Help with white tie

[thescot]

White tie is just that, white tie, and the rules are the same whether kilted or in tails.

FORMAL WHITE SHIRT WITH WING COLLAR;
WHITE WAISTCOAT;
WHITE TIE;
TARTAN HOSE or DICED HOSE or BLACK HOSE;
DRESS SPORRAN (silver mounted);
BLACK EVENING JACKET (Prince Charlie coatee);
BLACK EVENING SHOES (well polished plain black shoes; NO brogues).

As previously stated, do not wear your bonnet, and do not wear your plaid. When you can afford to up-grade your sporran, do so. Either one of those silver mounted fur things or a long horse hair or goat hair sporran is appropriate for white tie.

While living in Europe I attended (on average) six white tie dinners a year, plus two or three white tie balls. I did this every year for nearly twenty one years, so I probably have more real world experience than anyone else on this forum.

The whole purpose of formal attire is to blend in, not stand out. You are supposed to look like everyone else, but be remembered for your wit, charm, and intellect. If you stand out because of the way you are dressed, you will be mocked, not admired.

Like I said, it's all about conforming. And doing it so well that you are admired for it.

Read this carefully and follow it to the letter. The worst that can happen is that someone will not care for your kilt.

If you decide on "flashy," you may well be thought--and look--crass. Boorishness is not well tolerated anywhere, and if you're going to a function where white tie is expected, I can almost bet that they won't care for boors.

Always try to ere on the side of caution. And have a good time.

[thescot]

OK, a few specific questions:

1) Must the waistcoat be white, as MacMillian states, or may it be black, as the Wikipedia article says?
2) Is the fly plaid permitted?
3) I don't foresee being able to afford any argyle, tartan, or diced hose anytime soon. Will black hose work?
. . ..

1. Wear only a white waistcoat. You can buy one pretty cheap at someplace like Burlington Coat Factory.
2. No fly plaid.
3. Wear black socks. They'll be fine, but I would recommend ribbon flashes. (You can buy grosgrain ribbon at a material store and sew it onto some elastic with velcro attached.)

[fluter]

Yes, I too. I'd seen the wikipedia reference, but was taking it with a large grain of salt. Else-thread, I noted someone say that PC and white tie was not "on." While it seems like a natural combination, I still don't know for sure!

I was interested in highland dress when I was a teenager, and then my attention was distracted for about 40 years... So I'm basically a newbie with only a couple of opinions of my own.

1. Wear only a white waistcoat. You can buy one pretty cheap at someplace like Burlington Coat Factory.

Uniformalwearhouse can supply the white pique waistcoat, shirt, and tie. they are quick and seem reliable.

[Coemgen]

Just check Uniformalwearhouse.

Dress sporran: $45.00 (a bit much for my bank account, but I can manage)
White pique wing collar shirt: $19.95 (affordbale)
White pique bow tie: $14.95 (seems a bit much, but reasonable)
White pique vest: $59.99 ()

I'm not entirely sure that I can get the vest and the sporran

Anyone know anyplace where I can get a white pique vest (or a dress sporran - or both) for a bit less (by "a bit," I mean enough to make the total ≤ $100.00, if possible)?

[Coemgen]

One more thing:

2. No fly plaid.

You know, in none of these lists do I ever see the fly plaid mentioned. Now, if I want to wear a plaid, I'm going to wear one. However, it would be good to know what is "proper".

2) Normally I'd say no to the fly plaid, but as you will be on stage a bit of theatricality probably would do no harm. It's up to you.

Could I wear my fly plaid if I wanted to?

[Coemgen]

One more thing.

I know that the sporran should be a fur one with a silver cantle. However, in the interests of not spending myself into oblivion, would this ($25):



… be an acceptable substitution for these ($45 ea.)?

[gilmore]

...Forget "National dress options"-- outside of a movie I've never seen someone in a dashiki at a white tie event. ...

Interestingly, I am now watching a special on TV on HM and the royal family. Earlier, a state dinner for the president of Ghana was shown. He and several others were wearing traditional African dress, one in what looked like a dashiki.

[Tullibardine]

White Tie in a kilt - as for black tie except white waistcoat, tartan or diced hose, BUCKLE BROGUES in patent leather, dirk, black Inverness cape, no headgear.

[Prester John]

I only now caught this thread.

In my opinion, drop the fly plaid, and just go with the white tie and vest.

Simple, classic, and celtic. Believe me, it will look better this way.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Just check Uniformalwearhouse.

Dress sporran: $45.00 (a bit much for my bank account, but I can manage)
White pique wing collar shirt: $19.95 (affordbale)
White pique bow tie: $14.95 (seems a bit much, but reasonable)
White pique vest: $59.99 ()

I'm not entirely sure that I can get the vest and the sporran

Anyone know anyplace where I can get a white pique vest (or a dress sporran - or both) for a bit less (by "a bit," I mean enough to make the total ≤ $100.00, if possible)?

Kevin-
the leather silver mounted sporran is okay, and since you'll be "performing" on stage the fly plaid would be okay, too. I once saw Kenneth McKeller in concert, and he wore a fly plaid. It would be different "off-stage" at a dinner or a party, but when performing it's okay to hold the attention of your audience by the way you dress.

What size are you? PM me your details and I'll see if I've got a spare white waistcoat your size. (You might also ask at your local tux shop about a used white waistcoat.)