Being a member of Xmarks has made me much more aware of the oft confusing nuances of dress codes. Sure, there are names for these different levels of formality in attire: formal, casual, white tie, etc. Nonetheless, the different social circles and backgrounds of an international forum ensure that people don't always use the same names for a given dress code. There are also different interpretations of the same name!

In traditional Highland attire, things are perhaps a bit more clear cut, especially for those whose social calendar includes events that have clearly defined dress codes: e.g. the Royal Caledonian Ball, which has both general and specific requirements.

Modernity, however, has tended towards a loosening of dress codes and relaxing of formality. This can make it challenging to be appropriately dressed for an event, so when kilted, I tend to aim a bit higher on the formality scale. That way, I can ditch some kit if the event turns out to be more casual than I expected. I'd also rather be a bit overdressed and looking good, than underdressed and looking like I didn't care enough to try.

The 1 Kilt 10 Looks thread is a fantastic place to get a feel for the full range of formality. A while ago, I made a sort of answer thread (A Kilt Style Guide) that covers a more limited scale but with a few examples of each. Unfortunately, my thread didn't generate much discussion...

Here, then, is a question for the Rabble. All opinions and comments are welcome, regardless of whether they are historical, traditional, contemporary, or modern!

What different levels of formality do you dress at in your kilt? What do you and your social group call these dress codes (if anything)?

For some people, just wearing a collared shirt and a tie might be formal. For others, formal wear might mean a doublet and jabot. Casual might could be a Utilikilt, flip flops, and a tee shirt, or it could be a tattersal shirt, brown brogues, and a striped tie. Someone might actually wear the whole range of formality shown in the 1 Kilt 10 Looks thread, while another might only wear their kilt for black tie events.

There is no right answer because I'm asking people to share the experiences that are particular to their social milieu.

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