Tartan waistcoat experimentation

[Nathan]

I presume "a very fancy ball" would be a "white tie" affair. (snip)

The reason I didn't specify "white tie" is that the big St. Andrew's Day ball here in Toronto doesn't demand white tie as necessary but it's probably the only annual event I know of here where people go all out with their Highland attire, should they own it.

Certainly, there are plenty of Prince Charlies...



but it seems to be a "wear your very best" rather than "white tie" affair.



I know the Royal Caledonian is white tie but they don't seem to deny entry to people in Prince Charlies or even Argylls with a black bow tie whereas they would not accept a regular tuxedo and would demand white tie and tails from the saxon attired.




So given that in actual practice the line between black and white tie is often much more blurred with Highland attire than it is with saxon attire, I didn't want to go down the road of equivalency but specified very fancy ball to indicate an event where Prince Charlies were common but nothing is really overdressed for the gents.

In fact, the dress code for the Oban ball states:

"DRESS: Gentlemen will wear Highland Evening Dress, Mess Dress, Hunt Coat or White Tie. No Dinner Jackets will be admitted. Ladies will wear full length ball dresses (to the floor, all the way round). No stiletto heels admitted.
It is the Vouching Member’s responsibility to ensure that their party is aware of the dress code. Those INCORRECTLY DRESSED WILL BE TURNED AWAY."

Here, I'd think any of my looks would get through the door however the dress code for the Royal Caledonian Ball states:

Gentlemen
Essential: Highland evening dress comprising kilt and sporran, evening jacket of black broadcloth or coloured velvet, white evening shirt and black bow tie or lace jabot, or Evening dress, comprising black evening tail coat, white shirt with wing collar, white bow tie and white waistcoat, or Mess dress, worn according to regulations, with, preferably, where permitted, any more formal variation such as stiff shirt, wing collar and black bow tie. No dinner jackets

Interestingly, I think my Argyll would pass muster at the Royal Caledonian but perhaps not my Balmoral since it states "black broadcloth or coloured velvet" and mine is coloured broadcloth! This is a surprise to me.