Formal-on-the-cheap is too wide a brush for me. I have seen outfits that use PC conversions from tail coats, or mess jackets paired with inexpensive (but properly styled) accessories and well made kilts (not necessarily tanks) that have looked just grand whether the wearer was the only one in a kilt at the function or one of hundreds.

Unfortunately I have also seen the formal-on-the-cheap that would look silly at a formal gathering of kilts and while it might fool some if you are the only kilt wearer, it still won't pass as quality garments.

If waiters' jackets passed as formal wear then plenty of people would buy them instead of buying or renting a real tux. Guess what they don't, because they don't look right. Using the excuse that no one else will know is bad form and quite frankly wrong. Certainly there are many people who nothing of clothing who will accept what you wear as the real deal, but plenty others will still see that you are not wearing quality garments.

Can you do formal on the cheap? Sure as mentioned above or by finding bargains on new and used jackets and accessories. So what is my advice? First, to someone who only has a need for formal attire very occasionally - rent. There are plenty of places that will rent by mail so if you really only need it once a year, rent. Two years from now you might not be the same size anyway. What if you need formal wear a few times a year (so rentals are not really cost effective) if you can't find quality goods on the cheap - buy a tux and save up for the kilt. It's not unusual to find sales on tuxes. Are they Armani...of course not, but they will compare to an expensive tux better than a waiters jacket will compare to a PC.

Fluter, actually I do dislike it when someone shows up in a suit when he should be wearing a tux. in the same way I would dislike someone who showed up in jeans when he should be wearing a suit. Sorry, I'm old fashion and think we as a society have gone too far off the edge with this whatever-you-like is fine idea.