Help! Silk purse from a sow's ear!

[Alan H]

I think you're spot-on, mate.

I, personally would not shy away from white hose. After all, you're wearing a white shirt, right? White on top, white below. Personally, I think it looks great, but we all know the incendiary nature of that topic, so 'nuff said.

Flashes? If you don't like tartan flashes, then don't wear them. That was easy! Just get a solid color that coordinates with one of the tartan colors in the kilt.

If you can afford a Prince Charlie coatee and three-button waistcoat, then go that route, but keep in mind that if you're generally-speaking "allergic" to dress-up then that's a lot of money to spend on something you'll not wear very much. On the flip side, they're kind of fun!

I personally LIKE the Eton Jacket, sometimes called a Spencer Jacket. If you team that up with a waistcoat, then **No buckle** and no kilt belt. If you don't team it up with a waistcoat, then you'll need a nice kilt belt and a decent buckle.

The black argyll-style jacket might be a bit more practical, and useable for more than just killer evening wear. Whatever the case, the THREE-button waistcoat goes with the Prince Charlie, the FIVE or SIX button waistcoat goes with the Argyll.

However, please don't wear a four-in-hand tie (your "normal" tie that you see at business meetings) with either of the above. Get a black bow-tie If black doesn't float your boat then get one that's the same color as your flashes, how about that? I happen to wear a fold-down-collar white formal shirt (with studs and cufflinks) just because I grew up wearing them, and a pre-tied bow tie doesn't stand out so badly with one of those. If you wear a wingtip collar shirt, then yeah, might as well get a real bow tie and figure out how to tie it since the part of the tie that goes around your neck is quite prominently displayed in that sort of shirt..

Traditionalists will probably revolt at the idea of a non-black bow tie. I, personally have no problem wearing a tie that's not black.

BTW, you might consider renting the Prince Charlie, but for heavens sake buy the shirt, tie, cufflinks and studs.

[Detroitpete]

Traditionalists will probably revolt at the idea of a non-black bow tie. I, personally have no problem wearing a tie that's not black.

BTW, you might consider renting the Prince Charlie, but for heavens sake buy the shirt, tie, cufflinks and studs.

Thanks Alan! I have to admit to being a guy who shines his own shoes and belts, owns several pairs of cufflinks, studs and french cuff shirts--what can I say, I'm a bit "old school". My problem has always been in getting good shirts to fit me. I suffer from an athletes physique--18 1/2 inch neck--46-48 chest on a guy who is only 5'7" 180--with 32 inch long arms that sort of fit into a normal shirt unless I bend my elbows (Think baby gorilla!)

I saw a DIY post hear on making a bow tie. I could go for a matching tartan bow tie as an option if I chose not to do black.

Thanks again for y'all helping me figure this out so that I don't wind up looking silly. I hope other guys viewing this thread who have wanted to ask the same sort of questions get a chance to learn some things as well. One side effect of this post: I learned that you HAVE to consider your body type too. I LOVE the look of a Montrose Doublet--but with my short and squat build--I KNOW I'd look like a fancy beer keg with legs

[Paul]

I think you're spot-on, mate.

I, personally would not shy away from white hose. After all, you're wearing a white shirt, right? White on top, white below. Personally, I think it looks great, but we all know the incendiary nature of that topic, so 'nuff said.

Flashes? If you don't like tartan flashes, then don't wear them. That was easy! Just get a solid color that coordinates with one of the tartan colors in the kilt.

If you can afford a Prince Charlie coatee and three-button waistcoat, then go that route, but keep in mind that if you're generally-speaking "allergic" to dress-up then that's a lot of money to spend on something you'll not wear very much. On the flip side, they're kind of fun!

I personally LIKE the Eton Jacket, sometimes called a Spencer Jacket. If you team that up with a waistcoat, then **No buckle** and no kilt belt. If you don't team it up with a waistcoat, then you'll need a nice kilt belt and a decent buckle.

The black argyll-style jacket might be a bit more practical, and useable for more than just killer evening wear. Whatever the case, the THREE-button waistcoat goes with the Prince Charlie, the FIVE or SIX button waistcoat goes with the Argyll.

However, please don't wear a four-in-hand tie (your "normal" tie that you see at business meetings) with either of the above. Get a black bow-tie If black doesn't float your boat then get one that's the same color as your flashes, how about that? I happen to wear a fold-down-collar white formal shirt (with studs and cufflinks) just because I grew up wearing them, and a pre-tied bow tie doesn't stand out so badly with one of those. If you wear a wingtip collar shirt, then yeah, might as well get a real bow tie and figure out how to tie it since the part of the tie that goes around your neck is quite prominently displayed in that sort of shirt..

Traditionalists will probably revolt at the idea of a non-black bow tie. I, personally have no problem wearing a tie that's not black.

BTW, you might consider renting the Prince Charlie, but for heavens sake buy the shirt, tie, cufflinks and studs.

I would say the same on the white hose... just make sure they're white and not cream. I'm tempted to buy white diced piper's hose for myself as they look interesting!

[Jock Scot]

Alan may I just correct you on one salient point. The five or six buttoned waist coat is worn with the Argyll and four in hand tie for day wear and with the three buttoned waist coat, these days, for evening wear and with a black tie. Don't forget that the black barathea, silver buttoned Argyll is really the most formal of formal of day wear; equivelant to morning dress. However it is being used as evening wear these days, as well, with a three buttoned waist coat. I quite like the look myself.

[Detroitpete]

Alan may I just correct you on one salient point. The five or six buttoned waist coat is worn with the Argyll and four in hand tie for day wear and with the three buttoned waist coat, these days, for evening wear and with a black tie. Don't forget that the black barathea, silver buttoned Argyll is really the most formal of formal of day wear; equivelant to morning dress. However it is being used as evening wear these days, as well, with a three buttoned waist coat. I quite like the look myself.

See this IS the place to get great information--thanks Jock.

[Jock Scot]

Pete, it is your outfit when all said and done, but may I advise caution when deciding to wear a matching tartan bow tie.

[McMurdo]

Pete, it is your outfit when all said and done, but may I advise caution when deciding to wear a matching tartan bow tie.

I'd have to agree with Jock here, black is timeless and will always work, you said you were awaiting a better kilt so getting your bow tie to match an existing kilt may not be the best idea anyway.

[davedove]

I would like to echo the advice to get a black tie. It is the classic and has the extra benefit of coordinating with any tartan.

[MacKay71 Wife]

Good sound advice all around! And, not knowing what's in your closet already, remember that anything you don't already have is usually easily rented!

[Alan H]

Horrors, Jock! A three-button waistcoat with an argyll? What's the world coming to?

What this is a perfect illustration of is that there are differences in personal taste. I'd never wear a three-button waistcoat with an Argyll. It looks terribly "wrong" to me, but there you go. Jock likes it, and he still has the use of his eyesight!

Regarding bow ties, I'd never wear a tartan bow tie, but would happily wear a solid-color one, and of course, black. Just goes to show....

Mate, you're not an idjit. I'm sure that whatever you choose, you will look great,and besides, you'll have your lass on your arm. Who the heck is gonna look at YOU?