Semi-formal outfit...opinions wanted within

[Avonlea22]

I currently own 1 USAK Philabeg in Gunn Tartan.

I'd like to have a semi-formal outfit that I can be proud to wear, but also not look silly. I'd wear this to dinner, social gatherings with friends, and maybe Christmas (next year) luncheon's or dinners.

I'm seeking input on how to create an inexpensive outfit using the USAK I already have.

What would be a good jacket? Argyle? Other?

For shoes, I currently have a pair of dress Doc Martins. I also have a belt, but it's nothing fancy. I'd like a better Kilt belt, but keep in mind the size of my belt loops on the Philabeg. I currently have a Buzz Kidder Sporan. I'm assuming I should upgrade to a semi-dress sporran, and switch over to a sporran belt (I'm using the chain that came with the sporran). Would a plain white shirt and dark colored tie work, or should I go with a more formal tux shirt and bowtie (of which I have both)? I have sevral flashes and Kilt hose in cream, tan and bottle green (I think it's bottle...the darker green).

I have a luncheon to attend at work (I work for a Sheraton in the banquet department) on Monday, and I'm trying to decide if I even want to wear the kilt, because I think what I have now is too casual (although I believe it is a casual function). I was going to wear the kilt with my Doc's, Cream hose and red flashes, and a long sleeved red button down shirt. I don't own any sweaters, and I'm hoping it won't be too cold that day, if I decide to go this route.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Links to sites with inexpensive items (such as argyle, if that's what's suggested) would be helpful too.

BTW, I'm glad I came back here. It's been a while since I visited, and I've been out of the loop. It's good to read all of your posts again.

Welcome to all of the new members!

[GlassMan]

Personally I think the silvered links of a sporran chain looks dressier than a sporran belt.

I'd go for the Argyle jacket for the semi-formal event.

As for the sporran, a lot depends on what the semi-dress looks like. There are some semi-formal sporrans out there that are actually too dressy for most American semi-dress events.

[Niblox]

I wear doc martens all the time, even to formal events - see my pic below!

[possingk]

I bought a kilt from Rocky on September 23rd, I believe, one month later I had the following outfit on at a ball that we went to:



The coat is a tuxedo waist jacket $60 from tuxedo place clearing them out, I bought a vest there as well which is hard to see. My next steps are going to be to replace the buttons on the coat, I have oatmeal wool kilt hose that I wear with this now as well as black flashes.

[Avonlea22]

Wow..quick responses.

I forgot to add that I have a tux jacket too. It's actually issued by the hotel for our more formal dinners. I suppose I could wear that with a white shirt and bow tie. But would that be too formal for a luncheon?

Edited to add that I will take a pic or two of what I was planning on wearing, and post it later today after I get home.

[GlassMan]

I think the tux jacket would definitely be a little on the formal side.

Another option would be a nice tweed daywear jacket or blazer. That always looks good with a kilt.

[Colin]

I currently own 1 USAK Philabeg in Gunn Tartan.

I'd like to have a semi-formal outfit that I can be proud to wear, but also not look silly. I'd wear this to dinner, social gatherings with friends, and maybe Christmas (next year) luncheon's or dinners.

I'm seeking input on how to create an inexpensive outfit using the USAK I already have.

What would be a good jacket? Argyle? Other?

For shoes, I currently have a pair of dress Doc Martins. I also have a belt, but it's nothing fancy. I'd like a better Kilt belt, but keep in mind the size of my belt loops on the Philabeg. I currently have a Buzz Kidder Sporan. I'm assuming I should upgrade to a semi-dress sporran, and switch over to a sporran belt (I'm using the chain that came with the sporran). Would a plain white shirt and dark colored tie work, or should I go with a more formal tux shirt and bowtie (of which I have both)? I have sevral flashes and Kilt hose in cream, tan and bottle green (I think it's bottle...the darker green).

First and foremost, I would suggest upgrading to a USA Kilt semi traditional or a stillwater kilt. I know you have asked how to make this work with what you have, but from personal experience I have not found that a casual kilt works well in a formal or semi formal setting. It looks like something is not quite right. Trust me, I have worn my 4 yard MacKenzie Bear kilt to numerous weddings and formal dinners. When I look back at photos, it looks good but not great. A traditional cut kilt just looks that much better.

Having said that, you can make it work for what you have. Most people won't have a clue about any difference. I, like everyone else do not have the funds to just get a proper highland dress outfit. I have had to do this over several years now. It is possible.

First things first, don't wear a regular suit jacket. I speak again from experience. It looks sloppy. www.scottishkilts.net has the best prices online for argyle jackets, and some packages include the waistcoat. The proper jacket helps enormously:
with suit jacket
with Argyle jacket

One other option is to skip the jacket. Before I got my argyle and waistcoat, I bought a vest from a tuxedo shop for $20 and it served me well. Wait for their off season sales.

As for sporrans, while semi dressed sporrans are a lot cheaper than a dress sporran, I would think that a nice day sporran would do the trick. I prefer the regular day sporrans (black leather, stiff as a dead guy) and don't know how well the Buzz kidder sporrans would work for semi-formal. http://scottishkilts.net/store/leather_sporrans.html

In my opinon it sounds like you have the shoes, hose and flashes sorted quite well. I also think the plain white shirt and dark tie (plain of course) will look sharp.

I have a luncheon to attend at work (I work for a Sheraton in the banquet department) on Monday, and I'm trying to decide if I even want to wear the kilt, because I think what I have now is too casual (although I believe it is a casual function). I was going to wear the kilt with my Doc's, Cream hose and red flashes, and a long sleeved red button down shirt. I don't own any sweaters, and I'm hoping it won't be too cold that day, if I decide to go this route.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Links to sites with inexpensive items (such as argyle, if that's what's suggested) would be helpful too.

I would try and go for a white or black dress shirt personally, but the rest of the outfit sounds great. One other option is that numerous places are again selling sweater vests. I have also gone this route and loved the look that came from it. a nice dark plain colour should be easy to find. Turtle neck and V neck (with a dress shirt) sweaters also look great. Check out http://www.gap.com/browse/category.d...5180&pageID=-1

Good luck, I am sure it will turn out well which every route you decide to go.

[Iolaus]

No disrespect intended to Rocky, but I think that the badge takes away from the outfit in a formal or semi-formal use. I realize it's in the traditional place for a pin, but it's still brand advertising, and, in my opinion, has no place in a "dress" situation.

That said, I'd go with Glassman's suggestion for a jacket; a tux is probably too formal.

[Avonlea22]

No disrespect intended to Rocky, but I think that the badge takes away from the outfit in a formal or semi-formal use. I realize it's in the traditional place for a pin, but it's still brand advertising, and, in my opinion, has no place in a "dress" situation.

That said, I'd go with Glassman's suggestion for a jacket; a tux is probably too formal.

I had mine made without the badge, just for that reason.

[GlassMan]

Sadly I have to agree that I don't like the look of the label where the kilt pin should be for a dress-up situation. It's fine for regular wear but does distract a little from a more serious outfit.

Since most of them won't know the finer points of kilt-wearing (heck, most of us have a hard time too) you might consider wearing a large plaid broach over the top of the USAK patch.