"Smart casual" with a kilt

**dutchy kilted** · 17th February 11, 08:41 AM

My lovely wife and I have been invited to a charity dinner-dance in Philadlephia next ,onth. The dress code for men is "smart casual." I have been requested to wear a kilt and am planning on wearing my USAK Warrior (mainly purple) or USAK Albannach (mainly blue). I do not have a waistcoat or kilt jacket. Two quick questions:

1. Would it be approriate to wear a tweed sportcoat with either kilt, and what color hose would be recommended? I don't have the funds for a new jacket

2. What in all that is holy is "smart casual"? I checked the photos from last year and it appeared most men were wearing sportcoats and open collars, no ties, but I'm not sure how that applies to kilted wear.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

**Chas** · 17th February 11, 08:47 AM

Best of luck, trying to work it out. "Smart casual", sounds like a round square to me. It has to be one or the other, it can't really be both.

Regards

Chas

**auld argonian** · 17th February 11, 08:50 AM

If you have a month, you may have time to find a tweed jacket (or whatever) at the thrift store and have it shortened for kilt wear by then. Several excellent tutorials here or find a sympathetic tailor who'll do it for you...

Best

AA

**Dale Seago** · 17th February 11, 08:52 AM

If there's nothing you can do about the jacket anyway, I'd say wear it without a second thought: In all probability you will be the only one present who has any idea it wasn't made to wear with a kilt.

Just as a point of reference, this post below gives my own idea of "smart casual with a kilt". No pics in the post itself, but there are embedded links that will give you a good sense of what I'm talking about.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...67/#post953888

**auld argonian** · 17th February 11, 09:04 AM

One thing that I've noticed about jackets, shortened or not: if they're of a generous cut, they look wrong; if they look a size too small, shortened or not, they look a lot better. The tight fit of the trad kilt jacket has a lot to do with the perception of it being appropriate to wearing with the kilt!

Best

AA

**Jock Scot** · 17th February 11, 09:10 AM

A thin good quality woollen V neck, or crew neck sweater worn over a suitable shirt, with or without a tie(not a black bow tie) is another option.

**CMcG** · 17th February 11, 10:36 AM

There is a Wikipedia page for "smart casual."

I generally think of it like looking nice but not too dressed up. As with most dress codes, it depends a lot on the organizer and the crowd that will be attending.

I would avoid wearing a regular sports coat with a kilt unless it is cut unusually short in the waist, otherwise it will look disproportionate and dumpy. A better way to go would be to follow Jock Scot's excellent advice.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 17th February 11, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

A thin good quality woollen V neck, or crew neck sweater worn over a suitable shirt, with or without a tie(not a black bow tie) is another option.

Ditto what Jock said. I think a tweed Argyle jacket would be perfect, but if you don't have one a sweater will work great.

**RockyR** · 18th February 11, 04:53 AM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

Ditto what Jock said. I think a tweed Argyle jacket would be perfect, but if you don't have one a sweater will work great.

Ditto Matt and Jock. I might also add a Polo shirt to the list, but you may see that as TOO casual.

I wouldn't do a sportcoat unless it was specifically made to wear with a kilt. Otherwise, it looks 'oversized' to me (no matter how well it fits your frame while wearing pants).

Another option somone mentioned is a Vest. You can pick up an Argyll 5 button vest for $100 or less. It's a 'cost effective' way of dressing up the outfit without springing for a jacket.

For the tie, I'm a fan of solid colors with the kilt.

For the hose... Charcoal looks great with Warrior and / or Albannach. Lovat Blue looks great with Albannach.

**Whidbey78** · 18th February 11, 07:12 AM

Rocky, Matt and Jock(and others) hit the nail on the head. Without having a jacket on hand, or time to get one, I think the sweater with a button down shirt is one of the better choices available. You'll be able to find a suitable sweater in an afternoon if you don't already have one, and it should be considered acceptable for a variety of situations. It's also a very economical way to go when cash-flow is an issue.