A Question that has been asked for years...

[JSFMACLJR]

Time might be a problem with this suggestion, but consider wearing trews in your tartan with a black dinner jacket.

I see no problem with wearing an evening waistcoat in tartan with a dinner jacket, but please wear a black bow tie and not a tartan one.

[Peter Crowe]

Time might be a problem with this suggestion, but consider wearing trews in your tartan with a black dinner jacket.

I see no problem with wearing an evening waistcoat in tartan with a dinner jacket, but please wear a black bow tie and not a tartan one.

I agree with you Sandy. In response to Calico I can see no problem with wearing something that reflects Scottish nationality or heritage at a French themed event, given Scotland's historical affinity with France.

[Calico]

In response to Calico I can see no problem with wearing something that reflects Scottish nationality or heritage at a French themed event, given Scotland's historical affinity with France.

Just to clarify, that was the lead-in to my tongue-in-cheek comments about Mardi Gras being tacky.

The entire post was intended as a form of humor, not culture bashing.

[SouperScot]

Personally, I do not believe Highland attire of any kind is appropriate for Mardi Gras (a French party).

I might go so far as to say such an attempt would be "tacky".... um, wait a minute, that is the main driving force of Mardi Gras these days, isn't it?

Nevermind!

My grandfather (on my French-Acadian side) would have started a war over these words.

I think the full highland dress is definitely a no go now. My wife tells me that the rules for this ball are black tie only. Apparently some guy wore some tacky baby blue suit one year and they weren't too happy about it so they are enforcing the dress code this year. I might just stick with the waist coat and maybe a coat of arms small brooch for this event.

Time might be a problem with this suggestion, but consider wearing trews in your tartan with a black dinner jacket.

I see no problem with wearing an evening waistcoat in tartan with a dinner jacket, but please wear a black bow tie and not a tartan one.

I will defer to the experts on this one and go with just the waist coat and maybe a small brooch. Any suggestions of vendors within the U.S.? For my kilt and full highland dress I will probably go with a tailor out of the British Isles unless you guys make a better suggestion. Again, I appreciate all of the comments so far and I look forward to wearing my highland dress to some future event.

As far as the waist coat is concerned, any idea as to styles?

[Zardoz]

I think the full highland dress is definitely a no go now. My wife tells me that the rules for this ball are black tie only. Apparently some guy wore some tacky baby blue suit one year and they weren't too happy about it so they are enforcing the dress code this year. I might just stick with the waist coat and maybe a coat of arms small brooch for this event.

So she compares your Highlandwear to "some tacky baby blue suit"? Honestly, I think your wife is just trying to psych you out of wearing your kilt and standing out among the penguins. Sadly there are a few folks here on our forum that seem to feel the same, and love to find reasons not to wear your best to various events.

I attend a Mardi Gras ball every year that is 'theme costume' or black-tie required. And the are serious about the black-tie thing, show up in a black suit and they turn you away. In any event, I and others wear black-tie equivalent Highland dress every year, and there's never a problem.

http://www.blacktieguide.com/Supplemental/Scottish.htm

Here I am last Saturday at said event;

[Alan H]

It sounds to me like this is "girls night to dress up". I mean, since the men are supposed to wear black tie, and the women get to go nuts, that seems logical. If that's the case, then just wear your tuxedo, let the ladies go crazy, and call it good.

Besides, it's a LOT less expensive than finding a pair of trews or something at the last minute.

[SouperScot]

So she compares your Highlandwear to "some tacky baby blue suit"? Honestly, I think your wife is just trying to psych you out of wearing your kilt and standing out among the penguins. Sadly there are a few folks here on our forum that seem to feel the same, and love to find reasons not to wear your best to various events.

I attend a Mardi Gras ball every year that is 'theme costume' or black-tie required. And the are serious about the black-tie thing, show up in a black suit and they turn you away. In any event, I and others wear black-tie equivalent Highland dress every year, and there's never a problem.

http://www.blacktieguide.com/Supplemental/Scottish.htm

Here I am last Saturday at said event;

Not at all, my wife would be fine with it since it would make me happy (well she would be ok with it ), it's the ball coordinators that sent out an email a few days ago stating that they would enforce the rules this year. My buddy, whose with is also in this krewe, said the same thing. This krewe is apparently pretty strict about it. I think instead of chancing getting turned away at the door, I'll just go with the safer alternative.

BTW great pic!

It sounds to me like this is "girls night to dress up". I mean, since the men are supposed to wear black tie, and the women get to go nuts, that seems logical. If that's the case, then just wear your tuxedo, let the ladies go crazy, and call it good.

Besides, it's a LOT less expensive than finding a pair of trews or something at the last minute.

You pretty much nailed it. I think highland dress would take some of the attention away from the ladies so they make the guys dress as plain as possible. I guess that's why a baby blue 70's tuxedo didn't go over too well.

I'm still going to try and find a waist coat if there are any U.S. vendors. I've been wanting one for a while anyway for work.

[macwilkin]

Just to clarify, that was the lead-in to my tongue-in-cheek comments about Mardi Gras being tacky.

The entire post was intended as a form of humor, not culture bashing.

It depends on the Mardi Gras party; Traditional Mardi Gras as practiced by the Cajuns is anything but tacky -- I'd love to see a traditional Mardi Gras ride and communal gumbo out in the Cajun triangle. The "tacky" parties are generally for the touristas.

As far as kilts go, my wife's grandmother, Mrs. Melancon, loved my kilt. Remember there are three ways to be a Cajun: by the ring, by the blood and by the backdoor.

T.

[macwilkin]

My grandfather (on my French-Acadian side) would have started a war over these words.

I think the full highland dress is definitely a no go now. My wife tells me that the rules for this ball are black tie only. Apparently some guy wore some tacky baby blue suit one year and they weren't too happy about it so they are enforcing the dress code this year. I might just stick with the waist coat and maybe a coat of arms small brooch for this event.




I will defer to the experts on this one and go with just the waist coat and maybe a small brooch. Any suggestions of vendors within the U.S.? For my kilt and full highland dress I will probably go with a tailor out of the British Isles unless you guys make a better suggestion. Again, I appreciate all of the comments so far and I look forward to wearing my highland dress to some future event.

As far as the waist coat is concerned, any idea as to styles?

If it is a Mardi Gras event sponsored by a Krewe, it's probably best to check with the Krewe itself to see what the dress code is. Some of the older Krewes are quite strict about dress at their functions, according to some of my friends in the Baton Rouge Caledonian Society.

T.