Outfit help please

**flairball** · 21st November 06, 08:26 AM

I'll be attending a wedding in late April. I'll not be part of the wedding ceremony, just a guest, and of course I'll be wearing my kilt. I only own one kilt, a SWK Nightstalker, and haven't yet worn it formally. My plan is to wear it with a tux shirt, bow tie, belt, sporran, and either off white or grey hose w/ black flashes. And shoes of course. My question is; because I'll only be a guest, and not part of the ceremony, is wearing a tux shirt and a bow tie too formal?

I may buy a SWK heavy weigh Black Watch before the wedding, in which case I'll wear that kilt instead.

**Robin** · 21st November 06, 08:36 AM

is wearing a tux shirt and a bow tie too formal?

Depends on what the others wear...In Europe it's not common practise to wear a tux during the day...in the evening only when it's the dress code.

I understand in the USA things are slightly different.

**Panache** · 21st November 06, 08:38 AM

Originally Posted by flairball

I'll be attending a wedding in late April. I'll not be part of the wedding ceremony, just a guest, and of course I'll be wearing my kilt. I only own one kilt, a SWK Nightstalker, and haven't yet worn it formally. My plan is to wear it with a tux shirt, bow tie, belt, sporran, and either off white or grey hose w/ black flashes. And shoes of course. My question is; because I'll only be a guest, and not part of the ceremony, is wearing a tux shirt and a bow tie too formal?

I may buy a SWK heavy weigh Black Watch before the wedding, in which case I'll wear that kilt instead.

flairball,

Unless the wedding is a black tie event (i.e. the other male guests are wearing tuxedos) then a tux shirt and bow tie would not be appropriate. Also, you didn't mention a jacket. If you were planning on wearing just the shirt and tie without one, you would run the risk of being seen as a kilted waiter.

Go with a regular dress shirt and tie. If you don't have a jacket, then perhaps a nice vest or sweater would complete the outfit.

Have fun at the wedding!

Cheers

**HeathBar** · 21st November 06, 09:02 AM

I second Panache's thoughts. But adding, unless you have a kilt jacket or an appropriate sweater, I might would skip the tie all together. To me, a shirt and tie with no jacket makes the outfit look incomplete. And what I mean by an appropriate sweater is one with a v-neck that would show the tie.
Remember, your kilt will always make your outfit dressier, even if you think its casual.

**Caradoc** · 21st November 06, 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by flairball

My question is; because I'll only be a guest, and not part of the ceremony, is wearing a tux shirt and a bow tie too formal?

Is this a daylight wedding, afternoon, evening? My personal take is that a tuxedo is too much for anything during daylight, especially outdoors.

That said, the bride's wishes should be weighed.

For my own wedding (2PM, Edinburgh) I wore a charcoal tweed Argyll, a good dress shirt (spread collar, French cuffs), et cetera. She wore a one-piece long-sleeved dress in ivory lace, and looked amazing - the more so after she decided it was too chilly to go without her red shawl, which matched my tie and the piper's red tartan.

So, yes - the tux shirt and bow tie seems too formal to me. But you might ask the bride and groom how they feel about it.

**Panache** · 21st November 06, 09:34 AM

Originally Posted by Caradoc

... a good dress shirt (spread collar, French cuffs...

Caradoc has a great suggestion here. If you want something a little nicer than a regular dress shirt go with one with French Cuffs, the cufflinks really add a touch of class. Oddly enough Target carries them for under $30 (and sells pretty inexpensive cufflinks too.) I happened on some really nice white dress shirts there this year with the French Cuffs on the clearance rack for $6. I bought one. Took it it home. Thought about it and went back and bought 3 more. Just remember to take out the little plastic collar things before washing.

Cheers

**Caradoc** · 21st November 06, 09:40 AM

Originally Posted by Panache

Thought about it and went back and bought 3 more. Just remember to take out the little plastic collar things before washing.

Three of my French-cuffed shirts have come from Target.

I take the plastic collar stays out and use my own set of stainless steel stays. They won't warp if you forget them, won't melt into the fabric, and won't rust.

The cuffs are definitely a step over the regular Arrow pinpoint dress shirts - even cheap French cuffs (as long as they're not coming apart!) add that extra touch of class.

And cufflinks open a whole new world of accessorization.

**arrogcow** · 21st November 06, 09:47 AM

While this is a pic from last Easter, I wore this same outfit to a wedding just a few weeks ago (only kilted guy there)

I probably could have not worn the jacket, but it was cold.

Adam:biggrin:

**motorman4life** · 21st November 06, 11:15 AM

moved post to new thread.

**flairball** · 21st November 06, 11:20 AM

Okay. Thanks for the help. The tux shirt is definately out. I haven't got a decent jacket which is cut for a kilt, so I was trying to avoid any outfit which requires a jacket. The jacket, however, is a good look, and appropriate for the situation, so I will look into either buying or renting one. I will pick up a shirt as recommended, and try to find a tie. I've been looking for black herringbone vest, so if I find one I may be able to wear it instead of a jacket.

I noticed that Stillwater has some tartan ties now. Though I doubt I'd wear a Black Watch tie, I may consider buying a Nightstalker tie, or even a Black Stewart kilt and tie.