What to Wear?

[randal]

HELP My wife and I have the opportunity to attend a Burns night in Florence, Or. I know what I would wear but we don't know what a lady should wear to an event such as this.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

[McMurdo]

Any Evening Dress would be good, you can also add a Tartan Sash if she has one.

[David Dubh]

An evening dress in a complementary colour. If she wears a nice black dress then possibly the matching tartan sash.

[BEEDEE]

What ever is appropriate. Some Burns Nights are formal (PC's) and a formal dress would be great, others are informal and a simple cocktail dress would be all that's needed. Some run the whole gamut of attire. Have her wear whatever compliments your outfit.

Brian

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

If it is after 6pm, and no dress code is stated on the invitation, then black tie (Prince Charlie coatee) is given to be understood. This is the social "default" position for dinners, both public and private. The social default position for drinks/cocktails after 6pm is a dark suit.

That said, call and ask the host/organizer what level of dress is expected. It is always permissible to dress one notch down-- if the invitation says "black tie" a dark suit is okay, but a blazer and tan slacks would be frowned upon.

Your lady should dress to match your level of attire. Generally speaking (for Scottish affairs) ladies wear a "hostess length" tartan skirt, white blouse, and some sort of matching short jacket. A dark skirt may be substituted for the tartan, and a tartan shawl or sash may be worn in lieu of the jacket. If your wife doesn't wish to wear something "Scottish" then a dark skirt and jacket, or dark suit, may be worn in stead.

[Jock Scot]

There are still houses in Scotland that even a nuclear power station working at full power will not warm up,for these trials of endurance, er, I mean occasions, my wife reserves a thick, dark green, long velvet skirt, a cream roll neck sweater type thing and one of those green button from the neck cashmere cardigans with a few flowers discretely embroidered down the front.She looks a real picture and she assures me that frost bite has been kept at bay, so far!

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

There are still houses in Scotland that even a nuclear power station working at full power will not warm up,for these trials of endurance, er, I mean occasions, my wife reserves a thick, dark green, long velvet skirt, a cream roll neck sweater type thing and one of those green button from the neck cashmere cardigans with a few flowers discretely embroidered down the front.She looks a real picture and she assures me that frost bite has been kept at bay, so far!

My wife and I used to occasionally spend the weekend at the Finlaystone Estate in Renfrewshire-- I noticed that the second time we went she prudently wore silk long johns under her gown. Things were slightly warmer at The Lee, but only in mid-summer did ladies show bear shoulders. And the coldest night ever? Hands down staying with friends at Balgonie. In the middle of the night my wife pinched the overcoat off my bed and added it to the pile on hers in a vain attempt to keep warm.

Yup. Scotland can be chilly sometimes!

[randal]

Thank you all, know we know what to start looking for.

[Bugbear]

... That said, call and ask the host/organizer what level of dress is expected. It is always permissible to dress one notch down-- if the invitation says "black tie" a dark suit is okay, but a blazer and tan slacks would be frowned upon. ...

Aha!! So that's what the black, silver button, Argyle and three button waistcoat is about with black tie. I will memorize that guideline for the next time someone tells me people in Scotland do not wear that type of Argyle outfit to black tie events.

[Frank McGrath]

Would a fancy Drindl be out of place if the wife has Austrian Heritage?