"Kilt Casual" (?) at a Burns supper

[auld argonian]

Kilted or no, I always figger that you can always take off a necktie or a jacket...thus showing up "overdressed" can be toned down by the removal of one or the other. If it gets adequately casual, you can just roll up yer sleeves.

If you said pub casual in these here parts, I'd lay odds that anybody showing up in a shirt with a collar on it would be the exception. When I stop into the Duke wif a necktie on, they're agahst!

Best

AA

[Zardoz]

Normally I don't think there's a place for jackets and ties in the "casual" dress code, but since it's a dinner, I would go with the jacket, with a colored shirt, nice shoes, plain hose, and leather belt & sporran.

[Jock Scot]

Matt's advice is sage, as always. But a look at the invite says "period costume or kilt casual"... will this be a pseudo-Ren Burns Night?

With an invitation worded like that there is an easy solution------don't go, just do the kind thing and tell the organisers that unfortunately you have a prior engagement.

[Joshua]

A vest and tie work equally well, and if you find you have to remove it, it can be *carefully* rolled up and stowed in a sporran.

[Jack Daw]

It's Detroit. Wear something warm if the place is drafty.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Matt's advice is sage, as always. But a look at the invite says "period costume or kilt casual"... will this be a pseudo-Ren Burns Night?

If the invitation says "period costume" I would assume in this case the period in question would be Burns' own era (1759-1796).

[Detroitpete]

Matt's advice is sage, as always. But a look at the invite says "period costume or kilt casual"... will this be a pseudo-Ren Burns Night?

I know, right!? I think I'm going JUST to see what that means I'll most likely wear my tweed argyle, with a black turtle neck sweater or just a black 'commando' sweater--it's cold up here.

In posting this thread, I just wanted to see what the rest of our rabble thought of the term 'kilt casual'.

Actually I think this is a good move for our St. Andrews Society. The dinner is being held in a new center which the society owns and will afford the opportunity for a less 'stuffy' occasion with a lower ticket price. I'll probably take 2 guests now and we'll have a good time.

[Alan H]

I think you've got a good solution. If the jacket comes off as too dressy, take it off.

Besides, look at it this way....you're taking your wife, right? She's gonna be dressed up and will arrive on your arm. Dude, NOBODY is going to be looking at YOU. So quit worrying about it.

(Be sure to show her this thread. You OWE me.)

[Tobus]

Actually I think this is a good move for our St. Andrews Society. The dinner is being held in a new center which the society owns and will afford the opportunity for a less 'stuffy' occasion with a lower ticket price.

I find this interesting against the backdrop of other conversations we've been having on this board of late. It seems to be clear that, event by event, Americans are dropping the idea of "formal" and replacing it with "casual/comfortable". It may indeed be a market reaction to public sentiment, i.e. holding a 'stuffy' formal event won't fill the banquet hall, so the event is changed into a casual one in order to draw people.

This seems to be taking place all over the country, not just with Burns Nights, but with virtually every social get-together.

Do let us know how it turns out, and what sorts of levels of dress you see at the event. I'm curious to know whether turning a Burns supper into a casual pub-style affair really does increase the popularity.

[macwilkin]

I find this interesting against the backdrop of other conversations we've been having on this board of late. It seems to be clear that, event by event, Americans are dropping the idea of "formal" and replacing it with "casual/comfortable". It may indeed be a market reaction to public sentiment, i.e. holding a 'stuffy' formal event won't fill the banquet hall, so the event is changed into a casual one in order to draw people.

This seems to be taking place all over the country, not just with Burns Nights, but with virtually every social get-together.

Do let us know how it turns out, and what sorts of levels of dress you see at the event. I'm curious to know whether turning a Burns supper into a casual pub-style affair really does increase the popularity.

Nonsense. Our "stuffy" & formal Burns Night is still our society's largest event of our calendar, and folks seem to enjoy it for the very fact that it doesn't look like almost every other social event these days.

Not every formal event is "stuffy", by the way. Some of the best Burns Nights I have been to have been black tie affairs.


T.