White Tie

[Derek Conley]

Question for the rabble: Would a white jacket also be acceptable with a white tie and vest for said white tie affair?

Generally, white dinner jackets are a less formal (read: "casual") way to attend a black-tie event, believe it or not. This was done originally in the 30's and 40's by wealthy families on vacation on cruises or tropical destinations.

So really, the white jacket is only appropriate in hot-weather climates... and to be true-to-form... never worn in the city.

Hope that helps a bit!

[Bugbear]

Just want to throw the question out there one more time to see if I can get an answer.
Are the solid color hose that have the different colored top acceptable with the formal dress? I think Scottish Tartans Museum offers something like that now. Let's just say black hose with a dark gray top as an example.

[JSFMACLJR]

I would have to say no, Ted. Correct socks are diced or tartan, although I have seen quite a lot of coloured hose being worn nowadays. White? Never!


Sandford MacLean

[JSFMACLJR]

Just to muddy the waters some, you will find that in the United Kingdom an invitation might say White Tie or Highland Evening Dress. The latter would have all sorts of latitude: jabot, white tie, or black tie.

I am enclosing the dress regs for the Royal Caledonian Ball held every May in London, for your interest:

Ladies :
Essential-- Ladies wear long evening dresses or, for those entitled to wear it, mess dress with a full-length skirt.

Gentlemen wear one of the following:
Highland evening dress - kilt and sporran; evening jacket (generally black broadcloth or coloured velvet); white evening shirt and black bow tie, or lace jabot.

Full evening dress - evening tail coat; stiff white evening shirt and wing collar, white bow tie and white waistcoat.

Mess dress - to be worn according to current regulations. Where these allow for a more formal variation, such as a stiff shirt and wing collar with a black bow tie, this should be worn.

Encouraged The wearing of the following is encouraged:
Tiaras
Orders and decorations
Clan tartan sashes*
The wearing of the following is encouraged:

Orders and decorations
Royal Company of Archers mess dress
Atholl Highlanders mess dress
Hunt livery

Optional The wearing of white dresses is optional. The wearing of red lapels on civilian evening tail coats is optional.
Guests taking part in the Set Reel Tartan sashes* must be worn Either Highland evening dress or mess dress must be worn. Tail coats are not to be worn unless they form a part of mess dress.


To which are added these two Golden Rules: "Ladies must wear full-length skirts
Gentlemen must not wear dinner jackets "

Best regards,

Sandford MacLean

[macwilkin]

Generally, white dinner jackets are a less formal (read: "casual") way to attend a black-tie event, believe it or not. This was done originally in the 30's and 40's by wealthy families on vacation on cruises or tropical destinations.

So really, the white jacket is only appropriate in hot-weather climates... and to be true-to-form... never worn in the city.

Hope that helps a bit!

To amend Derek's post, a white dinner jacket should really only be worn "East of Suez".

T.

[Carolina Kiltman]

North Carolina is a L-o-o-o-n-g way East of Suez.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Anyone who has attended will tell you that it looks more like a costume ball than a tartan ball! As far as the "instructions for dress" are concerned they are a bit all over the place, and I would not take them as gospel when it comes to being properly dressed.

The correct form is:

White Tie
Orders and Decorations
Highland Attire Preferred

White tie presumes that serving officers may attend in the appropriate uniform. It also assumes that ladies will know how to dress (long gown, but no tiara unless in the presence of Royals); "Orders and Decorations" is self explanatory, and "Highland Attire Preferred" means just that, but with white tie or lace jabot, depending on the style of doublet being worn by the gentleman named on the invitation.

[English Bloke]

Gents, with respect.
Are we not moving away from the original intent of the post. Mark is; or at least how I understand it, a student and therefore on a limited budget. He is based in the Netherlands which is not renound for having kilt suppliers on every corner and is trying to obtain advice on how to attend a formal-ish function, in Kilted attire without looking like a chump. He has done his level best to produce a style (hired PC being the clue here) and is merely asking if the X-marks community approve and should he wear BLACK socks or CREAM socks. I think his current get-up is more than sufficient to accomplish this objective. Go ahead Mark, you'll blow them away!

[English Bloke]

Black Hose by the way.

[Derek Conley]

John's completely right... and I agree with him. I think Mark will look just fine.