kilt to prom

[clan campbell]

hi,

im 17 and im a senior and in high school, and i plan on wearing my kilt to prom, i was wondering if you fine gents could help me.

what do i need to wear to be equivalent to a tuxedo, and what is just an optional peice,


and would it be ok for me to wear a belted plaid as apposed to the normal dress kilt.



thanks
Donald

[Meggers]

where were you when I wanted to go to prom?

[ctbuchanan]

Many more knowledgeable than I will jump in but I'll offer this to start.

I would suggest a black Argyle jacket with a white dress shirt (off the rack) and a bow tie. You should post up right away what tartan you are wearing so others can suggest colors to match to it. The bow tie, for instance, could be color coordinated or black as could a pocket square. Just Google images of the Argyle jacket and you will get many great ideas of the look.

Nothing says formal better than the kilt with a formal jacket and I know you can rent jackets from a number of kilt purveyors but you need to get going on this if the prom is this spring. Get your hose from one of the casual kilt makers - they tend to carry some less expensive, but perfectly acceptable options - again go with a color or with black. Flashes are a nice touch and not too expensive.

Your choice of the kilt is a GREAT one and I congratulate you on your obvious good taste. And the girl is sure to love it!

[clan campbell]

ill be wearing the campbell of argyll modern

[ctbuchanan]

OK then- Campbell of Argyll it is - then the black Argyll jacket seems a natural choice.

Pick up the yellow stripe with a muted yellow pocket square and flashes. If it were me I'd stick with a black bow tie. That tartan just reeks of formal to me so I wouldn't try to go over the top, but I'm old and you are young.

I also see almost a dark purple/blue in the tartan that perhaps you could pick up on as well.

Oh, and I agree with Chas the belted plaid is a bit over the top for a prom when you are going to want to dance and hang out with your friends. The other VERY IMPORTANT thing to remember is that you are NOT trying to overwhelm your date. Remember the lass is the important thing and she will be spending a load on her dress, so a more subdued formal look is in order for you as a gentleman I would think. She'll appreciate it as well.

[clan campbell]

alright no great kilt lol, and im going to a school that rarely if ever sees a kilt

[Chas]

Hi Donald,

I am in the UK, so I can't really advise about proms, but will say this. I think a belted plaid will be too hot, especially for dancing. The danger is also that unless they are worn 100% correct, they can look scruffy. I would have thought that at prom, you would have wanted to look your best.

The other thing is underwear. If a man wears a kilt he should always wear what is appropriate for the activity in which he is engaged. Can you and do you trust all the other people who will attend? Some food for thought.

Regards

Chas

[Ryan Ross]

What kind of budget are you working with, and what do you already have in the way of kilts and accessories?

Ok chief, let's see if we can get you in business...

These are just the general, quick and dirty basics, as I understand them:

The first thing I want to touch on is that there's really no such thing as a "dress kilt" (though there ARE "dress tartans" but that's a whole different story that you don't need to worry about). A tailored kilt, made from proper fabric, sewn by hand, in any of several styles, is proper for any sittuation, from going on a hike, to white tie formal.

A belted plaid might be an option for the fullest of full formal occasions, but by and large in the modern day, it is a costume piece. I shouldn't think you'd want to wear that.

With a kilt, the type of accessories that you pair with it are what dictates the level of formality.

So that said, for a prom, if you want to do what your average senior who decides to rent a kilt and go to prom does, rent a prince charlie coatee and evening vest. Avoid the fly plaid, unless you REALLY love the idea of wearing one, at which point you should look into it.

If you can manage it though, I'd reccomend wearing a black argyle jacket and vest, instead. That's just a matter of personal preference, though. Go with what you like the look of.

Your shirt and bowtie are fairly straightforward.

For your sporran, a fur front with silver colored cantle is the standard, but I think a nice quality all black leather sporran looks fine, too.

For shoes, just wear whatever you'd wear with a tux... don't bother with any kind of "scottish shoe". And just make sure that your shoes are shined, or else the old-timers here will rip you a new one.

Now the hose- In an ideal world, you'd have tartan hose to match your kilt, or diced hose. Realistically, I'd just choose a nice, probably darker color that looks good with the tartan you'll be wearing. I'd tell you to avoid white hose, but if you like them, knock yourself out.

[clan campbell]

i have the kilt and i have the sporran and the socks to match my kilt, and a really nice pair of dress shoes.

i really appreciate everyones input

[Father Bill]

Might wish to post pictures as your garb evolves and you collect your bits and pieces - you'll get plenty of advice here, and most of it both accurate and useful.