Morning Suit Equivalent

[JSFMACLJR]

In other words, I would try to acutally match in with the other men, rather than theoretically match.

A jacket and kilt like this, but the jacket of fine grey barathea, not rustic tweed:

Funny how the message never gets through about matching. Why match? What's the big issue at stake here? Why should a gentleman coordinate his apparel with what others are wearing so that everyone looks the same? BORING!!!

My morning coat is made of a black cloth with a very fine herringbone weave to it. One can tell right away that it doesn't come from one of the rental shops! My striped trousers aren't exactly like every other pair. My waistcoats are different. My shirts etc, etc. Why should it be any diffferent with the kilt? You are not in uniform. You are wearing civilian clothes. Wedding guests matching?? How sad and how plebean!

Now, back to what to wear to this wedding. A black kilt jacket in the "argyll" style, with silver buttons is spot on. Actually, so would a tweed jacket be correct. They are worn in the Highlands to weddings. I know, because I have seen them worn.

Wear your usual clan tartan. No need to get some fashion tartan that "tones" with your jacket. That would be silly. And not Scottish.

Actually, Jock Scot once posted a pic of himself and family at a wedding in France. Maybe Jock can help out here and re-post it!

[JSFMACLJR]

I really don't believe this is correct. A Morning Coat is just that, a Morning Coat. It is usually worn for weddings. It is not formal white-tie evening attire, one equivalent of which is the Montrose Doublet with jabot. Also, although I guess it's possible to wear a Prince Charlie jacket with a white bow tie and three-button waistcoat, the Prince Charlie is really not a white-tie jacket, either. For white-tie occasions, one would be better off with a Montrose, Sheriffmuir, Kenmore, or Regulation Doublet. Again, though, none of these options would be the equivalent to a Morning Coat.

Perhaps the question here should be: What is appropriate kilted attire for a morning wedding? FWIW, the Highlanders on the forum have made it clear that THCD for this event would be a tweed jacket/waistcoat combination in either a traditional tweed or the more modern charcoal color, with the appropriate hose and a day sporran.

Cordially,

David

Perfectly said, David.

[OC Richard]

Wear your usual clan tartan. No need to get some fashion tartan that "tones" with your jacket. That would be silly. And not Scottish.

Actually that outfit is Scottish, on display in Scotland.

Here's another which would fill the bill (also Scottish, on display in Scotland) :



I guess it's different in different places, but around here brides and even more so brides' mothers are often overly perskicketty about their weddings. As they're the ones who pay me, I've learned to follow suit (so to speak) over the last 30 years or so.

I was simply stating what I thought would match in best with men in Morning Dress. It's rarely seen around here, but when I do see it, it's grey, not black. I've also seen photos of formal events in Britain with the men all in grey morning dress. Highland Evening Dress seems, to me, to be quite inappropriate for such an event, and I would go with grey myself.

[JSFMACLJR]

Richard, I think the OP wishes to attend the wedding as a guest, not as a servant. A piper would fall into that category, and would wear the livery of his master...or the one who is paying him.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Weddings aside, during the more than twenty years that I lived in Ireland I used to have to wear morning dress at least half a dozen times a year both in the British Isles and on the Continent.

Morning dress consists of the following:

Black cut-away coat (in the spring and summer light gray may be worn to weddings (and should be worn to the Royal Enclosure, Ascot) provided one will change into dinner clothes or evening clothes after 6PM);

Waistcoat (usually black, gray, putty, brocade or tartan made of superfine wool or silk barathea);

White shirt, silver gray four-in-hand tie (which may be patterned);

Gray striped trousers;

Black socks (with or without clocks);

Black shoes (polished, not patent leather).

I, for one, would advise against wearing the kilt to a wedding in France as it would certainly up-stage the bride and would possibly be viewed by the locals as not only as a social faux pas, but extremely gauche, to boot. Like it or not, there is something faintly amusing about the sight of someone decked out in Highland finery far, far from home unless one is at a Scottish event.

However, correct kilted morning attire would comprise the following:

Black Argyll jacket cut from superfine wool or barathea (not tweed);

Waistcoat (five or six button, black, gray, putty, or tartan);

Kilt;

Dress sporran;

Tartan, argyle, or dark hose (white, cream, or other light/bright colours to be avoided);

Flashes;

Dress sgian dubh (not day wear);

Black shoes, well polished (either low cut or Highland pattern).

As the wedding in France is a formal affair, one should do their utmost to do as the invitation requests. As an aside, the tone and level of formality of an event-- weddings included-- is set by the person who is hosting the event (whose name(s) appears at the top of the invitation) hence Mr. and Mrs. X are the ones to be consulted if one wishes to dress in something other than the requested attire, not the bride.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I've also seen photos of formal events in Britain with the men all in grey morning dress. Highland Evening Dress seems, to me, to be quite inappropriate for such an event, and I would go with grey myself.

Hi Richard,

Gray is worn in the spring and summer to weddings and Royal Ascot. Generally, even in spring/summer, if morning dress is called for (other than a wedding) the gentlemen wear black cutaway coats. The exception is The Palace, which issues it's own protocols concerning appropriate modes of dress based on the time of year and the formality of the event one is attending.

I agree with you that Highland evening attire, in the circumstances you've mentioned, would be most inappropriate.

[ForresterModern]

I don't wish to get into the propriety of any particular cut or color of jacket for this occasion, but since some have mentioned matching the grey morning coats of others with a PC, I felt it might be helpful to mention that St Kilda Kilts right now has a blowout clearence on grey PCs, only 75gbp for the jacket and waistcoat, in available sizes.

http://www.stkildaretail.co.uk/view/...e_charlie.html

Don't shoot the messenger. Just providing another option that one might choose to employ, depending on one's final decision. Good luck with it, hoping the wedding is a smach and that your outfit goes over well, whatever that may be.

[Kornkob]

Upstaging the bride is certainly not a kind thing for a guest to do. If you intend to do this as a kilt thing I might suggest asking permission before diving in.

[Bugbear]

Just wondering, I don't have the clearist picture in my memory. Could the gray stroller jackets that the groomsmen might wear be mistaken for "gray" morning suits?

* Never mind, I found a good description. Sorry for posting.

[ggibby]

I, for one, would advise against wearing the kilt to a wedding in France as it would certainly up-stage the bride ...
... Mr. and Mrs. X are the ones to be consulted if one wishes to dress in something other than the requested attire, not the bride.

Exactly. Not his wedding, not his party, and since it's been specified, not his choice of attire.