What to wear

[TV Cameraman]

Hi All

I am going to my girlfriends Vetinary Ball for Glasgow University. It is a black tie affair and ceilidh dance. I am going to wear my black watch kilt with a black Argyll vest and jacket. Along with black hose and wingtip shoes. Now I should wear a white white Tuxedo Shirt with a black bowtie since this is a formal affair right? Instead of a white dress shirt and black tie? Also my sporran is a very nice black leather one, it that ok to use or should I go for a dressier one?

[TheKiltedWonder]

I like the black hose rather than the white! Good call; black is far better for a formal event. I would say that the black sporran is far more appropriate than say a brown one for a formal event. What does it look like? For a truly black tie affair a dressier one is in order, but, and I don't claim to be an expert, I think a black leather sporran would do. And yes to the bow-tie.

[McMurdo]

I would say a black bow tie and white tuxedo shirt. As for the sporran, do does the black leather sporran have a chrome cantle, if so it should be fine, if not I suspect you have a day-wear sporran, in that case I would go for a dress sporran

Here is my Leather Dress sporran, is this the type you have?


or does it look like this


This is the sporran I wear for any formal event

[Rex_Tremende]

If it's a formal event, a black tie will be appropriate with the Argyll jacket and vest. May I suggest a lay-down collar tux shirt with the black tie? (Stand-up collars call for white ties, but I know this is not the modern convention.)

Have fun,
Rex.

[Monkey@Arms]

Hi All

I am going to my girlfriends Vetinary Ball for Glasgow University. It is a black tie affair and ceilidh dance. I am going to wear my black watch kilt with a black Argyll vest and jacket. Along with black hose and wingtip shoes. Now I should wear a white white Tuxedo Shirt with a black bowtie since this is a formal affair right? Instead of a white dress shirt and black tie? Also my sporran is a very nice black leather one, it that ok to use or should I go for a dressier one?

On the sporran - if I were going to a large black tie affair where there would lots of formally attired kilt wearers, which I assume is the case, I'd probably want an evening sporran, even if it was an inexpensive one, like the rabbit fur ones available on eBay. Sounds like great time!

Best regards,

Jake

[gilmore]

Hi All

I am going to my girlfriends Vetinary Ball for Glasgow University. It is a black tie affair and ceilidh dance. I am going to wear my black watch kilt with a black Argyll vest and jacket. Along with black hose and wingtip shoes. Now I should wear a white white Tuxedo Shirt with a black bowtie since this is a formal affair right? Instead of a white dress shirt and black tie? Also my sporran is a very nice black leather one, it that ok to use or should I go for a dressier one?

I would try to find hose that matches or is close to your kilt's Black Watch. You might try to track down Hawick Sock Company. Or you could wear red and white or other diced hose to continue the military theme of the Black Watch tartan.

Black wing tips might be acceptable, but this could be an opportunity to get a pair of black ghillie brogues.

[fluter]

Make the most of what you have. Don't wreck your budget for one event. If you have the ready cash, it's a good time to upgrade or add one component of your outfit; assuming that it's something you'll use in the future.

I would say that a nice-looking black "day wear" sporran would be fine. If and only if you can afford a new one, consider an evening sporran. If your shoes are not good for dancing (assuming that you dance), consider them first. For example my dressy black shoes have Vibram soles, which don't do well in the ballroom.

I vote with Rex about the spread collar tux shirt, or plain white dress shirt with the black bow-tie. But if what you have is a wing collar tux shirt, wear it in good health.

If you have black dress shoes, don't even think about ghillie brogues. I would not buy a pair unless I were joining a pipe band that required them. Black hose will look very nice with the outfit. Don't go crazy looking for diced hose, unless (again) that's something from which you expect to get a lot of use.

Most of all, have fun! Wear the kilt proudly, and your lady will look all the better next to you.

[Chef]

Another vote for the lay down collar tux shirt and black bow tie if you are buying one. If you own a wing tip collar shirt don't spent the money, but a bow tie is much better than a straight one. And please, a button down shirt does not qualify as a lay down collar tux shirt

Your wing tip shoes will work just fine assuming they are in very good repair and highly polished. If your budget allows, by all means get your self a pair of ghillies. However a good pair of wing tips is preferable to a cheap pair of ghillies.

If you have a day wear sporran you should get an evening one. A day wear sporran is really not appropriate for a black tie. As mentioned above you can get a very reasonable one in rabbit from ebay. They are not fabulous but they will service quite well.

Hose, I am from the other side of the argument. I prefer argyll hose for formal attire but if you can't afford those I prefer off-white. Also these are the easiest to find and therefore the most economical for decent quality. I find black hose too monochromatic for formal wear, and if you don't take my word on it look at Hamish's pictures.

[Arlen]

If it's a formal event, a black tie will be appropriate with the Argyll jacket and vest. May I suggest a lay-down collar tux shirt with the black tie? (Stand-up collars call for white ties, but I know this is not the modern convention.)

Have fun,
Rex.

Well said.

Also, since it is a Ceilidh and not an RSCDS ball Semi formal will do just as well as formal would.

[David Dalglish]

I agree with the white dress shirt & a bow tie with an Argyll jacket, also the off white hose work better for a formal event. A formal dress sporron would look better, but you can get away with a leather one also.