Daywear colors for evening

[FossilHunter]

Hi, I've looked through many of the old threads touching in this subject but couldn't find an answer to my specific question.

I understand that tweed day wear may be worn for non-formal events in the evening but have seen suggestions that darker colors are more appropriate in general for the evening. So assuming that one were to wear smart day wear in the evening intentionally (not at a day event that simply continued into the evening), is black preferred for leathers such as the sporran and shoes or is brown still considered okay as with daytime smart day wear? As for the jacket, would it really be considered gouache to wear a lovat green tweed in good condition over navy or charcoal?

Or is this just personal preference for some of the posters here?

[The Wizard of BC]

If you grew up back in the stone age like I did there were books and books all full of rules about how and when you dressed.

These rules told you things like how many buttons you did up on your 3 button jacket, that vests with satin backs were never worn without the jacket. And that if you wear a vest you wear braces and never a belt.
That after 6:00 you did not wear brown shoes or belt, and that if you wear brown shoes your belt was the same brown color.
That Plain colored fabric was one notch more formal than pinstripe and pinstripe was one notch more formal than windowpane. That black was more formal than blue or green.
That Tweed was informal or country day wear and was never worn for business attire or after 6:00 in the evening unless 'in the country'.
All sorts of rules.

Just about all of that has now gone right out the window.

In my day a man did not go on public transportation like a train or plan without a jacket and tie. Heck, I still fly in a jacket and tie.
I was taught that when you sit down you unbutton your jacket. If you stand up you buttoned the jacket back up.
I was actually taught how to wear a hat and that the style of hat and how it was worn showed the world your occupation.

Today, there does not seem to be the same emphasis on strict adherence to the rules. But where people get into trouble is not knowing the rules in the first place. Today it is acceptable to break the rules if you know what rules to break and how.

[Jock Scot]

Whilst not all informal evening events are the same, but assuming its something smart like an informal drinks do at some one's home , or an informal dinner with the wife, then I will(and do) happily, without a second thought, wear something like this. Unless the weather is bad, I would normally forego the bonnet and cromach.



I think it needs to be clearly understood that Highland kilt attire roots and conventions come from a very different place from the books that Steve is talking about and most of you, in one way or another, will be familiar with. However, it is quite acceptable for tweed to be worn with their kilt attire in the evening for smart informal events. After all the tweed kilt jacket is the suit equivalent of saxon attire. Unless that is clearly understood by members here, they will always have difficulty in understanding where various bits of kilt attire fit into the attire equation.

[FossilHunter]

Thank you for the replies. I suppose I should have included my reason for asking in the first place.

I have just ordered my first kilt and will probably be wearing it casually 85% of the time (smart casual being my intent, no sandals or t-shirts). Originally I thought I may get a BBSA jacket and vest but it through reading this forum I came to the conclusion that it was far more formal than I was ever likely to use. You see, I come from a very casual field (geosciences), in an exceptionally casual part of the US, in addition to my particularly casual generation (early thirties). I've worn a tuxedo exactly three times; once for highschool prom and twice for weddings I was in (none of which was even formal, it's merely expected here due to the rental industry).

I do own a gray suit that I very rarely wear. Weddings and Christmas and Easter services mostly. So as I read things here, it seemed that a tweed jacket/vest was a business suit equivalent. That would cover the other 15% of the time that I would wear the kilt to Church functions or "dressier" occasions (using dressy with the American usage, occasions that may require or suggest a suit and tie).

I purchased a used brown leather sporran (scottish made, two tassle flap style) off ebay. I guess my original question was basically whether or not this would cover things based on my current planned use for my kilt? I understand that it will be fine for casual, and perhaps daywear in tweed. Will it also suffice for an evening Church service or other event where I may have otherwise worn a gray suit with a tie?

I have a bit of trouble with the unwritten fashion rules because they are so alien here specifically. I am familiar with some things like leaving bottom buttons open on jackets but most of the things involving colors and levels of formality are a bit bewildering. If someone wears a suit and tie here, it's almost treated like seeing them in white-tie and tails since the surfers walking down the street are in sleeveless tees and board shorts.

[Jock Scot]

Yet another two differences in attire conventions between kilt attire and saxon attire. With kilt attire the bottom button of the waist coat(vest) is done up and the jacket button is left undone.

[Livingston]

Jock, based on what you wrote above, would what you are wearing in the picture above be appropriate for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo at a 10:30 pm performance? Of course the cromach would not.

[Jock Scot]

Jock, based on what you wrote above, would what you are wearing in the picture above be appropriate for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo at a 10:30 pm performance? Of course the cromach would not.

Well as Edinburgh is not in the Highlands I would not wear the kilt. But yes the outfit I am wearing would do nicely for anyone who might,------although these days a pullover, instead of a jacket, of appropriate thickness would be a valid consideration------- with two important additions. A warm blanket and a warm waterproof coat! If by some miracle the blanket and coat are not needed for their purpose, then use them as cushions as the seats are (were the last time I endured the Tattoo some thirty years ago) damned uncomfortable!

[Jock Scot]

Having slept on this very good question and having re-read the first post, I think there are one or two clarifications on the finer points of wearing kilt attire to an informal evening event.

Alright then, we know that tweed can be worn for informal events in the evening, but as I said in my first post that informal covers a large area, say from a BBQ on the beach, through to a get together at the pub onto a smart informal dinner with the wife/girl friend/friends and so on. So, what would do for the BBQ in kilt attire would not do for the smart informal dinner. Common sense really and experiance will guide you through ones attire choices.

It appears to me that many are under the impression that black/dark grey tweed is more formal than say a green tweed------not so in kilt attire terms. However, I do think some of the more loud tweed patterns are best left at home for the more smart informal events. Likewise, choice of leather colour is a consideration too. Personally I am not a fan of light tan leather under any circumstance with kilt attire, whilst there are many who do like light tan leather, particularly outwith the UK it seems, I do think light tan leather is best left at home for the more smart events day or evening. Many in Scotland just choose black leather for ease of thought here.

Of course these days a "slightly" more casual approach is taken with attire choices and kilt attire is no different. So with common sense, discretion and experience the pullover, open necked shirt, shirt sleeve options do also come into the equation too and traditional kilt wearers have adapted to those options quite happily--------------- when appropriate.

[The Q]

Well as Edinburgh is not in the Highlands I would not wear the kilt. But yes the outfit I am wearing would do nicely for anyone who might,------although these days a pullover, instead of a jacket, of appropriate thickness would be a valid consideration------- with two important additions. A warm blanket and a warm waterproof coat! If by some miracle the blanket and coat are not need for their purpose, then use them as cushions as the seats are (were the last time I endured the Tattoo some thirty years ago) damned uncomfortable!

I'd agree 100% with this and add a good hat that doesn't allow the rain down your neck if your coat doesn't have a hood...

A kilt could be a problem on the very steep stairs / seating, it's very windy up there!!!

[FossilHunter]

Thank you jock, that was a great explanation. I appreciate your input in the matter.

I would like to get a tweed jacket eventually and it looks like if I get one in a color that is less loud I may get more mileage out of it but am not pigeonholed into it being black or navy. Would that be an accurate assessment?