Formal Dress Forum

[exnihilo]

Entirely.

[Anon.]

Stout fellow.

[Anon.]

Those of you who have had slips made at E&R - how long did it take?

[Eliot Wilson]

I haven't got round to it yet, but they said a week.

[hr]

Bill and Ted beat the Grim Reaper at Twister

Bill: "You played very well, Death, especially with your totally heavy Death robes."

Death: "Don't patronise me."

[Heelie Hanson]

Hi

I got my Xmas dress today am soooooooo excited, went to www.celebrity-dresses.co.uk and picked THE and I DO mean THE most sensational long flowing White halter neck dress heavily embellished with Silver beads and Diamante, skirt part is floaty Marilyn Monroe style!

Well recommended.

Quoting Eliot Wilson from 16:37, 13th Nov 2003
As so often these little conundra pop up, I thought the Debating Society message board might be a place for like-minded individuals - even if it does just turn out to be Messrs. Joss, Renouf and Blair, and m'good self - to air views on the thorny subject of What To Wear - I'm coming over all Trinny and Susannah (oh, God...).

To start us off, I pose two questions:

Cummerbund with trews - acceptable to what degree?

Smoking jackets - viable for the under-60s, or just too sweet-sherry-and-a-cat-called-Clothilde?

[hr]"In a battle between yourself and the world, back the world." Kafka

[BasilSeal]

Quoting Heelie Hanson from 21:36, 30th Oct 2006
Hi

I got my Xmas dress today am soooooooo excited, went to www.celebrity-dresses.co.uk and picked THE and I DO mean THE most sensational long flowing White halter neck dress heavily embellished with Silver beads and Diamante, skirt part is floaty Marilyn Monroe style!

Well recommended.

Quoting Eliot Wilson from 16:37, 13th Nov 2003
As so often these little conundra pop up, I thought the Debating Society message board might be a place for like-minded individuals - even if it does just turn out to be Messrs. Joss, Renouf and Blair, and m'good self - to air views on the thorny subject of What To Wear - I'm coming over all Trinny and Susannah (oh, God...).

To start us off, I pose two questions:

Cummerbund with trews - acceptable to what degree?

Smoking jackets - viable for the under-60s, or just too sweet-sherry-and-a-cat-called-Clothilde?

[hr]"In a battle between yourself and the world, back the world." Kafka

Is this you, Mr. Joss?

[exnihilo]

I can see why you might think that, but no.

[Donald Renouf]

I always wondered who the chap in the rimless eyeglass was whose portrait is in LPH (being a monocle-wearer myself and all). He turns out to be Brigadier the Lord Ballantrae, Chancellor of the University 1973-1980.

[Dave the Explosive Newt]

By gum! What a heroic-looking chap.

On another topic, I've decided that it's finally time I learn to tie a bow-tie. Although my father (now 63) has sworn by clip-ons ever since his Repton years, I've been recently informed by a female friend that it's quite unacceptable to accompany her to balls/etc sporting such a contraption.

I can't really find any half-decent guides for the whole process on the web though. Can anyone point me in the direction of something that isn't going to confuse me? (or failing that, offer pointers themselves?)

[hr]

Mmmmmmm, cake.
http://standrews.facebook.com/profile.php?id=37102114

[Lid]

I'll teach you, Mr Watson. When are you back in St Andrews?

If you could persuade that Haraldsen chap to learn too, that'd be grand.

[hr]

We are not drunks, we are multi-millionaires

[Dave the Explosive Newt]

Never mind, managed it. It looks a bit wank but I'm told it improves with practice.

[hr]

Mmmmmmm, cake.
http://standrews.facebook.com/profile.php?id=37102114

[Jason Dunn]

While frittering away my time on Wikipedia I stumbled upon the Morning dress pages, as one does. It appears to have been modified recently with the salient addition of a picture. However, what caught my eye was the end paragraph which claimed that it was incorrect form to wear patent leather shoes with morning dress.

Is this kosher? Unfortunately there is no reference to scrutinise.

[Lid]

Debrett's New Guide to Etiquette and Modern Manners states as follows:

Shoes must be formal lace-ups: Gucci loafers simply will not do.

This is all it says on the matter.

[hr]

We are not drunks, we are multi-millionaires

[Mr Comedy]

Quoting Lid from 17:47, 30th Nov 2006
Debrett's New Guide to Etiquette and Modern Manners states as follows:

Shoes must be formal lace-ups: Gucci loafers simply will not do.

This is all it says on the matter.

What if they are Gucci laceups? That's what I've taken to wearing. Not loafers mind you...

[hr]

"I am in no way interested in immortality, but only in the taste of tea. " -Lu Tung

[Mr Comedy]

Quoting Jason Dunn from 16:52, 30th Nov 2006
While frittering away my time on Wikipedia I stumbled upon the Morning dress pages, as one does. It appears to have been modified recently with the salient addition of a picture. However, what caught my eye was the end paragraph which claimed that it was incorrect form to wear patent leather shoes with morning dress.

Is this kosher? Unfortunately there is no reference to scrutinise.

Jason, this is an excellent place to check such things, ans I believe that several of the authors of those pages also frequent these.

[hr]

"I am in no way interested in immortality, but only in the taste of tea. " -Lu Tung

[Mr Comedy]

Quoting Lid from 12:19, 5th Nov 2006
I'll teach you, Mr Watson. When are you back in St Andrews?

If you could persuade that Haraldsen chap to learn too, that'd be grand.

[hr]

We are not drunks, we are multi-millionaires

This is useful:

http://www.folds.net/bowtie/index.html

I used to get a pissed Mr Renouf to tie mine, but I subsequently found that this is something much better done on your own.

[hr]

"I am in no way interested in immortality, but only in the taste of tea. " -Lu Tung

[Mr Comedy]

Now a quick question for the assembled masses.

I have our company ball coming up, which is naturally a black tie affair. However, a number of people in our company tend to substitute the tie itself for an orange bowtie.
Should I do this, or is this a hanging offence?

[hr]

"I am in no way interested in immortality, but only in the taste of tea. " -Lu Tung

[exnihilo]

What does the invitation specify? If it says black tie, then variants are to be frowned upon.

And, patents with morning dress, dear God no. Behave.

[Anon.]

Quoting Jason Dunn from 16:52, 30th Nov 2006
While frittering away my time on Wikipedia I stumbled upon the Morning dress pages, as one does. It appears to have been modified recently with the salient addition of a picture. However, what caught my eye was the end paragraph which claimed that it was incorrect form to wear patent leather shoes with morning dress.

Is this kosher? Unfortunately there is no reference to scrutinise.

I think I actually wrote the original wikipedia article on morning dress. It has now been savaged beyond recognition.

Patent-leather boots or shoes certainly used to be worn with morning dress; there are oodles of literary references to attest to this. However, nowadays it would probably be advisable to just polish your shoes a lot.

[Anon.]

Of course to wear dress (i.e. evening dress) patent-leather shoes with a morning coat would be utterly wrong.