black tie, white tie

[Bugbear]

I thought the point of black tie and white tie was that all the gentalmen are to be dressed generally the same or at least within standard expectations. Not "sticking out" would be out of respect for the host and other guests just like not behaving rudely etc...

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Ted, you are of course correct. The problem arises with those people who feel that they have no obligation to conform to the wishes of others. This infantile "lack of respect" for "the authority of others" is usually due to a deep seated feeling of resentment towards all authority-- a mild form of narcissism which is sometimes manifested as a full-blown psychosis in persons with extreme sociopathic behaviour.

[Bugbear]

It is not as if anyone is being told to live every moment of their life wearing a morning coat or tuxedo... It is also not as if ones cup can nott run over at any station in this time and country...

I think they (the jeans with tuxedo crowd) should be turned away at the door for the good of all involved if that makes sense.

The black tie and white tie "dress codes" make things much easier or unstressful anyway; you should see some of the non-conformist dress codes.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

You are hired as the doorman at my next party and I'll give you a shotgun, just in case!

[Prester John]

After seeing Obama at the white tie event just prior to the election - wearing a jacket obviously too large for him - (he should have worn a kilt), I reiterate that I've always wanted to attend a white tie event.

However, as an Orthodox priest, I'm pretty sure I'd be required to wear cassock and rhiassa, rather than tie and jacket. Too bad.

[Standard]

Check out this site The Essential Black Tie Guide, it should answer all of your questions.

Frank

What a great website, thanks for posting. I too have never been to a white-tie event, but have attended black-tie on occasion.

[bunchdescendant]

I vaguely remember my Senior Ball-

White velvet tux/black pants, white ruffled shirt, black velvet bow tie (clip-on) and accessories that looked very cheap.

I was measured extensively by the outfit I hired it from only to find the only things that fit were the jacket and bow tie. Shirt too large, pants too large, shoes to small, (wore glossy black cowboy boots instead) Cummerbund would have fit two of me, two different types of studs. Can you say fiasco? I had untold numbers of safety pins holding me together that night. Of course mom waited until it was too late to get anything replaced to go pick it all up.

I have pics of that night but I will not post them for fear of becoming a black tie don't thread.

If I turned up at a Burns Supper looking like that, I would turn myself away.

Ray

[FreakPower70]

I thought the point of black tie and white tie was that all the gentalmen are to be dressed generally the same or at least within standard expectations. Not "sticking out" would be out of respect for the host and other guests just like not behaving rudely etc...

would this not mean that if you are invited to a black/white tie event that you should not show up in the kilted equivalent?

Also, after going over wiki's idea of highland blakc tie and white tie they mention a white waistcoat for white tie and a black one for black (makes sense). But would it be also acceptable to wear a tartan waistcoat for either?

[davedove]

Also, after going over wiki's idea of highland blakc tie and white tie they mention a white waistcoat for white tie and a black one for black (makes sense). But would it be also acceptable to wear a tartan waistcoat for either?

I would think that if you were following the strict dress code, you probably shouldn't, especially for white tie. Under the guidelines I have seen, that would probably fall under "festive black tie."

Of course, nowadays, not a lot of events follow the strict guidelines.

[JSFMACLJR]

But would it be also acceptable to wear a tartan waistcoat for either?

Of course it would be acceptable, and perfectly correct, to wear a tartan waistcoat, even a coloured waistcoat. Don't let them tell you otherwise!


Sandford MacLean