Madrigal dinner

[toadinakilt]

Okay, so. Here at the college we have a Madrigal Dinner every Christmas, a very big deal too. Lots of people show up in tuxes, some in suits, EVERY man wears a tie and coat at least, and some select people who know where it's at show up in Prince Charlie's and kilts. Oh yeah.

SO now my series of questions.

The only kilt I have that I can wear is my SWK Black Shadow. A great looking kilt, to be sure, but I'm not sure of how to dress it up.

I have a tux shirt, black bow tie, black dress shoes, and off-white hose from SWK. I was wondering about flashes, fly plaid, etc. I see no way of getting hold of a jacket or waist coat; I just don't have the funds to even rent one.

I'd like to introduce a bit of color. Would it be acceptable to wear a fly plaid of a subdued and/or dark solid color, like green or blue, and wear flashes to match? Would that look odd with a black kilt? Should I try and match the bow tie as well?

What if the fly plaid was a really large on that draped a bunch in the back, sort of like a cape off one shoulder?

I'm fishing for neat ideas here, because putting together even a semblance of your standard Prince Charlie outfit is probably out of the question. I know I'll look fine against anybody wearing p*nts, and I'm not expecting snobbery from the few who show up in PC's, but I don't want to look bland. It is a BLACK kilt, after all, and without color I'm afraid it will look too 1930's filimish

So. Thoughts? Questions? Concerns? Snide remarks?

Oh. And has anybody seen Dreadbelly lately? I lost track of the post about his legal battles...does anybody know what happened to him?

[Blu (Ontario)]

What's the deadline??

[toadinakilt]

I have about 2 weeks...maybe 2 and a half. If I start working now, I can come up with a good ensemble to wear, but remember, I'm really short on the dough right now. I'm not sure I can justify spending more than like $20.

[Hamish]

Sorry, TiaK, but I really do not think you should be considering a fly-plaid if you are not wearing a jacket; it just will not look right. Also, the fly-plaid is traditionally in the identical tartan to the kilt and, I think that if you wear one that is different on this occasion, especially a plain one, you will be in great danger of having it taken for a shawl!!

A black kilt, shiny dress shoes and bow-tie, worn with a white dress shirt and off-white hose is 'classic'. If I were you, and a black jacket (Prince Charlie or Crail) is out of the question, then I'd leave it at that. An ordinary waist-coat worn without a jacket is far too casual for this event and, I think, looks as if you have lost your jacket somewhere. A potaine waist-coat would be acceptable, but you need a Jacobean shirt for that!

No. My advice: stick with what you have (as long as you'll be warm enough!)

[auld argonian]

I would even inquire at any "regular" formalwear rental emporiums nearby...you never know what they have on hand and you may find a jacket that's cut short enough that it will pass for a kilt jacket or at least look good enough to carry you through the event.

Buddy of mine found a vintage 30's tux at his rental place and after he rented it several times they just turned around and sold it to him for next to nothing...figured he was the only one who wanted it anyway...

Maybe you'll get lucky.

And bravo for wanting to "kilt it" for this big event!

best

AA

[Archangel]

Hamish is spot on. It's the Cool Hand Luke thing: man's got to know his limitation.
You can check out the thrift shops for a jacket but don't be desparate. If it's not short, bum-freezer, with round front over the sporran, don't buy it.

Remember a kilt takes less to dress up than anything else, so think more minimally. If you've got a tie with a light-weight v-neck, you might even be able to carry it off.

I really think you've got enough there now.

[toadinakilt]

Come on guys, this thread has been viewed like 50 times and only Blu has responded! I know you guys are creative...help me out!!!

Hamish? Graham? Anybody?

[toadinakilt]

Alright, my memory has kicked in, and I remember that I have a jacket, a sort of light grey, that I haven't worn in awhile because it's missing a button. It's at home, but I'm going home for Thanksgiving...

I think it may be modifiable...I'll try and find pictures of coats with similar fabric.

Would a light grey coat work with a tux shirt and black kilt? The weave uses black and grey in a herringbone tyoe pattern. If so, should I match the flashes to a bowtie?

Thanks for all the suggestions.

[auld argonian]

Do keep us all in the loop re: what you're going to do....I'm sort of having the same problem about the holidays...hoping to go to the re-sale and find a three piece tweed suit in my size and a neutral color and hoping that my tailor-guy downtown hasn't been kicked out of his office because the Feds are buying the building (it's across the street from the Federal Building and they've announced that they want to establish a "perimeter").

best

AA

[toadinakilt]

Right, so the jaket is a no-go.

Here's the plan, and I'm hoping Hamish will give me his Honored opinion. After the pics of his latest kilt I'm in awe ;-) But seriously, anybody with something constructive to say post and let me know.

Black dress shoes, off-white SWK hose, black/shadow SWK HW, white dress shirt, red/green tie, black sweater-vest, and a possible sprig of holly or something pinned in an appropriate spot. I don't have a dress sporran, unfortunately, so it will be the black leather sporran I always wear. Can't do anything about that, I'm afraid. I was thinking of matching the flashes with the tie, either red, green, or both. After all, this is Christmas.

So. Anybody have something to say? If it sound good, say so. I like to know I'm not doing anything radically wrong.