outift advice

[Tobus]

I asked one of the hosts about this once, she was concerned that "people might not come" if it was black tie required or they were too rigid etc...

That seems to be the general consensus these days. Except for the uber-rich, most Americans don't appreciate dressing up. You can hardly get the common man to wear a suit and tie for church or weddings any more. So organizers of evening events typically won't call for formal wear, or won't enforce it, lest they be accused of being snooty and discriminatory. And ye gads! Being accused of snootiness and discrimination will mean bad press, demonstrations, and loss of business! Possibly even lawsuits!

I don't know how or why America got to this point, but it's a bit of a shame.

Do common people in the UK (i.e. the middle class) have black-tie events on a regular basis?

[macwilkin]

Post deleted.

[Teufel Hunden]

Except for the uber-rich, most Americans don't appreciate dressing up.

I don't think it's a money thing... some people just would rather wear flip flops every day and have that "I just got out of bed and threw something on" look regardless. Hell, the richest man I know (worth 10s of millions at the very least) only owns a handful of ties, a couple suits, and no formal wear. MY closet is much more impressive than his. I think the type of person who enjoys a formal event makes up a good cross section of the country.

Good lord! Do mean to say that they don't do that in the USA?

We most certainly do! My wedding, in fact, will be a formal event, and my pissed off Marine buddies will be guarding the door against any miscreants who would attempt to attend it wearing anything less than the event deserves!

But in all seriousness, it depends on the area really. Boulder, CO, right next door to me, seems to have an allergic reaction to even mentioning wearing anything but the standard speedo bicycle rider uniform, but on occasion you can find some well dressed folks.



Joey, I have to agree with Jock and MoR, and I'm the kind of guy who is almost begging for more formal kilted events. I even started a thread about it in the regional forums.

BUT

Even I wouldn't wear a kilt to this very specific event. I will say, from limited experience, that MoR definitely knows what he's talking about here.

If you decide to go kilted anyway, I agree with Thistle Down and don't do the ruche tie