Kiltic Morning Dress

[Presuming Ed]

You might thing about getting a copy of "Tartans and Highland Dress" by C R Mackinnon of Dunakin - a neat little book published in the late 60s which gives full details of traditional highland dress. Available on bookfinder:

http://www.bookfinder.com/search/?ac...95900897_1:1:8

Anyway:

1) NOT a Prince Charlie. Not to tread on anybody's toes, but IMHO a PC is inappropriate. It's evening formal dress - the equivalent to a dinner jacket, and so is really for events after 6pm or so.

2) Were your event to be taking place in the Highlands, or the countryside, I would say that the most suitable suggestion would actually be a tweed kilt jacket and waistcoat. If you look at photos of things like the Argyllshire Gathering, the Northern Meeting and the Braemar Games - formal daytime events, particularly for the members and committee, you'll see tweed.
For example: http://www.braemargathering.org/gallery.htm

3) If you're in London, and feel that tweed is a little too rustic, then I would go for a plain black Argyll jacket and waistcoat, day or semi-formal sporran (or even a mask sporran, if you like that sort of thing), hose which tone with the kilt and plain black brogues.



I believe Moss Bros rent Argyll jackets and waistcoats - requires pre-ordering, though, but it's much cheaper than buying! They certainly used to - I've rented from them before.

[mrpharr]

I'm not a fan of many of their styles but here are a couple of nice looking kilt outfits.





www.21stcenturykilts.com

[An t-Ileach]

Thanks, everybody, you've all been really helpful. I'll have to mull over all this and I'll put up some pix of what I come up with.

[caig]

I, too, have to wear morning dress to a formal event, in October. My understanding is that morning dress is a "uniform" for certain, particularly government or royal, events. It is akin to a military uniform in that regard, and there is no departure from the requirement. Depending on what your event is, I would suggest if I may, that you check with the organisers to see what alternative forms of dress are acceptable. I know that in my event, a kilt would not be aceptable. I would be interested to hear the outcome and of course a pic would be great.

Have a great time, whatever you wear.

[A Hay]

I've never had a reason to don a full morning outfit, and not likely to in the circles I frequent. I did want to have an subdued dressy look however. Found the Auld Lang Syne (Grey) on ScottishKilts.net. With a black Argyll jacket and waistcoat and grey kilt hose, I like the look. (I now have black flashes, but the red ones pick up the red stripe in the ALS(G). Found a soft grey tie at Target.

Don't really like the dark tartans, but this one is nice. Pic included in the yahoo connection below.

Please show us what you come up with, even if is isn't kilted.

Best wishes

Tom

[arrogcow]

meant to add this
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formal_wear

for better definitions. Adjust for kilt accordingly.

Adam

[arrogcow]

In the most traditionaly since, morning dress is about as formal as you can get. Therefore you should be in kilt, PC (or Brian Boru IMHO) with waistcoat, fly plaid, fur sporran and all the usual accessories. Under no circumstances wear a tweed jacket, or brown accessories. As for the suggestion of a SWK, well, um NO. I love my SWK, but it would be like wearing a pair of black pants from the Gap and calling it a tux. As for colors, yes gray is the color of morning suit pants, and if you have a dark kilt cool, however, a guy's kilt is a guy's kilt and as long as it is at least a 5 yard (and only if you are really pushing it) wool (or one of Matt's Box pleats), you should be ok.

Now, is the event called morning dress or just formal and happens during the day? If it is just formal then lose the fly plaid, go with any kilt jacket (black not tweed for a formal event), waistcoat optional, and fur trimed soprran (in the us you could get away with a black sporran since you have less chance of anyone knowing the difference).

Both of these are being traditional, you need to decide (or ask) what your hosts expect for level of dress. I have heard people use morning dress or formal to mean, "Wear a suit." At which point kilt with tweed jacket and any nice sporran, becomes ok.

Wow look at me, I've become the fashion police.

Adam

[An t-Ileach]

In the most traditionaly since, morning dress is about as formal as you can get...

Adam

It occurred to me that I should ask the Lord Chamberlain's Office (I've had dealings with them before, but my contact'll have moved on by now) - they have a standard brief: that should give us the definitive answer, and one can downgrade from that as appropriate.

[caig]

Good idea to ask those in charge. I was invited to a Buckingham Palace garden party 3 years ago and morning dress was stated to be appropriate, although national dress was acceptable, so I wore my kilt. In October I have to attend Westminster Abbey for a formal legal event, when morning dress is stated to be approprioate, and no alternative, so no kilt there. Please let us know how you get on.