I just finished reading this thread "uber formal on the cheap: dollar by dollar" and I couldn't help but think "why?"

**disclaimer - I am just interested in a discussion and I am no way discounting or belittling the need or want for cheap formal wear**

Cheap formal wear may be an oxymoron. If it is formal wear you should feel regal and dressed to impress. If you are using a waiters jacket or even a converted waiters jacket aren't you just posing in a costume? I remember in school in music class we teased mercilessly a boy who had a violin from Sears and Roebuck because it was just posing as a serious instrument.

Do you really fit in if you are in a waiters tux or are you just wearing a costume to pretend to fit in? Do you worry someone will know and not accept your formal wear as real formal wear even if no one mentions it? Something like "Poor guy he can't afford a real kilt jacket."

I work hard to wear my kilts so that they aren't costumes and in my mind a sportkilt or my PV USA kilt won't cut it for dress occasions because it isn't a tank. I love my USA kilt and wear it with a sweater or oxford shirt and maybe even a tie but it isn't one of my tanks and I don't pretend it is.

I don't intend this to be a condemnation of anyone who wears the other kinds of jackets and the like, I just want to start a discussion and see if what I think has any basis at all.