A Kilt Style Guide: From Black Tie to Streetwear in Photographic Examples

[CMcG]

I helped a friend buy his first kilt the other day and then showed him some pictures of myself wearing different types of kilt attire. He seemed to find it helpful and I’ve decided to post the images here in case other people might also be interested.

In keeping with the general idea of the “1 Kilt, 10 Looks” thread, I’ve roughly divided this into levels of formality. As a variation on the theme, however, I have only 5 categories but have put 4 examples in each. In the social circles that I run in, dress codes are fairly relaxed: I’ve never done ‘white tie’ (what some people call ‘full formal’) and so my other levels have been adjusted accordingly. Nonetheless, I find myself inspired to dress just a little better when I wear the kilt! The majority is more or less traditional Highland attire, but there are also some contemporary, modern, and Irish influences.

I hope that this will show a range of options within any given level of formality, though I do not presume to consider my efforts to be definitive or complete. Many thanks are due to the members of Xmarks who have offered much helpful advice and even sent me accessories. Any failings are, however, my own and should not reflect on those who have tried to guide me.

I welcome comments and/or for people to post their own contributions in the form of pictures!


FORMAL

I don’t own a doublet, but my dress Braemar jacket (like a dress Argyle but with flap cuffs) works nicely with formal evening wear accouterments: diced or Argyle hose with flashes (someday I’ll get yellow garter ties…), self-tie black bowtie or stock tie, white formal shirt, hair or fur + metal cantle sporran, highly polished black cap toe oxfords, dress sgian dubh, etc. My doeskin mess jacket provides my other option for formal wear and I recently acquired some buckle ghillie brogues that I have not taken for a test run yet. A waistcoat completes the look for me better than a belt, so I’m showing several different types in these pics. In warmer weather, however, I might go with fewer layers by swapping the vest for a shiny waist-plate belt.






SEMI-FORMAL

My dress Braemar jacket shows its versatility by also working for semi-formal occasions: formal daytime dress or dressy – though not quite formal – eveningwear. For accessories, I mostly favor solid colour hose with flashes, a solid colour or white dress shirt, shined brogues or oxfords, hunting or plain sporran (anytime) or fur + metal cantle sporran (evening only), jacket with waistcoat, sgian dubh, and a four-in-hand tie. As an exception, my diced hose might come out for a very dressy occasion and in hot weather I might either remove the jacket or swap the waistcoat for a waistplate or simple belt.