PC equivalents and such

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I was thinking today that some might think a Kilt/Argyle or whatever set up you might have could look rather un-American. (which is fair enough)

If by un-American you meant "foreign looking", I'd have to agree-- if you were somewhere outside of Scotland.

But that got me thinking, what would most suits be considered? I have heard of expensive 'Italian" suits, and it leaves me wondering if the American equivalent to the Formalwear world is that blasted white suit outfit that Harlan Sanders of KFC wears? Is a standard tux basically a French/European thing?

Since you are referring to formal attire the tuxedo is, as McMurdo has already pointed out, quintessentially "American" as it gained wide-spread popularity and social acceptance in the USA decades before it enjoyed the same social status in Britain or mainland Europe. While it can be argued as to who first wore the now ubiquitous "tux"-- the prince or the tobacco king-- what cannot be denied is that it first caught on in the USA. So, at least in terms of "modern" formal attire, the tuxedo is about as American as apple pie.

Does that mean a full Kilt outfit is just as proper as a normal tux...

Certainly it is appropriate in Scotland. However, the further one moves away from Scotland, the greater the danger one will be perceived as wearing a costume if one attends a formal event in a kilt. Now obviously if you are attending a formal Scottish event outside of Scotland then the kilt is absolutely proper, and should be worn. But to any other formal event wearing the kilt is a judgment call, and I for one choose not to wear Highland attire to any but Scottish events.

My reason for this is that I do not wish others to view Highland attire as a costume, something worn merely to call attention to me. Over the course of the last quarter century I have attended many formal functions in Britain and throughout Europe. Outside of Scotland those wearing kilts to these events were usually from North America, or Australia/New Zealand, or the occasional Scot wanting to "make a splash", socially. I particularly remember attending a ball in Austria when it was discovered that the "Scotchman" was actually from Canada. He was introduced to our party and moments after he left a very grand lady turned and asked, "Why is that man dressed like a Scotchman? Isn't he proud of Canada?" Surely something to consider.

(According to Oscar Lenius the tuxedo/dinner jacket was most probably based on the Homburg jacket (from Germany), which was worn after dinner by gentlemen enjoying their cigars. Hence the continental term "smoking" for a tuxedo or (after)dinner jacket. Given that the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) was very much a German and that Griswold Lorillard's vast wealth came from tobacco, I tend to agree with Lenius as to the Teutonic origins of the dinner jacket/tuxedo.)