Formal Kilt Wear

[usndoc]

I am getting ready for Burns Night. Last year I was still putting the final stitches in my first kilt. Not having a kilt at the time, I wore a standard dark suit and tie.

This year I will have my choice of several kilts. But, I need to decide on formal accessories. Can someone recommend some options?

If I go with a doublet, where is a good low cost place to get it? What styles would be appropriate for a larger guy? What shirt options are there?

I have seen others wear a Harris Tweed type jacket and tie. Is this an acceptable wear for a formal event? What shirt should be worn with it?

Some showed up wearing a jacobite type kilt shirt with no jacket at all.

I have some time to research so please feel free to post some ideas. Also, I would like to go with something multi functional as I may be wearing this to my wedding. I hate to buy one time use clothing. I am a mason and we wear tuxes often. So instead of renting, I bought my tux. It was a good investment.

Thanks,

Doc

[macwilkin]

I am getting ready for Burns Night. Last year I was still putting the final stitches in my first kilt. Not having a kilt at the time, I wore a standard dark suit and tie.

This year I will have my choice of several kilts. But, I need to decide on formal accessories. Can someone recommend some options?

If I go with a doublet, where is a good low cost place to get it? What styles would be appropriate for a larger guy? What shirt options are there?

I have seen others wear a Harris Tweed type jacket and tie. Is this an acceptable wear for a formal event? What shirt should be worn with it?

Some showed up wearing a jacobite type kilt shirt with no jacket at all.

I have some time to research so please feel free to post some ideas. Also, I would like to go with something multi functional as I may be wearing this to my wedding. I hate to buy one time use clothing. I am a mason and we wear tuxes often. So instead of renting, I bought my tux. It was a good investment.

Thanks,

Doc

Doc,

A lot will depend on the organization (I presume it is a Scottish/St. Andrew's Society) putting on their Burns Night --I know our Burns Night is the most formal event of the year, and the majority of the kilted gents there are in Argyll jackets, PC's or doublets, with only a few day jackets being worn by gents who do not have the formal rig. In contrast, I attend a Burns Night in Arkansas this year where there was more of an "anything goes" attitudes towards dress -- formal, day jackets, Jacobite shirts, great kilts dripping with swords, dirks, wearing headgear inside, and civilian non-kilted mufti.

If you are going to attend at least three formal events in a year, it's best to buy the formal rig. The Charlie or Argyll are the standards; if you get a doublet like the Montrose or the Sheriffmuir, you are going to need a jabot and lace cuffs, which is the equivalent of white tie, and will limit you somewhat -- I recommend the PC. For tux shirts, most places today sell the "winged collar" shirts, which technically are for white tie only -- I personally like the stand & fall (regular) collars for black tie -- but others like the classic 1930's look of the winged collar, so it's up to you.

If you're going to wear your kilt to the wedding, I'd go with the PC, which you can also wear to Burns Night, St. Andrew's dances, etc. Remember that it is better to be over-dressed than under-dressed.

Cheers,

Todd

[Planopiper]

Personally, I think the Argyll jacket is the most versatile if you want something you can use for evening and formal wear, as well as some dressier day events where you want to wear a jacket. I used to think the argyll was equivelent to a suit jacket and the Prince Charlie to a tux, but really, the Argyll is equivelent to the tux and the PC more like a tail coat. There are a limited number of occasions where you really need to be that formal. I get use out of mine because I play for weddings. Otherwise, it would just hang in the closet. True, you can get away with over dressing when you go the kilt route, but I think you'll get more use from the argyll. You can actually use it for day wear and most people won't think it's too formal. I just bought a day jacket, which I wouldn't hesitate to wear anywhere I'd wear a jacket normally, but I think would be out of place at any formal event.

This is all just my 2 cents. YMMV

[arrogcow]

What were others wearing to your Burns night last year?

Cincinnati's has guys in kilts and t-shirts to kilts and Prince Charlies with a fly plaid, and everything in between. Unfortunately still more people in pants than kilts (but it is getting better).

Adam

[macwilkin]

Personally, I think the Argyll jacket is the most versatile if you want something you can use for evening and formal wear, as well as some dressier day events where you want to wear a jacket. I used to think the argyll was equivelent to a suit jacket and the Prince Charlie to a tux, but really, the Argyll is equivelent to the tux and the PC more like a tail coat. There are a limited number of occasions where you really need to be that formal. I get use out of mine because I play for weddings. Otherwise, it would just hang in the closet. True, you can get away with over dressing when you go the kilt route, but I think you'll get more use from the argyll. You can actually use it for day wear and most people won't think it's too formal. I just bought a day jacket, which I wouldn't hesitate to wear anywhere I'd wear a jacket normally, but I think would be out of place at any formal event.

This is all just my 2 cents. YMMV

Good points about the Argyll -- my only problem is that the Argyll limits you somewhat on the formal side, since it is not quite as formal, as you mentioned, as the PC -- but, I go to several formal events a year, so while it may be right for me, it may be not right for others. The Argyll is certainly more versitile.

Cheers,

Todd

[Iolaus]

[flame suit on] ...and with appologies to Ham...
To my eye, and this is strictly a personal opinion, the traditional PC looks martial and dated, sharp yes, but dated. How about getting a tailed tux and having a tailor trim off the tail ... kinda bring the look away from 19th/20th century military formal, and into the less decorated 21st century civilian formal; then you have the added advatage of being able to use it and kilt for the Masonic events as well (if that's permited).

Do I recall correctly that you're involved with SASS? Some time ago I saw a "western tux" jacket (i don't recall where) that had bobbed tails, kinda like a PC but different. That sort of thing might have multi-use potential for you.

...

I couldn't find that coat, but I did find this at Renton Western Wear:
http://tinyurl.com/cdtma

[macwilkin]

A spencer jacket (sometimes referred to as a "captain's jacket") is also a nice alternative; it is similar to the western-style jacket mentioned here, but no western "frills".

[flame suit on] ...and with appologies to Ham...
To my eye, and this is strictly a personal opinion, the traditional PC looks martial and dated, sharp yes, but dated. How about getting a tailed tux and having a tailor trim off the tail ... kinda bring the look away from 19th/20th century military formal, and into the less decorated 21st century civilian formal; then you have the added advatage of being able to use it and kilt for the Masonic events as well (if that's permited).

No reason for a flame suit, that's your opinion. What looks good to you may look good to others, and vice-versa. I personally think the traditional PC is "timeless", and 40 years from now, when my grandchildren look at our wedding photos, my PC will still look good. As long as we respect each other's tastes, then we're fine.

A PC, though, isn't really good with regular tux trousers anyway -- far too short, save a nice pair of tartan trews, which is the epitome of class (look at Hector and Archie in "Monarch" -- but dress chuka boots are a must! :mrgreen:

I must get a pair of trews someday...

T.

[Iolaus]

A spencer jacket (sometimes referred to as a "captain's jacket") is also a nice alternative; it is similar to the western-style jacket mentioned here, but no western "frills".

I've brought that idea up in the past and was told by more than a few that a spencer jacket had a "waiter look" to it.

[Colin]

Good points about the Argyll -- my only problem is that the Argyll limits you somewhat on the formal side, since it is not quite as formal, as you mentioned, as the PC -- but, I go to several formal events a year, so while it may be right for me, it may be not right for others. The Argyll is certainly more versitile.

Cheers,

Todd

Good point Todd, but most people outside the kilt wearing world don't have a clue about "kilt formal" and would think the Argyll is dressy enough. I also think that there is not the level of formality in North America that exists in the UK with regards to kilts. An Argyll will be accepted at all but the most formal of events. It is also a versatile jacket that will adapt well to most events. Personally a PC would be a wast eof money for me, as the amount of really formal events that I attend are limited and sparse, whereas I have already worn my charcoal tweed Argyll and Waistcoat to 3 weddings since ordering it in April. My Burns Night last year consisted of only 4 people in kilts, the piper, the MC, the gentleman that cut the haggis, and myself. At least nobody was wearing a t-shirt, Burns deserves at least a shirt and tie.

[macwilkin]

I've brought that idea up in the past and was told by more than a few that a spencer jacket had a "waiter look" to it.

My best friend has one that he wears with a black vest for semi-formal functions where the PC might be too much, or when he is travelling somewhere and doesn't want to take all of the "kit" with him -- with the appropriate accessories, it looks fine, and resembles some of the "mess dress" jackets for military use.

T.