Semi-Formal w/ Brown Accessories

[O'Neille]

So, this week in Minneapolis I have a lot of kilting opportunity and will be wearing my brown accessories and packing my black for a few dinner parties. I've collected a few brown items to make up a brown kit. The Individual bits include: New Tan Ghillie Brogues (Ebay) http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=20656 , 2.5" brown leather belt (self made), New Pewter Buckle (self made), Brown sporran strap (self made), and my Kilted KT made brown sporran w/ rotary clasp. All of this together will make up my informal, but still dressy outfit. I plan on wearing the basics w/ a collared long sleeve shirt on the plane and just adding a jacket when I arrive for an afternoon reception. I'll be going black and dress sporran for the evening events.

With all the recent chatter about daywear, brown accessories, formal wear and such, I thought I'd try a few things and see how they worked out. Please don't judge every outfit. This was just an experiment with changing a few elements of an outfit to see how they change things. It may also help those who are trying to decide about new items. I also didn't do the obvious and go with my Weathered Lamont, khaki collared shirt, green hose etc... that would have been safe and easy. Here is my photo comparison experiment.

Cameron of Erracht, black Argyle, Cream hose, navy flashes, white shirt, black tie





light blue shirt and lovat blue hose w/same



Same outfit with gray crail jacket





Changed to Saffron SWK heavy, Argyle, cream hose, green flashes, white shirt, green tie





Same outfit with grey crail jacket





The buckle is solid pewter weighing in at 9 oz with a steel thorn. After a few tweaks it will be ready for KiltsRock.com

[Planopiper]

I'm not too excited about the brown with the black jacket. I wouldn't wear brown shoes with black pants, either. I think it looks much better with the grey, though. I think that works.

[Colin]

The brown with the grey day jacket looks great. The lovat blue hose didn't look so hot with the black jacket and the brown gear, but the cream looked alright. Maybe it I am seeing Hamish's point about colour hose for the day and cream/oatmeal for dressier times. Good pics though, it was nice to see some examples. I like the brown brogues.

[Panache]

O'Neille,

Thanks for the photos. It makes the previous discussion on black vs. brown so much easier with visual aids.

I think the grey jacket works well with the brown accessories. It should be noted that the grey jacket falls into the catagory of "smart daywear". The black jacket just doesn't work with the brown leather accessories. It stands out. It looks like you have grabbed the wrong coat heading out the door. It's too formal for the brown leathers (color aside, the style of the sporran and belt are daywear/casual).

I have found that with the high rise of the kilt and wide kilt belt I have to make sure to tie my ties so the end is just above the belt. I don't know if that is a fashin rule or just my fussiness.

Cheers

[O'Neille]

Exactly the points I was trying to provide examples of. I would never wear the Argyle w/o my semi-formal black accessories for day or more formal accessories and bow tie for evenings. It just doesn't look right. And even though you match a color in the kilt with the hose and a similar colored shirt it just doesn't fly with some jackets. I think that in this circumstance w/o an earth toned kilt and jacket I'd skip the jacket all together if I were to wear the brown accessories. And yes the tie was too long. I was cutting into my photograhers T.V. time and she was rushing me. O'Neille

[Kilted KT]

I was cutting into my photograhers T.V. time and she was rushing me. O'Neille

I hate it when that happens. She usually gets her way, too.

at least she got soem good pics!

[arrogcow]

The grey tweed is better, but to really work with the brown you should get a lovat green or lovat blue jacket (either will work with that tartan as well though green would probably be better for the saffron.)

Adam

[O'Neille]

I think I'll just wear different kilts and accessories. Not a big fan of green and blue jackets. It's easier just to go back to the black accessories. Hey that was the point of this little experiment. I'll post a picture of the same outfit done up w/o the brown. O'Neille

[Alan H]

I bet you could dig up a brown tweed jacket to modify that would look smashing with those brown accessories.

[turpin]

I'm not too excited about the brown with the black jacket. I wouldn't wear brown shoes with black pants, either. I think it looks much better with the grey, though. I think that works.

I second that. (although, since I'm late to the party and haven't read down further, I'm probably thirding or fourthing)