formal evening dress: vest or no?

[Zardoz]

A lot of people still think that a gentleman does not remove his jacket in public, and there are still a few venues where a gentleman will be asked to put his jacket back on or to leave! Personally, I don't completely (mostly, but not completely) agree with that point of view, but I would rather forgo a waistcoat and keep my jacket on, particularly at a formal event.

I also mostly agree with that. I was taught as a youngster that it was not considered appropriate to remove your tuxedo coat at a formal, thus exposing your suspenders, cummerbund clasp and wrinkled shirt. I apply the same logic to formal kiltwear as well, particularly since I usually wear a backless waistcoat.

The proper time to remove your jacket? When you go to bed.

[Brian K]

I also mostly agree with that. I was taught as a youngster that it was not considered appropriate to remove your tuxedo coat at a formal, thus exposing your suspenders, cummerbund clasp and wrinkled shirt. I apply the same logic to formal kiltwear as well, particularly since I usually wear a backless waistcoat.

The proper time to remove your jacket? When you go to bed.

I tend to agree. If I am suited (I don't own formal wear, but the only suit I own is black, so I am not too far out of line when in the company of gentlemen in evening wear) I rarely take off my jacket until I return home.

Two exceptions:
a.) if I am attending, or otherwise involved in, a function where I am expected to help clean up afterward I remove my jacket and roll up my sleeves in order to protect them, b.) if my Lodge brothers and I are enjoying post meeting refreshments I will sometimes remove my jacket. If we dine prior to a meeting I leave it on but a "late night snack" with my Brothers seems to me to be an informal enough occasion to warrant being in my shirt sleeves - especially if the Junior Warden has supplied pizza, wings or something else similarly messy!

I presume I will behave pretty much the same way when I am finally kilted.

Regards,

Brian