What to Wear?

[randal]

HELP My wife and I have the opportunity to attend a Burns night in Florence, Or. I know what I would wear but we don't know what a lady should wear to an event such as this.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

[McMurdo]

Any Evening Dress would be good, you can also add a Tartan Sash if she has one.

[David Dubh]

An evening dress in a complementary colour. If she wears a nice black dress then possibly the matching tartan sash.

[BEEDEE]

What ever is appropriate. Some Burns Nights are formal (PC's) and a formal dress would be great, others are informal and a simple cocktail dress would be all that's needed. Some run the whole gamut of attire. Have her wear whatever compliments your outfit.

Brian

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

If it is after 6pm, and no dress code is stated on the invitation, then black tie (Prince Charlie coatee) is given to be understood. This is the social "default" position for dinners, both public and private. The social default position for drinks/cocktails after 6pm is a dark suit.

That said, call and ask the host/organizer what level of dress is expected. It is always permissible to dress one notch down-- if the invitation says "black tie" a dark suit is okay, but a blazer and tan slacks would be frowned upon.

Your lady should dress to match your level of attire. Generally speaking (for Scottish affairs) ladies wear a "hostess length" tartan skirt, white blouse, and some sort of matching short jacket. A dark skirt may be substituted for the tartan, and a tartan shawl or sash may be worn in lieu of the jacket. If your wife doesn't wish to wear something "Scottish" then a dark skirt and jacket, or dark suit, may be worn in stead.

[Bugbear]

... That said, call and ask the host/organizer what level of dress is expected. It is always permissible to dress one notch down-- if the invitation says "black tie" a dark suit is okay, but a blazer and tan slacks would be frowned upon. ...

Aha!! So that's what the black, silver button, Argyle and three button waistcoat is about with black tie. I will memorize that guideline for the next time someone tells me people in Scotland do not wear that type of Argyle outfit to black tie events.

[Frank McGrath]

Would a fancy Drindl be out of place if the wife has Austrian Heritage?

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Would a fancy Drindl be out of place if the wife has Austrian Heritage?

Ask yourself this: If the event was being held in Vienna (or Graz) would it be appropriate for your wife to wear her Drindl?

The whole point is to dress to the level appropriate for the event you are attending. Having said that, I would generally caution against wearing any "national folk costume" to an event that wasn't specifically celebrating that nation's folkloric culture.

[macwilkin]

Ask yourself this: If the event was being held in Vienna (or Graz) would it be appropriate for your wife to wear her Drindl?

The whole point is to dress to the level appropriate for the event you are attending. Having said that, I would generally caution against wearing any "national folk costume" to an event that wasn't specifically celebrating that nation's folkloric culture.

Scott,

On this point, I will have to respectfully disagree with you, but I also understand your POV.

I know at the Caledonian Society of Norway's annual Burns Supper, a number of their Norwegian members wear traditional Norwegian folk costumes and/or military uniforms. I see nothing wrong this, as given Burns' Internationalist tendencies -- A man's a man for a' that!

Burns was as much as a citizen of the world (and continues to be, since we're celebrating his 250th birthday around the globe this year!), so why not have the world celebrate his works and life?

Regards,

Todd

[Carolina Kiltman]

This was Burn's night, 2008