what formal events do you attend, and...

[Rex_Tremende]

Outside of choral events, it would be charity fundraisers, about one every year or two, and sometimes a new year's eve event, which usually isn't so much as black tie, but tuxedo and whatever garish tie and vest kit you fancy at the prom shop.

Regards,
Rex.

[Scotus]

Alan, you need to hang with less "rabble" and more "society" then.

Seriously, if you really want to be invited to such events, you have to know or belong to groups that hold these events regularly; for example, hereditary societies, St. Andrews Societies, etc. I know you didn't say you "wanted" to go to such events, but it would save you having to get rid of your nice things. Just a thought.

[Alan H]

Alan, you need to hang with less "rabble" and more "society" then.

Seriously, if you really want to be invited to such events, you have to know or belong to groups that hold these events regularly; for example, hereditary societies, St. Andrews Societies, etc. I know you didn't say you "wanted" to go to such events, but it would save you having to get rid of your nice things. Just a thought.

I have no great desire to attend events just on the basis of what people wear to them. I mean, I have no *objection* to attending a black tie or white tie event, I don't have some sort of perceived moral objection to getting dressed to the nines, it's just that I just wouldn't change the nature of my life so as to be invited to such things. I don't have time enough to engage all my interests as it is, I certainly don't need to go join organizations just so I get invited to their formal balls! :LOL: See, I have reasonable black tie kit because I might NEED it. That's different from going out and finding a reason, or an excuse to "need" black tie kit.

In fact, the reason why I own the black tie kit is that I got caught up, early on, in "Kilt Enthusiasm" and bought a bunch of stuff I don't really need, just because it was KILT STUFF. I'm over that stage, now!

Also, I'm kind of choosy over where I blow my money. If there was ever a black tie event I might be interested in going to, it'd be Opening Night at the San Francisco Symphony. However, thickets for opening night start at $150 a seat and go up from there. To my perspective, that's the equivalent of three other concerts....I could attend three other Symphony concerts and sit in very nice seats for the price of sitting in the cheap seats on Opening Night. It makes no sense to me, to blow three hundred bucks on Opening Night. Let the glitterati have their night, I'll have mine.

Alan,

Even if you only wear your formal rig once a year, isn't it still wonderful to look so dapper for that one night?

You may never need of it to attend any other formal events but isn't it a nice thing to have the option?

When you are invited to attend a premier at the the SF Opera in a box seat you will smile to yourself and know that in your closet you are prepared to escort the Luminous Joan in style.

Cheers

Jamie

Honestly, James, I don't get any particular pleasure out of looking dapper. When I attend events I go because I like the people, or I support the cause that it benefits, or the activity that's going on, and so on. I don't go to an event because it's an excuse to dress up. As for the unexpected and *EXTREMELY* unlikely possibility of being invited to the Opera on Opening Night in a box seat, uh......I won't hold my breath! Our friends Bob and Anne have in fact given us Opera tickets that they can't use, a few times, but they're always in "nice" seats on a regular Saturday Night, and a coat and tie is appropriate. Purchasing and maintaining a Doublet on the outside chance, one in a million, that I *might* get invited to such an event or get given such tickets is...well... kind of not how I do things!

Finally, someone suggested that I organize my own Black Tie or White Tie event. In fact I did that, as I was one of the organizers of the first Nor Cal Burns Night, which Panache has admirably run since then. It was fun, but at no point did we want to exclude anybody on the basis of not owning black tie kit. We purposefully kept the admission price low, and we've continued that principle. Not everybody can afford black tie stuff, and so it's not required. I thought very hard about running a Burns Night Dinner for the Nor Cal Scottish Heavy Athletes, but dropped the plan when I saw that I'd take a licking on the dollars and cents side of it.

I don't see the point of organizing a black-tie event just so we have a black-tie event. Events as excuses to put on fancy clothes don't make sense to me. Events that celebrate worthwhile things...weddings, Burns Night, graduation, christenings, the work of a respected and valued colleague and so on...THAT makes sense to me. If those happen to work out to be black tie or white tie, then fine, but making them so, just as an excuse to put on the expensive clothes you bought, *doesn't* make sense to me.

But again, that's just me. Other folks may have different perspectives. I'm intrigued, reading the responses, here.

[BEEDEE]

Burns night, St Andrews, two Kirkin's and the Marine Ball tonight!

Brian

[KFCarter]

I run a theatre and am heavily involved in the local non-profit community, so I attend openings, fund-raisers and galas, etc. I got tired of the rented tux deal and am very glad I went the kilt / PC route. My PC rig was the first thing I invested in and it was only afterwards that I realized (with the help of this forum!) that with the right jackets and accessories, the kilt could become an option for daytime business wear and even casual events other than games. So you might say the formal option was my gateway.

[davedove]

I can't say I've ever been to a black tie event. I always go black tie for formal nights on cruises, just because I like to do it and I think it looks nice. I also put on the outfit for the New Year's Eve party at the dance studio, but it certainly wasn't required.

Other than that, I wore a tux for my cousin's wedding, where I was a groomsman, and that was a rental.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

SHOCK!! HORROR!! I only wear Highland attire in Scotland, or to Scottish events. To my mind attending a black tie dinner in Richmond (or anywhere else outside of Scotland) in a kilt looks as out of place as a beer bottle on a banqueting table. That said, I am in Highland black tie about four times a year, and in Highland attire, white tie, once a year.

I usually attend another four black tie functions and two white tie functions each year in addition to the Scottish events so I have found that owning my formal clothes is, in the long run, cheaper than renting. (4 rentals = 1 purchase)

[Lyle1]

I attend a number of black tie events, mostly dances or benefits. In fact, since I retired last year, I've worn my tuxedos much more frequently than my closet full of suites. I think some of the suites are going to charity, and a sport coat or two might be cut down to wear with a kilt (which I hope to order next week). I'm not sure I will bother buying a formal jacket to wear with my kilt, but if I had one I would keep it. For me, once a year is enough reason to keep a piece of clothing IF I LIKE IT. However, this advice id from a man who still has almost 200 neckties that are collecting dust.

[McFarkus]

I avoid formal events. I went to two Burns night events last year both of which were not formal. I don't go to the same event at the Illinois St. Andrew's Society because it IS formal.

[macwilkin]

I avoid formal events. I went to two Burns night events last year both of which were not formal. I don't go to the same event at the Illinois St. Andrew's Society because it IS formal.

from what I've heard, you're missing a great time then. A friend of mine was the featured entertainment at that event several years ago, and he said it was a lot of fun.

I hate to say it, but threads like this one always make me cringe a bit, because they always seem to bring out the "I hate/don't do/etc. formal attire or events" comments. Horses for courses, but there are some of us here who enjoy said events and getting dressed up for such an occasion.

T.