what formal events do you attend, and...

[Alan H]

I haven't ever been to a white tie event. Not once in my lifetime have I been invited to anything that specifically stated "white tie". I haven't been to a black tie event, either. Not once, has an invitation come in my mailbox that stated "black tie" though I've found excuses to dress up a bit and put on the Eton and waistcoat. The X Marks Nor Cal Rabble Burns Night is one of those, but truth is, you can walk in the door wearing anything as long as you're clean and presentable at our Burns Night. Opening night at the San Francisco Symphony is black tie, but we certainly never attend that.

I used to play in a couple of orchestras which required tuxedos and black tie, but I don't do that any more, and in fact the dress code for the symphony I'm most likely to play in has downgraded significantly to "black with a touch of color"...meaning black slacks (for the trousere'd) a black shirt and a colorful tie. The Klezmer band is certainly never going to play a black tie event.

I'm seriously thinking about putting my eton and waistcoat and dress shirt up for sale here at X Marks, since I literally wear them once a year, to the Nor Cal Rabble Burns Night. I have the equivalent of a three-piece suit getting put together. I can't see get more dressed up than that, any time soon....like maybe in the next five years. As for buying a doublet and jabot...what on earth for?

But that's just me.

How about you?

[jhockin]

I haven't ever been to a white tie event. Not once in my lifetime have I been invited to anything that specifically stated "white tie". I haven't been to a black tie event, either.
But that's just me.

How about you?

weddings and funerals, and even those are not longer (in my experience) 'required' 'formal' dress... not even sure if i still have a necktie .. probably, but i'd really have to search. If one really needs 'formal wear', one can always rent it, for those 'once a year' ( or even less often) occassions.

[KiltedBrewer]

I've never had a need for formal. I've worn tuxedos to a few weddings where I've been a groomsman, and I wore a PC and kilt to my own wedding. I don't see the need for me to own anything more formal than a charcoal suit (which I have) and a nice charcoal kilt jacket (hopefully a DIY soon.)

It would be fun to go to a white tie event and don the entire kit, but I don't think I move in the right circles for that.

David

[O'Callaghan]

The only time I absolutely 100% had to dress black tie was to sit at the captain's table and attend a couple of other events on a cruise, but I have been to black tie optional events, law firm christmas dinners to be exact. I bought my dinner suit (tuxedo) for the cruise, not knowing that they had rentals on board, and wore it to the black tie optional christmas dinners, often outshining senior partners that went in a lounge suit, which may have been bad office politics! My present law firm doesn't go in for even a black tie optional event, probably because it is very small.

I have nothing formal to go with my kilts, because I can't imagine getting invited to anything where I could wear black tie more than once a year at most, and I already own the trousered equivalent, which gets very little wear as it is.

Pity really, as I have my eye on a dress sporran with the English (St. George's cross) flag on it. Can't think where I'd ever wear it. But don't the Irish hate the English, you might say? Well, I'm a mixture of both, you see.

As for white tie, I just don't think I move in those sort of circles. ETA: No I didn't see the post above! Great minds think alike.

[beloitpiper]

I go to many black tie events throughout the year--the Tartan Ball for St. Andrew's Day, two Burns Suppers in January, and a Tartan Day banquet in April. I'm sure that as I get older I'll be going to more black tie events too. But Alan, if you don't need 'em, why keep 'em?

[Bugbear]

Alan, none. In the past, before kilts were in my life and when I was still a musician, there were a few times that I donned a white dinner jacket and black bowtie to perform, but that is mainly it.

I do try my best to keep a closet full of suits, no tuxedos, ready for anything that might come up.

On the other hand, I have done my best to be aware of formal and semi formal, Highland attire, and how it is properly worn.
At this time, I have no formal, as in black tie, attire in my closet.

You should have a jabot and doublet, if you are able, because they look so darn good.

[Zardoz]

We get about 4 invitations per year to 'black-tie' events. 'Before kilts' I actually owned a tux, but now I wear a kilt and Spencer jacket to everything.

One event is the big Burns supper, which due to either schedule conflicts or finances, or both, we've not attended yet.

Another is a big Irish Society fundraiser deal we can't afford to go to. ($250 per plate)

One we do attend is my wife's big ABWA business club gala, which is supposed to be black-tie but only about half the attendees wear a tux.

The last is one we always try to attend, a Marti Gras ball. The invites not only say "black-tie required" but warn they will turn you away if not properly attired! I like that.

I also will dress up when I MC part of an awards presentation at our local Sci-Fi convention every year. A few of us are trying, with limited success, to get more of the presenters to dress up.

Since the Burns supper is the only event on my list where Highland attire is expected, I have generally been the only person in a kilt at most things, although in the last couple years there have been other formally attired kilties at the Marti Gras ball and even the Sci-Fi con... There's no denying that the kilt stands out at these events, it's a good thing I'm not shy or anything! And the response I receive is always favorable, I was photographed with about a dozen ladies at the last ABWA gala.

I think there have only ever been a couple of negative comments, at least made to my face, at any event. I had a fellow at one of the ABWA galas, who claimed to be a kilt "owner", reliably inform me how inappropriate it is to wear "all that kilt stuff" outside of a "Scotland deal" I said that I viewed Highlandwear as clothing, not a costume only suited for use at certain events. I didn't point out that he might have looked better in his 'kilt stuff' since he was wearing a blue suit and brown shoes to a black-tie event.

So In answer to the question, basically unless something special comes up I'll wear it about 3 times per year. Otherwise the jacket, vest and swept wing collar shirt live in the wool locker. I guess they get comparatively little use, but it's better to have proper attire when and if you need it!

[Heming]

Let's see...

For the last ten years I've had a Hogmanay do that's been black tie for about three of those ten.

Apart from that I've been to two black tie events - my own graduation ball for examen artium (marking the end of 13 years at school) and my ex boyfriend's graduation ball when he became BA (Hons).

Weddings are usually business suit or "summer dressy" (nobody gets married in winter), but one wedding I've been to was white tie or national costume. I was ten at the time, and wore my national costume with all the trimmings, as did everyone else. Don't think a single person wore white tie, though some of the women were in ball gowns.

I would keep the formal attire myself, but then I have a closet full of clothes I never wear, so my opinion might not count...

[Raphael]

I try to avoid all Formal events.

[SFCRick]

I attend 2 white tie and 8 to 10 black tie events per year. Most are military with about 4 of those being a Scottish society related events.