P.C. jacket questions

[Jock Scot]

I will point out that the Prince Charlie Coatee was, from its introduction around 1900 up until the Rise Of The Kilt Hire Industry in the 1970s, reckoned to be an Evening Dress jacket and was intended to be worn, and was worn, following the customary Evening Dress norms of the period.

That is:
-kilt
-Evening Dress jacket
-white shirt
-bow tie, or lace jabot
-Evening Dress sporran (seal w/ silver top, or alternatively long white hair w/ silver top)
-tartan or diced full hose
-buckled brogues

Well yes and no. We need to remember that not all Evening Dress events are the same. In my experience since 1940, well ok, a couple of years later as I don't really remember my first few years. For example dressing for dinner at home really did/does not require the full rig compared to a dinner dance---invitation only---- at the local Baronial Hall.

Anyway, I am not sure if shortages and a make do with what you have got attitude of WW2 had an influence here, I suspect it did. Since that time, the lesser black tie events did/do not require "tartan or diced hose" or " buckled brogues" and it was/is not unusual for rather less gaudy dress sporrans to be worn. I would suggest a certain amount of common sense and practicality has prevailed since that time.

So for some of the less smart dress occasions these days, well polished oxfords, plain coloured hose(apart from white!!!) and rather less ornate sporrans are perfectly acceptable.