A trans-Atlantic thing?

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

If, like some, you are on a tight budget then your best investment is a black Argyll jacket and two black waistcoats-- one 3 button (like those worn with a PC) and the other a standard six button affair.

Six-button waistcoat + Argyll, & four-in-hand tie = day wear/dressy evening wear = suit and tie.
Three-button waistcoat + Argyll & bow tie = formal evening wear = tuxedo.

So there you have it, the basic formula for being well-dressed on a budget:

[1(Argyll Jacket) + 2(waistcoats)] - (white socks) = 1 Well Dressed Gentleman.

[Chef]

[1(Argyll Jacket) + 2(waistcoats)] - (white socks) = 1 Well Dressed Gentleman.

I hate New math

But I second the recommendation.

[Bugbear]

Thanks for the advice, MacMillan of Rathdown.

* I'm keeping that in mind...

[fluter]

If, like some, you are on a tight budget then your best investment is a black Argyll jacket and two black waistcoats-- one 3 button (like those worn with a PC) and the other a standard six button affair.

That's a wonderful idea. I have not seen the formal waistcoat listed for sale apart from a PC, though. Any pointers?

Some of the budget formal-wear outfits have a "backless" one like the white pique vest... I'm considering making a full-back version, using a suit vest and a white one for a hybrid pattern.

[Galician]

Wouldn't the vests offered by Rocky at USAK fall under that category?

[fluter]

Wouldn't the vests offered by Rocky at USAK fall under that category?

Answered my own question: Celtic Croft has the formal 3 button vest.

USAK lists the 5 button vest for the Argyll---but if you want the Argyll jacket with a 5- and a 3-button vest, it wasn't immediately obvious how to put it all together. I'm sure any of our sponsors could get one, I just had not seen it listed explicitly.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

That's a wonderful idea. I have not seen the formal waistcoat listed for sale apart from a PC, though. Any pointers?

Some of the budget formal-wear outfits have a "backless" one like the white pique vest... I'm considering making a full-back version, using a suit vest and a white one for a hybrid pattern.

PC waistcoats should be available from any kilt rental store. If that fails try Gaelic Themes (www.gaeilcthemes.com) or some of our X Marks advertisers. You should be able to get a black 3 button from Marlow White uniforms (sorry, don't know their web address off the top of my head) or from your local tux shop. You can get the silver buttons from some of our X Marks guys. I'd avoid silver buttons on the six button waistcoat as this is way too flashy for daywear or evening wear with a four-in-hand tie.

Despite what you may see at the Oscars or on this site, scrunchy ties really don't work with a low-cut waistcoat. The lines are all wrong, destroying both the symmetry and balance of the look. There are two basic fashion rules here (and they are rules, not merely opinions) :

(1) high-cut waistcoats should not be worn with low-cut jackets.
(2) four-in-hand ties should not be worn with low cut waistcoats.

The purpose of the low-cut waistcoat is to display as much white shirt as possible. Adding a four-in-hand tie covers up the middle of the shirt (hiding a beer stain, perhaps?) and creates a striped effect, which is far from flattering to the male figure (especially if one is chubby, fat, or obese).

[Bugbear]

That Gaelic Themes address was missing a letter, but this link works. Gaelic Themes
Also, Military Uniforms by Marlow White


More good advice. Thanks, MacMillan of Rathdown.

I think I understand the math for the most part.

There is, however, a lot of talk of day wear being accessorized with brown (shoes, belt and sporen), although I guess you wouldn't have a belt with the waistcoat... The mixing of brown accessories with black jacket and waistcoat worries me, though. Would you wear a black sporran and shoes for the day wear?

[Chef]

There is, however, a lot of talk of day wear being accessorized with brown (shoes, belt and sporen), although I guess you wouldn't have a belt with the waistcoat... The mixing of brown accessories with black jacket and waistcoat worries me, though. Would you wear a black sporran and shoes for the day wear?

Black accessories are acceptable for day wear, it is brown that is not considered acceptable for evening wear. With a black Argyle you would use black accessories. This also cuts your costs by not requiring to sets of accessories.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Black accessories are acceptable for day wear, it is brown that is not considered acceptable for evening wear. With a black Argyle you would use black accessories. This also cuts your costs by not requiring two sets of accessories.

As in most things (I swear I don't know how he does it) Chef is not only dead right, but ahead of the curve. Couldn't have put it better myself.