What to wear for afternoon tea

[Phil]

As a kilt wearer of 26 years standing, I have always worn matching tartan flashes, made presumably with scraps from the same length of material as the kilt, supplied and advised by reputable Scottish kilt makers .

Have I been getting it wrong or would it just not be done in a 5* hotel?

John

There is a great deal of contradictory advice available here on this forum, most of which has developed over the years that I have been here. In the beginning white hose and gillie brogues were the norm, montrose doublets and jabots were unheard of, headwear was whatever hung on the hallstand, jacobite shirts and those 'swordsman' doublets were rife. Then, almost imperceptibly, voices were heard proclaiming the evils of such kilted abominations. These voices pronounced with such an air of authority, bolstered by an oft repeated claim to be the oracle in all such matters, that the ingenues here began to believe them and hang upon their every word as if from on high. And lo, it came to pass that the old beliefs in white hose, gillie brogues and all those false abominations from the past were cast out. Sadly your tartan flashes seem to have joined these ranks, the likes of which must never be mentioned here except to bring down scorn and derision upon the perpetrator.
On the other hand, if you have been wearing them for the last 25 years, then you are probably eminently better qualified to do so than the majority of such contributors here, the majority of whom would not have known a kilt from a tartan rug 10 years ago, never mind 25.
So no, you haven't been getting it wrong. Just that there are, unfortunately, many people in this world who live their lives with the misguided conceit that they know better and never hesitate in expressing their fatuous opinions to all and sundry at every possible opportunity.

[McClef]

Dredging back through my photos on here I found the photo I took of the doorman at the Balmoral Hotel.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...weekend-31854/

He is wearing tartan flashes. (He is also wearing white hose but we will have to let that pass )

The Balmoral is a 5* Hotel.

No dress code, kilted or otherwise is listed on the page regarding its afternoon teas.

Nor can I find one listed on the Scotsman Hotel official website.

There are no kilt police, not even a flashes division.

[JohntheBiker]

You may be under a misapprehension as to the level of formality expected for "afternoon tea". It is normally a relaxed affair where casual dress is quite appropriate, more formal attire being reserved for a later formal dinner.
Few, if any, hotels in Scotland expect their guests to dress up nowadays although jeans and t-shirts are not usually welcomed at dinner at the more up-market establishments.
And, of course, unless there is a wedding function taking place in the hotel when you are there, you will most likely be the only individual wearing a kilt. Don't worry about looking out of place, however, as no-one will regard it as in the slightest bit unusual.
If you do choose to wear a kilt my suggestion would be simply a shirt and tie if you want to be a bit formal or a sweater, both of which will be perfectly acceptable. A plain sporan, self-coloured hose and brown or black shoes (wingtips I believe they are called in your country). A jacket is quite unnecessary.

***

[Phil]

No dress code, kilted or otherwise is listed on the page regarding its afternoon teas.Nor can I find one listed on the Scotsman Hotel official website.There are no kilt police, not even a flashes division.

The only hotel in Scotland I can recall with a dress code was Crieff Hydro which used to ask guests to wear a lounge suit to dinner back in the seventies but even they seem to have abandoned any such pretext of gentility. Nowadays I don't believe any hotels even presume to dictate in such a way to their guests. Business is tough enough without putting people off in that way.
The general rule is that the pricier the place (more stars in other words) the more likely you are to run into the kind of old farts with plenty of disposable income and who still dress like their grandparents and expect everyone else to do the same. In other words if you really must go to these kind of places then you might be made to feel uncomfortable if you do not go along with them.
My advice is to find somewhere else where you are going to feel more relaxed and comfortable and, as a result, enjoy the experience much more. And as an added bonus you will probably find the sandwiches and scones incomparably better than the rock-hard scones and sandwiches curling up at the edges that most such pretentious places serve up. They rely on the punters being either too polite or too over-awed to complain.
The best tea and scones I have enjoyed recently were at Dobbies garden centre near Livingston.

[RunTheWorldOnMac]

I have a pic of the same doorman in trews and rain cape as he was walking home. I saw him again a few days later at the hotel and realized where I has seen him.

I think I'll stick to a simple shirt and tie to keep it simple. 80)

Thanks everybody!

[Zardoz]

There is a great deal of contradictory advice available here on this forum, most of which has developed over the years that I have been here. In the beginning white hose and gillie brogues were the norm, montrose doublets and jabots were unheard of, headwear was whatever hung on the hallstand, jacobite shirts and those 'swordsman' doublets were rife. Then, almost imperceptibly, voices were heard proclaiming the evils of such kilted abominations. These voices pronounced with such an air of authority, bolstered by an oft repeated claim to be the oracle in all such matters, that the ingenues here began to believe them and hang upon their every word as if from on high. And lo, it came to pass that the old beliefs in white hose, gillie brogues and all those false abominations from the past were cast out. Sadly your tartan flashes seem to have joined these ranks, the likes of which must never be mentioned here except to bring down scorn and derision upon the perpetrator.
On the other hand, if you have been wearing them for the last 25 years, then you are probably eminently better qualified to do so than the majority of such contributors here, the majority of whom would not have known a kilt from a tartan rug 10 years ago, never mind 25.
So no, you haven't been getting it wrong. Just that there are, unfortunately, many people in this world who live their lives with the misguided conceit that they know better and never hesitate in expressing their fatuous opinions to all and sundry at every possible opportunity.

Well put Phil, I know in the 7 or so years I've been active here I've seen a lot of things like that trend in and/or out. I recall in my first few months here I asked about white hose with formal rig, I thought black would be the way to go, but was assured by a majority of people that white was the only way to go. After seeing some photos from the event all I could think of was how I didn't like those damn socks. I have not worn any since. But I have to say, in those days it was just the advice of the majority, not the loud voice of a couple 'oracles' as you say.
I seem to have missed the memo on the tartan flashes early on too, I don't recall them being a problem in my early days here. I have some for 3 of my kilts, and I'll choose to wear them based on the same criteria I choose solid ones on; if I think they will look good with the outfit.

[Highlander31]

Just the cardboard tartan ones, Friday. In Scotland we usually wear tied garters, but there are elastic and velcro ones out there, too, and they're acceptable. Toss the tartan ones in the nearest bin....

I use one of my old tartan flashes as a material swatch. When shopping for a tie or a shirt, it is nice to be able to lay the flash over it, and get an idea of how it will look with the kilt. When suits were the order of the day, I would do the same thing with a small sample of the suit's material.

[ThistleDown]

I use one of my old tartan flashes as a material swatch. When shopping for a tie or a shirt, it is nice to be able to lay the flash over it, and get an idea of how it will look with the kilt. When suits were the order of the day, I would do the same thing with a small sample of the suit's material.

Good idea, Highlanders31. Maybe I'll see if I can retreive those ones I used to have from the scrap bin for the same purpose. On the issue of right or wrong, everything written on this forum is that author's opinion, even the best and the worst of advice. Always sort the offerings for those that fit your style just as you choose shoes that fit your feet.

[lukeyrobertson]

I like what Jock says about showing only an inch or slightly more of the garter/flash. I like solid garter ties and tartan flashes... I wear both. I like them to show a "flash" of colour and not have then flapping around. Have fun at the Scotsman! Sounds like an elegant place for a special time with your partner. Send us pics!

[Highlander31]

Good idea, Highlanders31. Maybe I'll see if I can retreive those ones I used to have from the scrap bin for the same purpose.

Thanks, ThistleDown. However, I can't take credit for that idea. When I was a young man and purchasing my first suit, an elderly gentleman was in the tailor's shop picking up a suit. He asked if I would like some advice on suits and dress in general. Fortunately, for me, I was smart enough to realize I could learn from his experience. In five minutes I learned how to test the material of a suit for its ability to resist wrinkles, the quality of the stitches and the attention to detail in the fitting of patterns (specifically pinstripe suits.) He suggested I wear only fitted shirts with simple elegant cuff links, and when I found a tie that worked with the sample swatch, to purchase two, and alternate wearing them, thus getting the most wear for the dollar. He also recommended when I could afford it, to get either Bally's or Allen Edmonds shoes. I've tried both, and prefer the Allen Edmonds (my last pair has lasted over twenty years.) I never did get the gentleman's name, but his advice has stayed with me for more than forty years. It seemed natural to carry that same advise over to kilt wear.

On the issue of right or wrong, everything written on this forum is that author's opinion, even the best and the worst of advice. Always sort the offerings for those that fit your style just as you choose shoes that fit your feet.

I agree, one must sort out their own style and preferences. I started out wearing white hose with the tartan flashes. Both faded from my dress as I discovered colored hose and the more comfortable self tie garters. One of the strengths of this forum, is the myriad of styles and opinions presented for examination.