IMHO it depends on the stated dress for the even.

If stated as black tie then it has to be black tie and a tuxedo.

If stated as evening wear or dinner jackets then variations on the theme are welcome.

Originally Posted by Busterdog

Haven't attended a black tie function in the UK for a couple of decades though I've noticed in recent years, from photographs contemporaries have sent me, more and more serving and retired officers (ex Lowland Regiments) attending non military black tie functions wearing trews of their family/clan tartan with their dinner jackets. It looks quite decent though was not done in my day - when did it creep in?

Not sure really, but I've seen it a lot and think it looks good. As long as you have a solid connection to a tartan, go for it.

Incidentally, where is a good place to buy tartan material (with a view to tailoring) or trews themselves?

Originally Posted by blonde_guy

Originally Posted by Busterdog

Haven't attended a black tie function in the UK for a couple of decades though I've noticed in recent years, from photographs contemporaries have sent me, more and more serving and retired officers (ex Lowland Regiments) attending non military black tie functions wearing trews of their family/clan tartan with their dinner jackets. It looks quite decent though was not done in my day - when did it creep in?

Not sure really, but I've seen it a lot and think it looks good. As long as you have a solid connection to a tartan, go for it.

Incidentally, where is a good place to buy tartan material (with a view to tailoring) or trews themselves?

If you have no family connections, go for Government Tartan, so long as you have served in some capacity, then you have every right.

Originally Posted by Bullshot!

Originally Posted by blonde_guy

Originally Posted by Busterdog

Haven't attended a black tie function in the UK for a couple of decades though I've noticed in recent years, from photographs contemporaries have sent me, more and more serving and retired officers (ex Lowland Regiments) attending non military black tie functions wearing trews of their family/clan tartan with their dinner jackets. It looks quite decent though was not done in my day - when did it creep in?

Not sure really, but I've seen it a lot and think it looks good. As long as you have a solid connection to a tartan, go for it.

Incidentally, where is a good place to buy tartan material (with a view to tailoring) or trews themselves?

If you have no family connections, go for Government Tartan, so long as you have served in some capacity, then you have every right.

I have family connections so not worried about that part really.

Originally Posted by blonde_guy

Originally Posted by Busterdog

Haven't attended a black tie function in the UK for a couple of decades though I've noticed in recent years, from photographs contemporaries have sent me, more and more serving and retired officers (ex Lowland Regiments) attending non military black tie functions wearing trews of their family/clan tartan with their dinner jackets. It looks quite decent though was not done in my day - when did it creep in?

Not sure really, but I've seen it a lot and think it looks good. As long as you have a solid connection to a tartan, go for it.

Incidentally, where is a good place to buy tartan material (with a view to tailoring) or trews themselves?

Geoffrey Tailors, right at the top of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. He does fittings in London monthly too I believe.

Originally Posted by broken_man

Originally Posted by blonde_guy

Originally Posted by Busterdog

Haven't attended a black tie function in the UK for a couple of decades though I've noticed in recent years, from photographs contemporaries have sent me, more and more serving and retired officers (ex Lowland Regiments) attending non military black tie functions wearing trews of their family/clan tartan with their dinner jackets. It looks quite decent though was not done in my day - when did it creep in?

Not sure really, but I've seen it a lot and think it looks good. As long as you have a solid connection to a tartan, go for it.

Incidentally, where is a good place to buy tartan material (with a view to tailoring) or trews themselves?

Geoffrey Tailors, right at the top of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. He does fittings in London monthly too I believe.

Ask for Tristram - no wah! He'll sort ye oot.

Who said it was Scottish tartan? :P

Originally Posted by blonde_guy

Originally Posted by Busterdog

Haven't attended a black tie function in the UK for a couple of decades though I've noticed in recent years, from photographs contemporaries have sent me, more and more serving and retired officers (ex Lowland Regiments) attending non military black tie functions wearing trews of their family/clan tartan with their dinner jackets. It looks quite decent though was not done in my day - when did it creep in?

Not sure really, but I've seen it a lot and think it looks good. As long as you have a solid connection to a tartan, go for it.

Incidentally, where is a good place to buy tartan material (with a view to tailoring) or trews themselves?

Try Kinloch Anderson - they have a website.

Originally Posted by blonde_guy

Originally Posted by Bullshot!

Originally Posted by blonde_guy

Originally Posted by Busterdog

Haven't attended a black tie function in the UK for a couple of decades though I've noticed in recent years, from photographs contemporaries have sent me, more and more serving and retired officers (ex Lowland Regiments) attending non military black tie functions wearing trews of their family/clan tartan with their dinner jackets. It looks quite decent though was not done in my day - when did it creep in?

Not sure really, but I've seen it a lot and think it looks good. As long as you have a solid connection to a tartan, go for it.

Incidentally, where is a good place to buy tartan material (with a view to tailoring) or trews themselves?

If you have no family connections, go for Government Tartan, so long as you have served in some capacity, then you have every right.

I have family connections so not worried about that part really.

Everyone has the right to make up their own tartan. The whole concept is relatively modern, hailing from the Victorian times, when the higher elements of society wanted to proclaim some unspoken connection to Scotland, that land which was currently in vogue as some small woman with lots of German relations went on holiday there.

I cannot abide my family tartan so I opt for the clan one. Maybe one day I'll get bored and make one up for a special occasion... Any suggestions...?

Personally I can never be arrsed to wear a stiff fronted shirt, whether ladies are there or not. I also tend not to put my spurs on, since the "Great falling down the stairs drunk into a pool of dog wee" incident at the Tower of London. Great night otherwise.