Review My Attire (Black Tie)

[Deil the Yin]

Ew, yeah! My vote for red hose to really make the outfit pop unless you've the scratch to get argyle hose; just personal opinion cuz I'm no fan of navy with/on black, especially with hose (but that's just me).

Also have to applaud Argyle jacket instead of PC- nicely understated for a "Less is more" look! Excellent- now my own personal standard for formal wear. Of course the waistcoat is very classy and really steps it up a notch in my book, and particularly like that you haven't tried to squeeze a belt in there, too.

Not usually impressed with kilt pins, but I think yours is really cool (more of "less is more," if that's possible), and I give at least one "thumb up" for placement. Seems to be personal preference anyway- impulse would put mine lower than higher... but whatever.

If nothing else, you look like you know what you're doing when it comes to your kit; definitely not a rental shop model! Guid on ye!

[thescot]

That is a really nice looking outfit. If you wear it as is, you'll look better than any man not in a kilt. Period.

I like kilt hose for very dressy affairs, but the navy look great. I don't care for diced hose, but that's a personal thing, too. And for black tie, I seem to be the lone hold out for a lack belt and silver buckle in lieu of a vest. The vest is fine--in fact it looks great--but I like the look of lots of white shirt in a black tie outfit.

Now you've heard from the experts and snappy dressers--and me--so go wear what you want. The out fit you have on looks great.

One final note: you are wise to wear those shoes while building up the polish. If you don't, you'll end up building polish on polish that will crack disasterously when you actually wear the shoes. Wear 'em, get a few creases in 'em, and then put in shoe trees to polish.

[English Bloke]

I'm no expert in sartorial elegance but I think you've pretty much nailed it. I think your pin is spot on too.

[Jock Scot]

Well done laddie.

[artificer]

Thank you all so far. It's good to see I'm mostly on the right track.

A few items that were mentioned:

Diced/Argyll/Tartan hose- I do plan to have a set of either Argyll or tartan hose made, but I'm waiting until I finish my tartan design and get it made into a kilt. They're just too expensive to be made for a kilt that I'm already almost too small for. (I'm on the last hole on both left and right straps).

Red hose- I just don't think it's quite within my comfort zone yet. The last time I wore red hose they had a shin guard in them for soccer I do have bottle green, but I fear they would read just as dark as the navy, so it may be 6-of-1...

Sgian Dubh- no, I'm not wearing one, even though it would be perfectly appropriate for the event. I have one being crafted by our own Drac right now in a trade. I've never been swayed to buy a commonly available one. They tend to be too artificial for me with either plastic handles or blades that won't take an edge, or just too garish. I should have it ready for the Burn's Dinner in January

Kilt Pin placement- I'm still waffling a bit on placement, it may go a touch lower, but I generally like it a bit higher than seen on many.

The hunt for my linen pocket squares continues

To answer a few specific comments:
BLHS209- I'll probably be selling this one after St. Andrews Day, if you're interested. I made it specifically for this event.

McMathTX- I actually picked up the waistcoat on eBay HERE. They don't seem to have the waistcoats separately right now, but do have VERY nicely priced PC/WC sets.

beloitpiper- We'll definitely see you there

thescot- I made the mistake, LONG ago, of polishing a pair of boots before they were broken in, and it was a colossal waste of effort. Ever since that time, I've ALWAYS broken things in first. I did go back and forth on the waistplate, even picked one up. After trying both looks I really liked the waistcoat better. I think it has to do with the starkness of the black/white contrast against the tartan and where the kilt lies on the waist. The waistcoat hides that line while the waistplate seems to make it the focus of the outfit. I'm still getting used to formal Higland dressing, and it's a LOT less slimming than my standard tux (shawl collar, one button jacket with cummerbund.) A lot of it is probably just comfort level.

This forum is such a fantastic wealth of knowledge and ideas.
Thanks to all who have commented and critiqued so far.

[Schiehallion]

Just a point about diced hose. They are the most formal so in my world would only be worn with a PC and not an Argyll

The only thought I would suggest would be brogues rather than oxfords. I think your look is just perfect as there is nothing overstated.

Have a great St. Andrew's Night.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

A couple of points.

1) You look great as is, so there is really no need to change anything unless you just want to.

2) Regarding the choice of the Argyle jacket over the Prince Charlie, you can read a variety of opinions posted here already, from applause that you chose to wear one for a black tie event, to criticism that "three button waistcoats" or "diced hose" should only be worn with a PC. These are only opinions, of course, but please understand that it is perfectly correct to wear a black Argyle jacket to a black tie affair, and that includes a three-button waistcoat and diced hose if you so choose.

3) I agree that diced or Argyle hose would be a step-up for formal wear, but there is nothing wrong with solid hose in lieu of those. I disagree that Argyle-topped hose would be another option. I'm a big fan of patterned cuffs on hose for day wear, but I cannot recall ever seeing them worn traditionally with evening wear. So I would stick with solid if you cannot get the full Argyle or diced.

4) Some have suggested red hose to pull out the red stripe in the tartan. I would agree -- if there were a red stripe in the tartan! The Baird tartan does have a purple stripe in it, so maybe purple hose would be an option, but if you want to be conservative the navy blue or bottle green would be a safe choice. (I have visions in my head of navy and purple diced hose....)

5) Lastly, many have suggested wearing the kilt pin lower. This is because today, the kilt pin is typically worn very low on the kilt. However, traditionally, the kilt pin has been worn higher. I started wearing mine higher up, about the level you have yours, after noticing photos from the 40s and 50s where men typically wore theirs higher. So where you have yours is very traditional, and I wouldn't worry about moving it at all.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Just a point about diced hose. They are the most formal so in my world would only be worn with a PC and not an Argyll

The only thought I would suggest would be brogues rather than oxfords. I think your look is just perfect as there is nothing overstated.

Have a great St. Andrew's Night.

I'd have to respectfully disagree. There is nothing wrong with wearing diced hose formally with a black Argyle jacket.


Nor is there anything that limits diced hose to formal attire. They can be worn quite successfully with daywear.

[artificer]

4) Some have suggested red hose to pull out the red stripe in the tartan. I would agree -- if there were a red stripe in the tartan! The Baird tartan does have a purple stripe in it, so maybe purple hose would be an option, but if you want to be conservative the navy blue or bottle green would be a safe choice. (I have visions in my head of navy and purple diced hose....)

5) Lastly, many have suggested wearing the kilt pin lower. This is because today, the kilt pin is typically worn very low on the kilt. However, traditionally, the kilt pin has been worn higher. I started wearing mine higher up, about the level you have yours, after noticing photos from the 40s and 50s where men typically wore theirs higher. So where you have yours is very traditional, and I wouldn't worry about moving it at all.

Thanks Matt!
Regarding the red stripe, I was wondering if people were thinking of the original records of the the Baird tartan, (Source WR273: Highland Society of London Date: c.1906.) which does have a red stripe. As for purple hose to help bring out the stripe, I'm just not quite there yet.

As to the kilt pin, when in doubt I usually take my cues from-


He's yet to steer me wrong
ith:

[ShaunMaxwell]

I think the outfit is smashing! And I love your sporran too!

SM