I haven't ever been to a white tie event. Not once in my lifetime have I been invited to anything that specifically stated "white tie". I haven't been to a black tie event, either. Not once, has an invitation come in my mailbox that stated "black tie" though I've found excuses to dress up a bit and put on the Eton and waistcoat. The X Marks Nor Cal Rabble Burns Night is one of those, but truth is, you can walk in the door wearing anything as long as you're clean and presentable at our Burns Night. Opening night at the San Francisco Symphony is black tie, but we certainly never attend that.

I used to play in a couple of orchestras which required tuxedos and black tie, but I don't do that any more, and in fact the dress code for the symphony I'm most likely to play in has downgraded significantly to "black with a touch of color"...meaning black slacks (for the trousere'd) a black shirt and a colorful tie. The Klezmer band is certainly never going to play a black tie event.

I'm seriously thinking about putting my eton and waistcoat and dress shirt up for sale here at X Marks, since I literally wear them once a year, to the Nor Cal Rabble Burns Night. I have the equivalent of a three-piece suit getting put together. I can't see get more dressed up than that, any time soon....like maybe in the next five years. As for buying a doublet and jabot...what on earth for?

But that's just me.

How about you?