outift advice

[Mark Stephenson]

First, let me say that I spent 20 years in the USAF and retired as a Lt Col. So, I have a great appreciation for "dress codes". That said, it seems to me the basic question is, what constitutes "black tie"? According to the initial post, the invitation said "black tie". Please forgive me if I missed a subsequent post which indicated, "white tie", "national costume", or any other dress code specifications. I would ask the rabble: Isn't a PC, black tie, and tartan kilt considered "black tie"? Am I missing something?

Finally, perhaps it would help if we knew in what capacity the gentleman was attending the ball, i.e., is he officially representing a particular nation

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

First, let me say that I spent 20 years in the USAF and retired as a Lt Col. So, I have a great appreciation for "dress codes". That said, it seems to me the basic question is, what constitutes "black tie"? According to the initial post, the invitation said "black tie". Please forgive me if I missed a subsequent post which indicated, "white tie", "national costume", or any other dress code specifications. I would ask the rabble: Isn't a PC, black tie, and tartan kilt considered "black tie"? Am I missing something?

No, you've got it right about the PC, black tie, and kilt. The missing piece of the puzzle is the venue. As unpopular as this view may be, there are times and places where the wearing of Highland attire to a black tie (or white tie) event-- especially by persons who are not, as it has been characterized by others, "native born Scots"-- may be deemed as wholly inappropriate.

Finally, perhaps it would help if we knew in what capacity the gentleman was attending the ball, i.e., is he officially representing a particular nation

The OP is an American, currently residing in Ireland, where he is employed by the Prison Service. He is attending a ball at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, presumably as a private person, not as an official representative of Scotland.

The comment which I posted concerning "white tie, national costume" was intended to be instructional, offering as it did an explanation why the phrase "national costume" is sometimes found on invitations. Although not specifically related to the original post, it was somewhat germane because others on the thread had raised the issue of Highland attire as a "national costume".

Over the past twenty-five years, twenty-two of which were spent living in Europe, I have probably attended something in the realm of one hundred balls, a good third of them in Vienna. That said, it is my opinion (see my post #18 in this thread) that it would be inappropriate to wear Highland attire to a ball at the Hofburg.