Your thoughts on linen?

[Hipbilly]

As spring is springing in central Arkansas, the temps are hitting 80° and soon to be higher. I know it's been discussed many times that weather sometimes takes precedent over etiquette, but I wonder what yall think of mixing linen, a decidedly southern/tropical fabric, with the highland-rated wool kilt.
Exibit A: a linen shirt (sleeves rolled and buttoned up), and a cotton/linen waistcoat (vest?).

My first thought was "I like it, what else matters?"
Second thought: "this is as bad as seersucker pants with a tweed jacket......"
Third thought: "I still like it".

[Tenmiles]

I like it. Would wear the same.

[Jock Scot]

I think linen is an obvious choice in warm climes.

[Elf]

I like linen. To my recollection linen, being produced in Europe and even early North America, was less expensive than imported cotton until recently (read 19thC / cotton gin). I made myself a linen shirt and love it. In fact, made another. Only drawback is that it needs to be ironed a lot more, but then that's the sacrifice for enjoying natural materials. Go for it and enjoy.

[Tenmiles]

I don't know if I'm alone in thinking this, or if those with with deeper ties to the tradition would feel the same, but to my assessment, it (your outfit) represents a respectful nod to the traditional style, while making the necessary adjustments in execution appropriate for your environment.

To paraphrase something I've seen others mention: When you are comfortable and feel good, then you'll look twice as good as when you're 'traditionally authentic' and sweating right through it.

[Dughlas mor]

Not a thing wrong with that outfit that I can see. I think it looks pretty good.

[Liam]

I think linen is a 'natural" fabric to go with a kilt, Depending of the event, I would take off the waist coat, or at least unbutton it as well. My view is to wear the appropriate attire for the 15 minutes of the formal affair - wedding, service, etc. then start derobing to a comfort level. You may find a lighter pair of hose more comfortable in the heat. Yours look great but also look like they could be pretty hot.

[Jock Scot]

It is perfectly traditional to use ones brains when choosing one's attire for any event. Traditional is not all about tweeds, brogues and balmorals it is perfectly within reason to adjust one's attire to suit weather conditions and still put on a reasonable show with one's attire.

In hot climes I would not hesitate to substitute my balmoral for a panama, my wool shirt for linen, my wool tweed argyll for a linen jacket, I would not hesitate to wear a lighter weight kilt, I would not hesitate to wear cooler kilt hose and if possible I would not hesitate to find light weight shoes and I would still look as smart as I could in the circumstances.

[Father Bill]

It looks absolutely normal to me. Linen was around as a higher-class material for a very, very, very long time! The church still requires it for its altar dressings.

[KD Burke]

I can't conceive of a fabric with more historical precedent in regard to highland attire than linen.

While history does not record the name of the first man to don a kilt that we would recognize as such, it is almost certainly true that he wrapped it over a linen shirt!

As has been noted previously,prior to the 19th century, cotton was far to expensive for the clothing of the commons. Linen, on the other hand, was readily available as flax was grown in the British Isles.