How would it look?

[Benning Boy]

Jock, I agree broadly with what you are saying, however, it seems to me that wearing THCD is a lot like learning to color between the lines. Stay between the lines and you get a gold star, but stray outside the lines and you're told you need more work -- sorta. That's where uniformity comes in, to my way of thinking.

My impression is there is a lot more coloring between the lines in Great Britain than here in the formerly Wild West. There's still a lot of Keeping Up Appearances going on over there, or so it seems to me.

While not going in for an entirely Jackson Pollack style of coloring, I'm trying to find my own way, a way that lets me color freely. And, the reason for my original question is curiosity about what might be more broadly acceptable, yet still allow me to express my own sense of style. I'm a geezer, and feel it better to dress like a geezer, albeit a kilted geezer, rather than a hipster. But I'm still enough of an experimenter to want to express myself in my own distinctive way, beyond just wearing the kilt. I once was a little bit of a fashion leader, or trend setter -- not much, but a little -- and I'm feeling the urge to join the fashion skirmishers again, just for the entertainment value if nothing else.

Richard, I learned, or somehow picked up on it way back in the '60s that four-sided buttons set cockeyed on a garment where all called lozenge shaped. That's where I'm coming from. You don't see that word used very often nowadays to describe buttons, it's either square or diamond shaped. Indeed if you google lozenge buttons, you get a whole lot of stuff that doesn't even look like a garment button at all. I've toyed with replacing the four-sided buttons on my Argyll with round silver ones, or black satin covered ones, eliminating the twinkling metal altogether. I just want my clothes to be my clothes, and not just like everyone else's clothes.

[Jock Scot]

Benning Boy.

I have to confess that I don't know what a "geezer" or a "hipster", in your terms is. I think you have described THCD pretty well with the colouring between the lines type thing. I am not at all sure that "keeping up appearances" is really the issue in the UK, for some maybe it is, but its really more of, if that is what is required, that's fine, so that is what we do. If you want to create your own set of lines then you are amongst many that happily do, although that could cause you a problem in some circumstances.

As far as I am aware the only time criticism, helpful I hope, occurs here if someone posts a picture saying something like:-" here's me in THCD attire", when no, they patently are not, or they suggest a list of attire that they hope is THCD and members offer constructive advice to steer someone in the right direction.

THCD is, as you know, a purely artificial xmarks definition to guide those that wish to follow the more traditional route and is really an educational term and tool, nothing more.

[Tarheel]

I feel there are excellent points to be considered with the waistcoat buttons (type, number, nomenclature). The first description of your outfit Benning sounds great. What shirt and tie style and color were you choosing? Are you wearing medals? What kilt did you decide on?
I don't have to ask about shoes, hose or sporran as I know you have that under control.

[StevieR]

I agree with Jock. Highland dress offers an enormous array of choices. It might be like colouring between the lines, but those lines are pretty broadly spaced. If the formal function is "black tie", then certainly in the UK that means dinner suit, bow tie, dress shirt and shiny black shoes. Those dressing like that are far more restricted in conveying a little individual flair (I've always been taught "understated", so this would likely only extend to some unusual cufflinks and maybe a fancy backed shirt) and so would appear far more "uniform" than those kilted at a similarly formal event.

Going back to your original question, it depends what you mean by formal. If black tie, then your black argyll with a three button waistcoat is your starting point. In my opinion the colour of the waistcoat does not necessarily have to match that of the jacket. If the event requires a lounge suit (or is even more casual) you may be a little overdressed but you could consider changing the buttons of your jacket and again - my opinion only of course- a contrasting waistcoat would look great.

As far as keeping up appearances goes, then yes, perhaps dress choices in the UK are a little more formal than the US, but surely conventions should still be followed? It still leaves plenty of room for personal flair, but just means you don't turn up to a job interview in a tee shirt and shorts and you don't go to a beach party in a lounge suit!

[plaid preacher]

Benning Boy, I think you plan sounds perfectly fine. As someone pointed out earlier, the dove grey vest is traditional with the morning suit, and thus should work well with the BBA.

At the risk of having the Dowager Grantham cluck her tongue at the following suggestion - as she did when Lord Grantham showed up for dinner in a dinner jacket and not the traditional tails - I suspect on this side of the Atlantic at least that you can probably get away with the BBA at a formal event (black tie) after 6 pm. In North America it is not uncommon to see gentlemen attired in tuxedos for afternoon weddings, and in all my years, the only morning suits I ever saw were either worn by funeral directors or myself and my best man at my morning wedding. (...and no I am not comparing my wedding to a funeral, in case you may wonder ). Indeed several sites I have referenced include the BBA within the range of acceptable dress for black tie events. As someone noted, a three button vest is preferable. Whatever you wear, I suspect you are more apt to be asked what you are wearing under your kilt than what you are wearing on top.

[Benning Boy]

I feel there are excellent points to be considered with the waistcoat buttons (type, number, nomenclature). The first description of your outfit Benning sounds great. What shirt and tie style and color were you choosing? Are you wearing medals? What kilt did you decide on?
I don't have to ask about shoes, hose or sporran as I know you have that under control.

It's just a little affair that one might dress up a bit for. Maybe I shouldn't call it formal, but I'm approaching it as if it were. A tux would work. I'm just playing with ideas for a kilted equivalent. The waistcoat is five buttons, shiny, four-sided. I'd wear it with a plain white shirt, point collar (it's what I have) and black bow tie. I'd never wear medals, at least I can't see myself doing it. On those rare occasions I've worn a tux, mostly when performing, I do without the cummerbund and keep my jacket buttoned. Just to keep things simple. So I'm thinking along those lines when trying to figure out how to do it kilted.

I don't know how it is elsewhere, but in these parts tux wearers who want to set themselves apart frequently wear bright red bow ties and cummerbunds. To my eye that's just tacky, and I want to avoid the Highland equivalent of it.


The kilt would be Holyrood Golden Jubilee, I really like that kilt. Sporran would be a black semi-dress.


As an aside, I do believe a dark charcoal Kilt Kut jacket from Freedom Kilts, matched with the dove gray waistcoat and silver/gray tie would make a dandy Highland substitute for a Stresemann suit, but that's very much morning or day wear. However, if I were to wear such in the evening, it's highly unlikely anyone would think the less of me.


Tripod seemed perplexed by the conjunction of Nudie Suit and formal. When you party with eccentric multi, multi millionaires, things happen that probably wouldn't fly at Buckingham Palace. That evening most every other man was in a tux or dark business suit. The women were quite stylish. What a trip!

[tripod]

Then it isn't 'formal' just a 'dress well' gathering if I can put it that way.

My advice in that case is wear what you feel is appropriate and what you are comfortable with. From your descriptions I doubt you'd outshine the host. If you're unsure about the grey then dress underneath to enable you to take it off and still look good. I might add a flask filled with the water of life in your sporran.