Burns Night

[NewKilt]

Since I've only been wearing a kilt since August of last year (I will have 10 in my collection within the next 4 weeks), I need to ask you gentlemen about formal outings. Am I correct that Burns night, or Burns supper is considered a formal event?

And, for a formal event the correct attire would be: (is this right?)

1. A traditional kilt - tartan or solid (would a Stillwater standard or heavyweight pass muster? I'm thinking it would)
2. White shirt
3. Tie (long or bow)
4. Off-white or cream colored hose
5. Flashes (conservative)
6. Dress sporran
7. Dress shoes
8. Sgians Dubh (on order from Scottish Tartans Museum)
9. Jacket (Prince Charlie or Argyll)

If my list above is correct and a Stillwater standard or heavyweight makes the cut, the only thing I need is the jacket.

What about the women folk who attend these events? Should they wear a kilted skirt? Any type of jacket needed?

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

Darrell

[binx]

I got compliments on my McGregor Sportkilt, with a Craigie sporran, wool kilt hose, flashes, Nikes, and a polo shirt at the local pub's celebration. Talisker won over Cragganmore and Glenmorangie IMHO... :mrgreen:

resetting the alarm, binx

[James]

Rather than looking to one universal answer, it is necessary to look to the local custom, and the event itself.

For what might be right at a very formal dinner/night in say Edinburgh or the Caledonian Club, could be very wrong for a more casual 'bash' in a local pub.

So the best answer is to have a talk with others attending, and get a line from them as to the dress code appropriate to the event.

James

[macwilkin]

...and to further James's comments, some Burns Nights will publish the dress code on their literature about the dinner -- black tie formal is usually the most common, although as James's has pointed out, some affairs are more casual these days.

At our Burns Supper, we run the gauntlet from black tie Highland formal to suits for the gents, and formal dresses, kilted skirts, sashes, etc. for the ladies.

Cheers,

Todd

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Todd is correct that most Burns suppers are considered black tie events, but obviously there is some variation, like Jame's Burns bash in a pub. Our Burns Supper is on the small side, and less formal than most. We are just glad to get men out in their kilts, so we don't make too much of a fuss about the formality of dress. You'll see men in their Prince Charlie's dressed to the nines, and you'll see men in just a kilt and sweater -- and of course, a lot of in-between. The men who don't wear kilts usually wear "Sunday best."

Assuming your Burns supper is formal or at least semi-formal, here's what I would suggest:

Kilt -- wear the nicest one you have. A hand tailored, woolen traditional kilt will be the best, but if you don't have one and don't want to rent one, the heavyweight Stillwaters (from what I have seen of pictures) would work better than most "casual kilts" on the market.

Shirt -- white dress shirt. If you wear a Prince Charlie jacket, you can go with a pleated-front tux shirt if you want to up the formality notch a bit.

Tie -- With a PC jacket a bow tie is in order. Black is always best, but a color to match your kilt would also look ok. If you are wearing an Argyle jacket you can wear either a bow tie or neck tie, depending on your taste and level of formality. Again, any color to match your kilt and tone with your general outfit.

Vest -- You didn't mention this in your list, but PC jackets are customarily worn with a vest, and if you purchase or rent one, a vest is usually included in the price. If you don't want to wear a vest, I'd get a plain black cummerbund to wear with it. With an Argylle jacket, you can wear a vest or not, though they are almost always sold separately.

Hose -- These do not need to be cream colored, though this is very common. I would say any color that tones well with your kilt, with the darker colors generally being more suited to formal wear.

Flashes -- You say "conservative" but I have to say I have never really seen any outlandish flashes. Just wear a color that tones well with your kilt and hose. It's ok to be bright!

Sporran -- any formal or semi-formal sporran will be fine.

Shoes -- if you don't want to invest in ghillie brouges, any shoe that you might wear with a tux or dark suit will be fine.

Sgian Dubh -- will be on its way to you today!

Jacket -- if you don't want to purchase a Prince Charlie or black Argyll right now, keep in mind you can always rent a PC jacket and vest for the occasion.
http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/rent.html

[NewKilt]

Thanks to all. Matt, I am in awe of your knowledge. My wife and I have got to get down to North Carolina to see the Scottish Tartans Museum. Would really like to meet you. I'm really jonesing for those 2 canvas kilts I ordered.

Gentlemen, the quality of everything I have purchased from the Scottish Tartans Museum has been first rate. Plus it helps to support the Museum.

Darrell

[macwilkin]

Todd is correct that most Burns suppers are considered black tie events, but obviously there is some variation, like Jame's Burns bash in a pub. Our Burns Supper is on the small side, and less formal than most. We are just glad to get men out in their kilts, so we don't make too much of a fuss about the formality of dress. You'll see men in their Prince Charlie's dressed to the nines, and you'll see men in just a kilt and sweater -- and of course, a lot of in-between. The men who don't wear kilts usually wear "Sunday best."

And the variation is even present at the black tie dinners. At the largest Burns Supper I've been to, in St. Louis (average 400-500 in attendance), you will see everything from black tie/PC jackets down to sport coats. At our own Burns Supper, we average around 20 kilted gents with PCs or Argylls, and then the rest are in suits, blazers & grey flannels, etc.

Cheers,

Todd

[mbhandy]

Ours in Salt Lake (This Sat) request Sunday Best.

MrBill

[Taliesin]

My wife and I were given tickets to a local Burns Night for this January 19th. Attire is listed as "semi-formal". In standard U.S. Garb, that would mean a suit, or at least jacket and tie. My question is regarding kilted wear for the evening.

I have a casual Bear Kilt, cut at the "jeans waist", not the true waist, so I don't think an Argyll Jacket is going to look good. (Couldn't get one at this late date anyway, but there's nothing I can do about that.) Renting a kilt is not economically feasible, either.

Will my suit jacket and a collared shirt with a tie that matches the colors in my kilt work? If not, I'm going to end up wearing a suit, I think. I'd much rather wear my kilt, but I don't want to look completely out of place or anything. I also don't want to violate some dress code.

Thoughts? And thank you.

[macwilkin]

My wife and I were given tickets to a local Burns Night for this January 19th. Attire is listed as "semi-formal". In standard U.S. Garb, that would mean a suit, or at least jacket and tie. My question is regarding kilted wear for the evening.

I have a casual Bear Kilt, cut at the "jeans waist", not the true waist, so I don't think an Argyll Jacket is going to look good. (Couldn't get one at this late date anyway, but there's nothing I can do about that.) Renting a kilt is not economically feasible, either.

Will my suit jacket and a collared shirt with a tie that matches the colors in my kilt work? If not, I'm going to end up wearing a suit, I think. I'd much rather wear my kilt, but I don't want to look completely out of place or anything. I also don't want to violate some dress code.

Thoughts? And thank you.

I would wear the suit. A standard suit coat (not a kilt jacket) simply does not good, INMHO, with a kilt.
A number of gentlemen attend our Burns Supper each year in suits, and no one thinks any less of them.

Regards,

Todd