Black Tie with Kilt Etiquette - Ladies edition

[sarakirsch]

Hi All! Newbie to tartan etiquette here.

I've been invited to an event in Scotland for next year and one of the dinners has been labeled Black Tie with Kilts (for the guys) for the dress code. I've got a good idea of what normally Black Tie for ladies would constitute, so here's my question:

Would it be inappropriate for me to show in a hostess-length tartan skirt, appropriate top, heels and matching sash? Or would it be more appropriate to wear a modern evening gown with a tartan sash?

While the event will be at a large castle estate and very formal, it's doubtful that any sort of royalty would be there, although you never know.

Thank you!

[lschwartz]

I would ask the people who are sponsoring/hosting the dinner what women would wear for "black tie". It may not include any tartan at all.

[figheadair]

I would ask the people who are sponsoring/hosting the dinner what women would wear for "black tie". It may not include any tartan at all.

That's sound advice and certainly should be your starting point. Can you tell us a little more about the event, we may then be able to offer better advice? Things to consider:

1. Format- - just Dinner or will there be Dancing?

2. Size of the event (number of people)?

3. Most senior guest(s)?

4. Is this a one off or a regular/more frequent event? If the latter, are there pictures available anywhere that show what ladies wear?

Having attended my fair share of Black-Tie events in Scotland, both military and civilian, I cannot think of one where a lady wore a long tartan skirt, although there may have been someone I missed. This style of long kilt skirt was fashionable 40+ years ago but much less so nowadays.
I would certainly avoid wearing one with a sash here.

Whether to wear a sash or more will depend on the type of event. They are worn by some at Balls but not usually for a Dinner. If you want to wear tartan then consider something more like a tartan favour - a case of less is more.

[Jock Scot]

That's sound advice and certainly should be your starting point. Can you tell us a little more about the event, we may then be able to offer better advice? Things to consider:

1. Format- - just Dinner or will there be Dancing?

2. Size of the event (number of people)?

3. Most senior guest(s)?

4. Is this a one off or a regular/more frequent event? If the latter, are there pictures available anywhere that show what ladies wear?

Having attended my fair share of Black-Tie events in Scotland, both military and civilian, I cannot think of one where a lady wore a long tartan skirt, although there may have been someone I missed. This style of long kilt skirt was fashionable 40+ years ago but much less so nowadays.
I would certainly avoid wearing one with a sash here.

Whether to wear a sash or more will depend on the type of event. They are worn by some at Balls but not usually for a Dinner. If you want to wear tartan then consider something more like a tartan favour - a case of less is more.

Sound advice here. Do your research, but Peter is bang on in my view.

[sarakirsch]

That's sound advice and certainly should be your starting point. Can you tell us a little more about the event, we may then be able to offer better advice? Things to consider:

1. Format- - just Dinner or will there be Dancing?

2. Size of the event (number of people)?

3. Most senior guest(s)?

4. Is this a one off or a regular/more frequent event? If the latter, are there pictures available anywhere that show what ladies wear?

Having attended my fair share of Black-Tie events in Scotland, both military and civilian, I cannot think of one where a lady wore a long tartan skirt, although there may have been someone I missed. This style of long kilt skirt was fashionable 40+ years ago but much less so nowadays.
I would certainly avoid wearing one with a sash here.

Whether to wear a sash or more will depend on the type of event. They are worn by some at Balls but not usually for a Dinner. If you want to wear tartan then consider something more like a tartan favour - a case of less is more.

I will definitely have to reach out and ask them. I know there's no dancing - just dinner, but the other questions I'm clueless on...which is why I started here! Very good points to ask.

I also know there aren't any photos of past events (not allowed by the host) but I will definitely reach out to the host/hostess for advice since I'm an uneducated American. LOL

[Father Bill]

Being an American does NOT mean that you're uneducated; you're just educated in different things.

[Patty Logan]

how about something like this?

https://www.scotclans.com/product/fo...weight-tartan/

[Jock Scot]

I would ask the people who are sponsoring/hosting the dinner what women would wear for "black tie". It may not include any tartan at all.

I don't want to dampen your enthusiasm, but it might be worth you bearing in mind the words in the post above. Although I don't venture out to many black tie functions these days, other than small dinner parties(8/10 people) where tartan is almost never worn by the ladies. I am also told by the younger generation who do venture out to larger formal events in Scotland that a lady wearing any tartan at all is a very rare sight and its been that way for many a year in my experience................and before some wag makes a witty observation,........... yes the ladies were definitely wearing something!

Often, photographs are not encouraged and are sometimes, actively discouraged if a V.I.P. is present.

What you choose to wear is up to you, but if it were my wife, she would be in touch with the hosts for their advice.

Good luck.

[Allan Thomson]

I would say wear what ladies normally wear to black tie with an addition of a tartan sash. That is what most ladies would wear to a burns or st Andrew's.

Tartan skirts are more informal unless you're wearing a tartan wedding dress.

[Steve Ashton]

I guess I have never understood the thinking of Tartan everywhere. I have a kilt so I don't feel I need more.

And I guess I was raised at a time when gentlemen never dressed in way that they outshine their lady.

To this day I still, unconsciously, dress with the "less is more" and the "simple is always classic and elegant" thinking.

A lady in a formal gown will outshine a guy in a kilt anyway so - she may wear some Tartan, or an accent of Tartan if she wishes, of course. But does not require Tartan to accomplish that.

In fact, any lady, entering any room, in ball gown and I can guarantee no one is looking at Tartan.