What to wear?

[cwr89]

Ok, so this weekend is the Dayton Celtic Festival. I am thrilled this is the first year I am actually able to go. I am going on Saturday evening.

I am wearing my Irish National SWK.

Now, this is the part I want your opinions on.

how should I dress?
I don't want to look major dressed down, there will probably be a few (but not all) people who are not being courteous ambassadors of the kilt there and I don't wish to represent myself as one. Now I don't want to wear a full PC either. so do I go casual or semi-casual?

should I wear a polo (if so what color)? should I wear a T-shirt? Should I wear my Gaelic Storm T? (its gray and doesn't go with Irish Nat well, however they are one of the reasons I am going to see them)

Black belt or Brown Belt?
Black or brown sporran?
Dress shoes or Chucks?
traditional or new age sgain?

I am planning ahead to see what all you think.

thanks!
~Casey

[Birddog]

Okay, I'm still new to kilting myself, but these are my opinions.
Since it is an evening affair, I myself would avoid T's. A polo, or my preference, a nice long sleeve shirt. Somehow I just don't get hot, so I have no problem wearing long sleeves, beside you can roll them if you do get warm.
For evening I would go with black belt, sporran, and shoes. Perhaps the trad. sgian. From what I gleaned from above, you wanted a cleaner look, but not formal. A polo would be good; I just don't seem to like them myself. I like an informal long sleeve with sleeves rolled up when needed. One last thought; for me, boots are not for evening occasions.

[Raphael]

I don't want to look like trash, there will probably be lots of kilted trash there.

Don't judge others just because they are not dressed to your standard. Don't you think the word trash is a little too harsh? There is no point to call them names.

[hospitaller]

I guess I qualify as kilted trash since I only have 3 kilts and I wear every shirt, tshirt, polo and sweater I have, whether it matches or not. And I wear said matches/mismatches with every available pair of shoes, tennins, sandals I have. Oh and all colors of hose, store bought and cheaply handmade flashes as well.

After all...last time I checked the point of the kilt is not to match colors or styles.

Oh well, as I've said before, to each his/her own and I let the name calling for others.

Enjoy your weekend simply by wearing your kilt, not by looking cool or in style in it.

And please...enough with the kilted snobility looking down on those that can not afford several 'looks' or those that have not being kilted long enough to achieve the earlier.

[Birddog]

I was trying to be pc in my posting, and answer the guys question, but I do have to agree...while seeing a guy with a mohawk with piercings all over the place and wearing a kilt, I might not much care for his appearance, but he might just be the only one who helps my Nan across the street. All of us at some point will be criticised or looked down on by some because we wear a kilt, doesn't mean that we aren't solid people. In the short time I've been here, I amazed at the diversity of people who kilt; you have folks who might be considered punks(I'm not with the lingo these days), to those who are fairly conservative, to even a Man of God. That's why I am so happy to have found this forum; it has even opened my conservative, starched eyes. So let's not call people trash. Now, perhaps you kilted elders could answer the man's question better than I attempted to.

[Carolina Kiltman]

Amen to the not judging by appearances!, 'nuff said. I tend to dress more formally than the general run of the public at these gatherings, but in hot weather I prefer a gillie or jacobite shirt, off white or in a colour complementary to one in my kilt. For informal evening, a shirt, (tie or not, as you choose,) and a waistcoat (vest), with the back made of the same material as the front, or if satin, fitted with no belt. I also modified a "western" jacket to have epaulets, much like the "Ike" jackets of WWII (we referred to this type of jacket as a "bum-freezer" to go with shirt & tie, or a turtleneck. I personally feel as long as the overall effect is pleasing to my (and my bride's) taste, that is all that matters.

[PiobBear]

how should I dress? so do I go casual or semi-casual?

Casual. You want to be comfortable. It's also July; you want to be cool, too.

should I wear a polo? should I wear a T-shirt?

Either/or; polo's look great with a kilt, so do short-sleeve Oxfords.

(if so what color)

Speaking for myself that'd be a no-brainer; green.

Black belt or Brown Belt?
Black or brown sporran?

Either; I often wear brown with my saffron kilt.

Dress shoes or Chucks?

Which is the most comfortable? You'll be on your feet all day, and probably walk ten miles.

[McMurdo]

I think what Casey meant was that he wanted to look good, now we can argue semantics all day, however the real question should be how can we add something constructive to the discussion without browbeating.

Casey
I would go with a polo, any colour that goes withthe selected kilt, matching hose, black accessories, and the Chucks, as has been said you will be on your feet for a good portion of the day.

[cwr89]

Don't judge others just because they are not dressed to your standard. Don't you think the word trash is a little too harsh? There is no point to call them names.

I meant the guy who goes to a costume store to buy a "kilt" and he wears it once a year as an excuse to get drunk and flash people.

I myself only own 3 kilts. and I wear them with most anything, T's or polos or sweaters. thats not what I was trying to say.

I just wanted to be cumfy, but still look good because its a heritage festival not just a rock concert.

there are lots of people who are "seasonal kilt wearers" who go out on St. Patty's and make the rest of us kilt wears look bad with drunk and disorderly behavior, I just want to be one that doesn't make us all look bad. especially because this festival is completely sponsored by Guinness there could be a good deal of drinking.

now, Hospitaller, this was by no means an attack on you, you are by no means trash because you choose to not act like that. I can tell that from the fact that you are here on this forum and wanting to actively learn more about kilting.

now, if we could steer back to the original intent of this post.

~Casey

[pdcorlis]

I'm pretty much on the same wavelength - polos look classy in the summer time, think about picking a minor stripe color from the tartan - hose color could be a shirt matcher or oatmeal with flashes matching the shirt color. Be careful of over-coordinating colors. For leathers, I'd pick brown for outdoor casual and shoes to match.