. They're just easy to match for pipe bands. I believe colored hose are better and argyll are better still. Gillies are formal, as are the buckle shoes. I love crocodile, but you have to look kind of close to see that's what that sporran is. It looks more like a semi-dress sporran. To me, fur is nicer than leather.

The Prince Charlie is equivilent to a tuxedo jacket. Do you think the other gentlemen there will be wearing tuxedos? If they'll be wearing suits, then the Argyll is probably more appropriate. It's certainly formal. And a good investment if you can see yourself wearing one in the future. If you want to invest in a Prince Charlie, that would be great, too, if you think you will get more use out of it. The Argyll is generally more useful, though.

Penney's has all the tux accessories in a box. Shirt, bowtie, studs, cufflinks, cumberbun. It's a good way to get everything at once if you don't have it. You can use everything except the cumberbun.

Congratulations on the getting to go on the trip and to the event. I'm very jealous.

[MACKAY]

Do you think the other gentlemen there will be wearing tuxedos? If they'll be wearing suits, then the Argyll is probably more appropriate. It's certainly formal. And a good investment if you can see yourself wearing one in the future. If you want to invest in a Prince Charlie, that would be great, too, if you think you will get more use out of it. The Argyll is generally more useful, though.

Okay, from past events 99% of the attendees will be in a Tux or Gown. So I am leaning towards renting (hiring) a Prince Charlie as I really don't think that I would get much use out of it at home as I generally don't attend that many occasions that would require such a formal jacket.

However you raised an interesting question. Would it still be appropriate to wear an Argyll amongst all the tuxedos? Also, are dark kilt hose considered formal?

I would get much more use out of an Argyll at home and would be inclined to purchase one prior to my trip if it would be appropriate to wear to a black tie (not white tie) function. I have to say I also like the idea of buckles on the shoes rather than gillies as my Grandfather would always wear a pair on special occasions with his kit.

Thanks again to all for the comments and suggestions. I really appreciate them!

Brian Mackay

[Planopiper]

You probably need to find a more authoritive source. If others are wearing tuxes and gowns, then I'd wear the Prince Charlie (as opposed to a gown). Renting should be easy enough. They're not cheap to buy. But my understanding is that the Argyll is evening wear.

Argyll hose are the best choice for a formal event. Castellated tops w/ ribbon garters would be tops. Trying to find some to match your kilt may be difficult, though. You might be able to find someone who knits who could make them. Colored hose would be a good second choice. I like to wear hose that match one of the major colors in the kilt, and flashes that contrast strongly w/ the hose but match another color in the kilt. If you don't have the color you want in flashes, they're easy to make w/ some elastic and a bit of ribbon. If I'm wearing an Argyll jacket then I like to match my shirt w/ the flashes if I can. I like colors. I only wear a white shirt and white hose if I'm in the band uniform or playing for a funeral. I always wear a white tux shirt w/ the Prince Charlie.

I know that you can get buckles to tie onto your wingtips to make them look authentic. I have a pair of Sketchers w/ a strap and buckle that I sometimes wear w/ my kit as an updated version of the buckle shoe. I wouldn't necessarily recommend them for this though.

Check w/ rental shops and highland outfitters and look around on the internet or talk to anyone you can find w/ some authority. Maybe someone at Edinborough Castle would be able to give you some advice. They may have a web site. It's worth checking.

[Doc Hudson]

If you are on a tight budget, perhaps this would work:



http://search.stores.ebay.com/search...asel=169835737

Someone with more sartorial expertise than I would need to comment on suitability for a formal occassion, but IIRC in another thread here, they were said to be suitable for formal ocassions. And the price is certainly right.