Options for smart but informal

**andycwb** · 14th June 13, 11:30 AM

While waiting for my kilt to be made - complete with Prince Charlie and accessories for formal (technically semi-formal) wear, I'm pondering options as to what to wear it with on less formal occasions.

I'm particularly thinking of a family wedding that is going to be pretty laid back. If I were going with trousers I'd have worn a sport coat, shirt and possibly a tie, and dispensed with the tie at the first opportunity.

Assuming the weather is kind, I'm happy to dispense with the jacket all together, so was thinking a plain white cotton shirt. With the red and black predominant colours of the Cunningham tartan, I'm wondering if I can get away with another colour in the tie - black is definitely wrong, white is too formal, and red ... would have to match exactly at least. What are the rules around other colours with a tartan?

I'm definitely going to need a less formal sporran for this occasion as well.

OK, when the groom hears of the plan he might decide to join me (his now-deceased mother was a Scot)... :-)

**piperdbh** · 14th June 13, 11:48 AM

The tie need not be a solid color. Stripes, patterns, even paisleys, all look good with a tartan. A black-and-white checked tie (if such thing exists) would look good with Cunningham. I think I would avoid a red tie. It would look too much like you were trying to be "matchy-matchy", and red can be a hard color to match. Something you might want to try is putting on your trousers, shirt, tie, and jacket, as if you were going to the wedding. Get someone to take a picture of you. Then replace the trousers with your kilt, and take another picture of you. Compare the two pictures, and maybe get the photographer's opinion, then try a different tie, different jacket, until you get the look you want. And post pictures of the wedding cake.

**WillowEstate** · 14th June 13, 12:05 PM

You could try a pale blue tie, something close to cyan, as a kind of mid strength colour between the strong red of the kilt and the pale of the white shirt. Perhaps even a bow tie, a bit "Doctor Who-like"?

**Jock Scot** · 14th June 13, 11:54 PM

You need to remember that the tweed kilt day jacket is really the kilt suit equivalent, but it can be dressed down , by not wearing a tie, or, perhaps by not wearing a jacket and wearing a waist coat with or without a tie. Or, a pullover, or, shirtsleeves and again with the option of a tie. Yes a plain sporran will help the overall look.

I really would not get too wound up about colours having to match. Yes, I know! But , but ,but, that is what those who don't wear the kilt seem to obsess about in this modern world, but with kilt attire it is really not a concern. I am not cleaver enough to advise you how to do it, but if you go to the "search option" on this website, you will find some long and very informative threads on "matchy matchy" colour topics.

Have fun!

**TheOfficialBren** · 15th June 13, 12:03 AM

Aye. I'm with Jock on this.

Also, a polo shirt can look sharp.

I often wear a military-styled fashion shirt for casual kilting on warm days. Here's a thread with that illustrates what I'm talking about:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...daywear-79368/

Remember...without pics it didn't happen!

**Lodrorigdzin** · 17th June 13, 02:37 PM

I tend to approach it from the other end: informal but smart. I do a lot of long distance walking, mostly in my kilt. I love how functional that is, even in cold weather. And wearing a kilt makes me look smart among the fjallraven trousered multitudes. But it has been a real quest to find a good wind breaker, an nice matching wool sweater, good hose and stockings etc. I want it to be "in style", vaguely reminiscent of field sports. For me the answer were short field coats (of which I found a perfect example in a Ralph Lauren coat, who would have thought) and safari shorts by craghoppers (khaki, grey, very comfortabe) My hose are old hunting stockings I had lying around, for which I've bought real garter ties, and a pair of gaiters if I'm really in the field. Now that I've put it together it's a set I don't have to think much about: it's sharp, it's comfortable. I really never wear my kilt formally, only for walking. (and a spot of ceilidh dancing at festivals and such) I think I aspire to the functional gentry look: I even own a Barbour Bedale jacket, hehe.

**SadisticMedic** · 17th June 13, 08:42 PM

A solid color v-neck sweater with a plain white t-shirt is also a nice, casual look. I usually go with a thinner sweater in the summer. In the winter time, an Aran sweater with a collared shirt under is a nice option as well.

Medic

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 18th June 13, 04:18 AM

A tweed day jacket will get a lot of mileage for the level of dress you describe, so I encourage you to pick one up if possible. But even without the jacket, you can fairly easily achieve this look; a sweater in the colder months always looks nice. A waistcoat will add another option for you.

**creagdhubh** · 18th June 13, 05:01 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

You need to remember that the tweed kilt day jacket is really the kilt suit equivalent, but it can be dressed down , by not wearing a tie, or, perhaps by not wearing a jacket and wearing a waist coat with or without a tie. Or, a pullover, or, shirtsleeves and again with the option of a tie. Yes a plain sporran will help the overall look.

I really would not get too wound up about colours having to match. Yes, I know! But , but ,but, that is what those who don't wear the kilt seem to obsess about in this modern world, but with kilt attire it is really not a concern. I am not cleaver enough to advise you how to do it, but if you go to the "search option" on this website, you will find some long and very informative threads on "matchy matchy" colour topics.

Have fun!

I agree. Also, what the heck is "semi-formal" and why do people keep using this term? To me, it makes no sense whatsoever.

**andycwb** · 18th June 13, 05:08 AM

Originally Posted by creagdhubh

I agree. Also, what the heck is "semi-formal" and why do people keep using this term? To me, it makes no sense whatsoever.

Yeah, I basically have 4 levels of dress: jeans or shorts + t-shirt, shirt + chinos, suit, black tie.

I've come across this (co-incidentally from where I've ordered the kilt): http://www.hector-russell.com/Produc...ls.aspx?Id=420

I think that will suit my style with a less formal shirt for this occasion. I don't go for the earthy brown and green tones very much, and plenty of my existing shirts will work with this at different levels of formality.

I'll give them a bell and get it added to the order, I think.

Andy