Morning Suit Equivalent

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

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

I like the way this man thinks.

[creagdhubh]

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!

Quite right Sandy and well said as always! Hear hear! STOP CONCENTRATING ON MATCHING ITEMS!!! Geezo people! lol!

[Jock Scot]

A bit late on this, sorry. Here is the picture of the kilt at a most formal of formal French wedding. I was asked to wear the kilt by the bride and her parents, so I could not refuse!I would have not, by the way, have ever asked if I could wear the kilt in those circumstances, it is for the Bride's family to ask me and they did. If the wedding had been in Scotland, then that would have been an entirely different matter altogether. I would not normally wear a balmoral either, with this outfit, but the bride's father asked me to, he had the sword, so anything he said went! I did deliberately "dress down" the sporran to reduce the impact a tad.

Actually the French are politely interested in the kilt and as the wedding was in Normandy they understood the kilt fairly well.I have worn the kilt to many French weddings, on request.So baring in mind my slight adaptions with the sporran(not a bad idea to reduce the "bling" a tad as a guest) and the bonnet, my outfit is the equivalent of morning dress.You can't see it in the pictures, but my tie is dark blue with white spots. I could have worn my regimental tie, but seeing that the French armed services were out in strength, I decided not to cause any offence(there would be none, but.....).

[Iainkp]

ok so coming in a bit late on this, however I was reading a book last night
titled "Scottish Tartans & Highland Dress" by C R MacKinnon - first published 1961 revised 1970 - this was given to me by a co-worker who received it from his grandma and automatically thought of this thread

Not to step on anyones toes - just thought I would add what the book says

of course copyright belongs to wm. collins sons and co. ltd. 1960


"Morning Dress

This corresponds to the lowland morning dress, and should be worn on similar occasions. The dress or clan tartan should be worn, with full tartan hose, dress brogues, silk flashes, black silver-mounted sgian dubh, silver-ornamented sporran of hair, fur or leather, silver sporran chain, Celtic kilt pin, and black jacket and vest with silver buttons, which may either be plain or with highland cuffs and flaps. With this is worn a white shirt and collar, and grey silk tie. This form of dress is already in vogue, but usually with plain buttons, an unnecessary touch of drabness which an old highlander making a formal call would not have exhibited"



Typed from the book in front of me, I tried not to make any variance in punctuation or spelling. I don't believe this was men't to be a strict uniform guide, but rather an example of the spirit of what morning dress should be.



Iain

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

er... actually it is meant as a fairly ridged guide that should be adhered to. The latitude allowed (buttons and, more recently, hose) really is limited, and McKinnon's guidelines should be followed to the letter.

Living as I now do in the land of flip-flops and tee shirts I can appreciate that following the rules of "correct attire" may seem odd, but to flaunt these guidelines can make one look really ignorant in many circumstances, and cause one to be denied access to some events in other circumstances.

And Iain, McKinnon's book is absolutely first rate-- follow his advice and you'll always be correctly attired in the best Highland traditions of wearing the kilt!

[Iainkp]

Thank you, the advice is very much appreciated!

now to get back to that book, I'm glad to see it comes highly recognized!




Iain

[gordontaos]

It looks as if we have had a difinitive reply!

[rtc872]

This thread is a great guide and i thank you all. I am in the process of planning my own wedding and dont wish to go as stricltly formal as a morning suit wedding but by knowing where that level of formality lies I can comfortably break the rules a little to make it my own.

Thanks

[OC Richard]

"Scottish Tartans & Highland Dress" by C R MacKinnon wm. collins sons and co. ltd. 1960


"Morning Dress

This corresponds to the lowland morning dress, and should be worn on similar occasions. The dress or clan tartan should be worn, with full tartan hose, dress brogues, silk flashes, black silver-mounted sgian dubh, silver-ornamented sporran of hair, fur or leather, silver sporran chain, Celtic kilt pin, and black jacket and vest with silver buttons, which may either be plain or with highland cuffs and flaps. With this is worn a white shirt and collar, and grey silk tie. This form of dress is already in vogue, but usually with plain buttons, an unnecessary touch of drabness which an old highlander making a formal call would not have exhibited"

Interesting that the above, in effect, advocates Highland Evening Dress (with the addition of a grey necktie) as the equivalent of Saxon Morning Dress. A more detailed discussion occurs in this booklet:

The Scottish National Dress
Wm Anderson & Sons LTD
Edinburgh & Glasgow
By Appointment to His Late Majesty King George V

Highland Dress for Weddings and Courts

There is frequently some doubt as to what constitutes correct Highland Dress for use at Weddings and other Full Dress functions, and the following notes may be of use.

The bridegroom should be in full dress, consisting of a buttoned up coat, kilt, sporran, hose, buckled brogues, belted or short plaid, dirk belt and dirk. A typical outfit of this kind is illustrated. (The illustration, in black & white, shows a man wearing a Montrose Doublet, lace jabot, kilt, belted plaid, fur evening sporran, castellated tartan hose, and ghillies with buckles at the toes.)

An alternative is permissible, especially when the wedding is in the country, is that a jacket of the ordinary day shape should be worn, but that this be made of dark grey or black material. This latter dress is also the correct one for a guest at a wedding.

Except when the bride is in ordinary dress and the male guests in lounge suits, a tweed jacket is not strictly correct, though sometimes worn.

[rtc872]

Facinating. Thanks for the post.