Cheap formal wear?

**cacunn** · 4th December 07, 08:52 AM

As I read this thread I must start by questioning the title. As many have suggested cheap formal wear does not look good no matter what. However, cheap does not have anything to do with price. Cheap is poor fitting, poor material, poor color selection etc. even if the price tag is high.

On the other hand formal wear does not have to be expensive. You can get high quality formal wear inexpensively often by purchasing last years rentals. I made a PC, which I converted from a tails coat, for $35 dollar and I think it looks very good. It started out as quality and hopefully I did not distract from the quality when I converted it. But it would not be the right piece to wear to the next kilt night, high quality, and wrong place.

I have been looking at on of Uniformwearhouse’s Eaton jackets to convert into a mess style day wear jacket. I would prefer a tweed jacket or a Argyle conversion but have not been able to find on in my size. I would not be trying to pass if off as a formal jacket just something a little more formal than no jacket at all. This is not to speak ill of Alan H’s conversion, I have not seen the jacket and therefore would not expect to make more if it until I see it.

I believe that you need to understand the “rules” of formal wear and try to conform to them as closely as possible. It is unfortunate that for most American the first introduction to formal wear is the high school prom. It seems to me that for the high school prom the weirder the better is the rule for prom wear. A sequined electric blue “tux” with a pale yellow shirt with the ruffles edged in electric blue. The fashion police should raid and burn all establishments that rent such abominations.

It is from this background many of us have come and are trying to overcome. I don’t believe in the fashion police and that fashion rules made many years ago should be binding today. Nonetheless, before you go and try to break the rules you need to understand the rules and work with in them as you try to change them.

Dress to impress not to dazzle. Dress with style and wear with pride.

**Daaaaang** · 4th December 07, 08:58 AM

I personally agree with Chef's attitude, and would follow it up by saying that if someone does dress in a waiter's jacket, they should know that is what they are doing, that it is not the standard, but be okay with that.

As many people said, it's the attitude. I think that if I were to wear a low quality jacket trying to act like it was better than it was, I would be being rude. Now, if I wore the same jacket, but with no illusions of grandeur, I think that's a lot better.

I will always wear what I can afford, and if that's lower than the standard, it won't make me feel bad, but I will be aware of it, and I won't try to "fool" anybody.

As fluter said in another thread (this is the second time I'm echoing him), if you break rules it is important to know that you are breaking a rule.

Just my 0.02

**Colin** · 5th December 07, 02:10 PM

It's been an interesting thread. I am still however waiting for someone to come out in defense of dark coloured crocs and fanny packs as appropriate formal wear.

I think some people are being a bit oversensitve on a lot of this. Almost all of us started out buying what we could afford or what we were willing to spend on our first kilts, sporrans, etc. No person with any self respect will ever knock somone else for wearing their best. On the flip side the people that may be wearing a less expensive garment shouldn't feel compelled to start slamming the higher end garments that others have saved to buy. If you made your own kilt, jacket, sporran, etc than you likely know that it will not be the same quality as a professionals, but you should take immense pride in the fact you created your emsemble on your own. It's easy to buy something, but to make something you are proud of is much more difficult.

As many others have said, I am far from well off. I have so much debt I can barely see the top, but if I want something that costs a bit more I save for it. I give up a lot of stuff I would like to have instantly so that I can order some of these items, so I really don't need anyone telling me that I could have saved time and effort by ordering something that is a fraction of the cost and trying to justify that they are the same product. I bought what I wanted and I earned it.

I really have to agree that the statement "no one would be able to tell or know the differnece" is a silly one. I could say that about speeding, eating a few more chocolates that I really should, skipping a workout, flirting with that new girl at the pool, etc,etc,etc. I will know the difference and my opinion is the only one that counts to me when it relates to me.

If you are happy wearing what you have and you feel that you look good and represent the best image that you want to portray to people than great!!! That is awesome. Just don't start bashing the people that may have worn something they are more comfortable in wearing to portray the image they want people to see, even if they did pay for a higher level of quality. I think some of the jacket converstions (David Danglesh's stand out to me) are incredible while some are simply not my taste.

**auld argonian** · 5th December 07, 02:20 PM

Originally Posted by Colin

It's been an interesting thread. I am still however waiting for someone to come out in defense of dark coloured crocs and fanny packs as appropriate formal wear.

...only if that fanny pack is LEATHER.

Please...we have to have SOME standards!

Best

AA

**ChromeScholar** · 5th December 07, 04:14 PM

I really have to agree that the statement "no one would be able to tell or know the differnece" is a silly one. I could say that about speeding, eating a few more chocolates that I really should, skipping a workout, flirting with that new girl at the pool, etc,etc,etc. I will know the difference and my opinion is the only one that counts to me when it relates to me.

Silly, or not, most people have no idea about the quality of a garment simply by looking at it. That's why labels are so important to some people. The label is supposed to be a guarantee of the quality. For someone to say "I can look at a garment and tell what quality it is" makes that person something other than average. My point is this; buying a garment based on what someone else will think about you is silly, IMO.

As far as slamming higher end garments, I don't think anyone has done that. All I've said, speaking for myself, is that I can't see the need to rush out and spend multiple hundreds of dollars on a garment that most people will not be able to tell apart from that Uniformal Wearhouse Eton jacket with the pewter buttons sewn on (unless, of course, that and a PC are laid side by side and the differences are pointed out). Is the Eton jacket the best thing for all occasions. No, probably not. On the other hand, outside of an occasion with lots of other kilted attendees, no one is liable to be looking above your kilt, anyway.

Just don't start bashing the people that may have worn something they are more comfortable in wearing to portray the image they want people to see, even if they did pay for a higher level of quality.

This goes both ways, of course. People who have a high-end jacket, no matter how they obtained it shouldn't be bashing those who can't, or don't wish to, buy a higher-end jacket.

**ccga3359** · 5th December 07, 04:17 PM

Originally Posted by Colin

It's been an interesting thread. I am still however waiting for someone to come out in defense of dark coloured crocs and fanny packs as appropriate formal wear.

Dark coloured Crocs and fanny packs make wonderful formal wear.

Are you happy Colin?

**Colin** · 5th December 07, 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by ccga3359

Dark coloured Crocs and fanny packs make wonderful formal wear.

Are you happy Colin?

Thanks Grant, I was waiting for that.

**ccga3359** · 5th December 07, 04:35 PM

Aye but on the Crocs with laces as Dreadbelly introduced us to.

**Chef** · 6th December 07, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by ccga3359

Aye but on the Crocs with laces as Dreadbelly introduced us to.

I guess you could cut the tongue out and make Croc Ghillies.

**toneinedin** · 15th March 08, 04:55 AM

Originally Posted by cacunn

As I read this thread I must start by questioning the title. As many have suggested cheap formal wear does not look good no matter what. However, cheap does not have anything to do with price. Cheap is poor fitting, poor material, poor color selection etc. even if the price tag is high.
Dress to impress not to dazzle. Dress with style and wear with pride.

So very well put.

It isnt what you wear but how you wear it that matters.

When you have been in Moscow and seen the Nouveau riche dropping $2000 on dinner in their armani suits and gucci shoes but still looking like lottery winners and then you remember the 80 year old italian gentleman you met in Florence as he was going to the shops to buy bread but he was dressed as if he was getting married and on his way to church you know style is not something you can buy off the rack.