Opinions Please

[McMathTX]

I've been reading and learning from this site for awhile now. I think that I now know what attire combination is appropriate, inappropriate, and what is up to my sense of discretion and style. Nevertheless, I want everyone's candid opinion about the outfit in the photo below. I plan to wear this to formal functions if it passes muster. I'm wearing my Matheson Modern Red with fly plaid (I've read the recent thread on fly plaids.) and my Knights of Columbus mess jacket. I don't have a waistcoat, so I'm wearing my kilt belt. Would you recommend a waistcoat? If so, what color? Again, any thoughts, comments and/or recommendations are greatly appreciated.
Dean

[McMathTX]

OK, why didn't the photo come through?
Dean

[Colin]

Is this the one you wanted? In future, just copy the IMG code for forums and bulletins from the righthand side of the photobucket page. That's the easiest way.

[McMathTX]

Thanks Colin, this was also my first venture with photobucket!
Dean

[Colin]

Thanks Colin, this was also my first venture with photobucket!
Dean

No problem. Photobucket seems like the easiest place to get pics from and soon you'll be a pro.

I am not crazy about the white coat, but that is just me (I'm a clutz though). If you wear the white jacket, I would skip the waistcoat as it will mix it all up too much. I have never been a huge fan of the jacket and waistcoat being different colours. All it all it looks sharp. The fly plaid and the other shoulder deal may be a bit overboard, but it really depends on the level of formality of the event and the other patrons. Sometimes simple is best. Try it with out the plaid and other shoulder decoration and see how you like that.

All it all, it's you wearing it, so wear what feels right to you.

[JS Sanders]

A burghundy colored waistcoat would really set that off nicely.

Slainte,
steve

[McMurdo]

There are a few things I would suggest, firstly though I think you could wear what you have here, in my opinion a dress sporran would be far superior to the semi dress that you have on. I am also puzzled by what looks like the absence of a sgian dubh, not sure if it is just on the side not shown. If you don't have one I would suggest picking one up as it is a part of formal highland dress. Given the level of formality perhaps a pair of buckle brogues or ghillie brogues would be in order, if it were me I would wear buckle brogues with the mess dress jacket and fly plaid.

One other thing that I would be remiss in not mentioning is that your mess jacket sleeves look to be a tad too long, I know that is fairly picky however as you have asked for a candid opinion I thought it worth noting.

[Arlen]

I think that actually looks really, really good.
I'm not a fan of white coats but you pull it off very well.
I'd also vote for buckle shoes and a full-dress sporran but other than that you look fantastic.

[ccga3359]

I like the look. Dressier sporran yes, and a little higher. The shoulder braid balances the plaid although is probably more for a military function. Appreciate the white jacket as I can't wear one (dirt magnet). At the end of the day it's you wearing it.

[Nighthawk]

Let's see... My take- lose the shoulder braid or the plaid. Get yourself a formal sporran. The semiformal one doesn't look bad, just a little out of place. The sporran is a touch too low for my taste. It wouldn't be easy to use there. I use mine- a lot, so I need it to be utilitarian. Do you have a sgain dubh on? I can't tell. If not, you need one. And with that level of formality, you could certainly pull off a dirk. And one more thing- white socks are a modern invention as I recall, and part of the rental industry. They started out a cheap thing for the rental shops, so to my eyes, white socks look cheap. I personally think it would look better with forest green or navy, but that's purely personal preference.

So now- onto what's right in that outfit- The kilt looks killer- absolutely killer!!- with that jacket. I personally can't pull off white, and you can with much grace and style. I like the shoes, but was surprised to not see brogues. The broach looks nice, the plaid is placed well. Overall, you look excellent. With a little tweeking, you'll look like royalty.

And on a side note, I have a hand made custom semiformal sporran that I would wear with a similar outfit, simply for the sake of pride in it. It's a work of art, and deserves to be in any outfit, so there are exceptions I think to the sporran rule, just as there can be to belt rule.

Oh yeah!! And one more small thing- I think you should get a stag horn sgain dubh to go with that. Historically, only nobility had ready access to stag antlers, and they say nobility and class. I wouldn't think of attending anything formal with anything less than a stag horn sticking out of my sock.