Quote Originally Posted by McClef View Post
I cannot forget it because it is officially allowed for and only last week BBC4 showed a repeat of the state visit of the President of Ghana and he wore his native dress at the state dinner. It looked like a dashiki type thing to me and he walked into the dinner side by side with Her Majesty - don't think she was making a movie. I realise that you don't get BBC4 over there but simply to make the point that just because you haven't seen something doesn't mean it doesn't happen.
Actually, I do get BBC 4, although I rarely bother to watch the Beeb or any other channel for that matter. I much prefer to be out and about and in the thick of things.

There is a world of difference between a state banquet, a musical recital, and the new year's ball in Vienna. Of course a visiting head of state would be expected to wear his national mode of dress. For instance: When Her Majesty visited Japan a few years ago, she didn't wear a kimono to the state banquet. At least not that I noticed on BBC 4.

I agree that just because I haven't seen something doesn't mean it doesn't happen. I've seen lots of suggestions, on this and other threads, about how to dress that are, in my opinion, mind-numbing in their lack of style and good taste. Now I haven't actually seen anybody dressed as was suggested, but I'm sure that doesn't mean that it doesn't happen.

If one is required to wear white tie (as opposed to choosing to wear white tie) then one has to follow the rules. All of 'em.

You have an awesome motorcycle. And to ride it, you have to follow certain rules. One of those rules requires you to wear a helmet. Now you may prefer wearing one of those WWI German army spiked helmets, but if you do there will probably be some undesirable consequences. To be sure, you will attract a lot of attention, and probably receive some favourable comments regarding your picklehaube. But this attention will do nothing to mitigate the unfavourable consequence of your act. You will get a ticket, you may get banned.

A gentleman in highland attire, following all the rules, will hardly rate a second glance at a formal function. A guy dressed up like he's just stepped off the lid of a shortbread tin, or is on his way to audition for the second lead in a Christmas pantomime will, however, attract a lot of attention. For all the wrong reasons. And he will probably become the unwitting victim of the perfect crime.

And what is that perfect crime? Ridicule.