Weathered Tartan: Only day wear, or formal wear, too?

[KFCarter]

I have always taken the view that the kilt is a very versatile garment, and that is what makes it so useful. You can wear it fairly casually during the day and then dress the same one up with a formal jacket for the evening. You couldn't do that with a dinner suit/tuxedo could you? If you like the tartan go ahead and wear it as you like.

I agree... the kilts versatility is why investing in a well made tank is, IMHO, a "thrifty" choice. A quality kilt can be the basis of many different outfits... and your tartan is no exception.

The devil is always in the details; if your formal jacket, waistcoat, hose, sporran and shoes are well coordinated, then you're going to look great. If you go the standard route, PC, etc, then that will mean black. But Ted's suggestion of a doublet in a color other than black is a really interesting one and could look great, too.

[Bugbear]

However, if the mixing of black and some of the brown colors bothers you, you don't have to wear a black formal jacket. The Prince Charlie and, I think, the dress argyle are the only jackets that are required to be black. The sporran does not have to be blacke; just furry or hairy. So why not get a dark green or dark blue doublet with brass buttons, and even a brown fur sporran with brass cantle... That just leaves your black shoes, which will be very shiney mirrors reflecting the colors of your hose.

From my reading and question asking, I have found that formal Highland attire appears to be quite flexable and open to personal tastes.

Good luck.

BTW, there is no law that requires you to have that third, lower strap and buckle on your kilt and it is very much unneeded. The two straps at the waist would likely be covered in a formal ensemble. You might consider not having that strap and buckle put on the kilt as another option. Panache is right though, a dab of black on a batch of brown might be better than a dab of brown on a batch of black.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

While the colors of some tartans might lend themselves more for formal wear or casual wear, you can in fact dress any tartan up or down. It is not the tartan that makes an outfit formal or casual, but the way in which you accessorize it. Remember, most kilt wearers will have only one nice kilt in their family tartan and it must serve them for any event they want to attend kilted. I've seen plenty weathered tartans at formal functions.

There is no reason why you couldn't wear the weathered Davidson with a black jacket and all the rest of the formal kit.

And just FYI, Prince Charlies don't have to be black, as a couple of posts here have implied. You can get them pretty easily in other colors, including navy blue and bottle green. However, black is the classic color, and to match your weathered Davidson I'd definitley recommend the black.

[JolyStNicholas]

I agree with Mr. Newsome here, as far back as I can remember everyone one associates FORMAL with BLACK. Just as he stated the PC comes in other colors
depending which goes with your kilt and your preferences.

My self I prefer the Black im my jackets, thought I'm about to try a tweed for casual in both the jacket and waist coat.

It is entirely up to you. In my family tartan I prefer the ancient over the Hunting the modern or the weathered. But that's just me.

[Bugbear]

Well... If a PC in other colors than black is acceptable, then even better.

[ForresterModern]

I will reinforce the last few comments by Matt, Panache, and Joly here, that black is the way to go with your dress outfit, regardless of your kilt tartan. The weathered will look just fine as it reall is IMHO a fantastically attractive tartan, moreso than the modern or ancient ones you showed along with it. I too have seen PCs in navy, dark green and even burgundy, which might look okay in matching with the kilt as well, but which would probably make you stand out in a crowd at a formal event, looking a bit too much like a dandy (even moreso than some of the balck tie and white tie outfits do already).

Black is the new black, as far as dressy outfits in highland attire are concerned. It litereally goes with anything (except the brown leather accessories, of course).

Enjoy. Stand straight. look smart, and you can pull anything off.

jeff :ootd:

[Tattoo Bradley]

Of course you can wear a weathered tartan "formally"!

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Can a "weathered" tartan be worn with formal attire? Certainly. Without hesitation, equivocation, or explanation required. My advice would be to acquire a black Argyll jacket and two waistcoats-- one three button and one five button. That covers you for formal day and evening wear, as well as "black tie" events. If you purchase an extra yard or so of the tartan, you can have a couple of matching tartan waistcoats made at the same time.

One just can't get dressier than that!

[Tattoo Bradley]

Glad to help. That's the Henderson weathered btw.

[bigdad1]

In a great many areas of life there are rules where there don't need to be rules. Kilting seems to be one of those areas. My first tartan was the weathered and I have worn it for formal and casual. I firmly believe it is up to the wearer to decide what he wants to wear not up to some vague "rule" about what to wear. Unless some ancient chief of a tribe comes back to life and shows me the rule I will please myself not some anonymous rule maker. So go for it.