The Varieties of Traditional Experience: To Jabot or not To Jabot

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I agree; a jabot for white tie. However a Ceangail may work well for a black tie event instead of a bowtie.

Sadly, it won't do for a black tie event at all, simply because it isn't a black bow tie. And even if the invitation said "Black Tie-Decorations", it still wouldn't do because the cravat worn about the neck is worn under the neck tie, not in place of it.

I'm sure the inventor of this thinks he's on to a great thing, and is relying on the adage that "no one ever went broke underestimating the taste of the buying public" to pay off in spades. And if there are enough gum-chewing, mouth breathing guys out there with pudding bowl haircuts, he might just be right.

[Bugbear]

There is a description of a brooch pinned on a jabot in a Katherine Kurtz Adept novel.
Is it common to wear a brooch in the jabot?

[Ancienne Alliance]

There is a description of a brooch pinned on a jabot in a Katherine Kurtz Adept novel.
Is it common to wear a brooch in the jabot?

I do that all the time, and so do these gentlemen.








Best,

Robert

[Bugbear]

All right, I guess people wear brooches in the jabot.

I was trying to figure out exactly what type of neckwear the U.S. founding fathers wore, and found a few descriptions calling the lacy neckwear George Washington wore in some of the portraits of him, a jabot. Others called it a stock or just lace. This was talked about with a black suit, and a velvet suit. I would guess it was formal daywear, of the eighteenth century, of course.

[MacConnachie]

Well, dear me! Tut, tut!! (An' a' that . . .) What about for those of us who never expect to be invited, formally, to either a black tie (probably occasionally occur in the Rocky Mountain west) or a white tie (never even heard of one taking place within several hundred miles of here) event? "Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that they must change it every six months," is my approximation of a favorite Oscar Wilde quote. I plan to wear a jabot and matching shirt with Montrose doublet and box-pleated kilt with accessories to our local annual Robt. Burns' Nicht this coming January. I care not a whit if I'm over-dressed compared to any other gent or lady who may show up. In the history of our event, there were years where plaid shirts were de rigueur, so to speak. If the jabot is deemed too stuffy (after "Address To A Haggis" is complete) then I'll simply remove the doublet and jabot, and carry on as though nothing matters . . . and so what if it were to do? As to pin, crest or whatever on a jabot, I have seen it done, although I'm uncertain if it's a look I wish to emulate, even for a few hours. To each their personal preference, and to blazes with the Fashion Police!!!

[davidlpope]

I care not a whit if I'm over-dressed compared to any other gent or lady who may show up. If the jabot is deemed too stuffy (after "Address To A Haggis" is complete) then I'll simply remove the doublet and jabot, and carry on as though nothing matters . . . and so what if it were to do? To each their personal preference, and to blazes with the Fashion Police!!!

Hopefully some other members of the forum will be in attendance at the event. If so, I'm sure you'll be well-lauded with that now-storied refrain which bursts forth from the gullet of any "true X-Marker" upon being presented with such a display of studied obliviousness:

"You Wear it Well!"

[kilted scholar]

not everyone is familiar with traditional Highland attire and some might perceive the black bowtie as an unintended faux pas rather than proper for wear with the kilt.

And while the tie ought to be white, I have seen it done and have no qualms with wearing a black waistcoat with a white bowtie, suitable jacket, and kilt at white tie events.

Could someone please enlighten me on this - were traditional Highland crofters familiar with white tie and black tie events?! : )

[JSFMACLJR]

Could someone please enlighten me on this - were traditional Highland crofters familiar with white tie and black tie events?! : )

Yes, of course they were/are.

[Cygnus]

I knew I had seen one of those "white tie, black waistcoat" photos on this board, and here it is - originally posted by Boldhighlander in the Vintage Kilt Photos thread:



This photo is from the early 20th Century, which predates the period of change given above by MoR; however, given the subject's military background, this may be yet another case of a formal uniform.

[Bugbear]

I see a few unanswered questions still floating around.

What color is the waistcoat worn with the jabot for white tie?

From CMcG, is a riding stock/Highland cravat acceptable for Highland attire black tie equivalent?

From MacLowlife,is an ascot ever acceptable when worn with Highland attire?