Apprpriate dress for ceremonial occasion

[Farmer Jones]

I am about to get my first kilt, which will be Canadian Maple Leaf. For the past many years I have been selected to represent Canada at the cenotaph on Remembrance Day. I will be doing the same again this year. This is not a formal occasion, so I do not wear a tuxedo, but rather it has been my habit to wear a dark suit. So when I wear my kilt to perform this duty this year, I would not be wearing it with a formal "evening" jacket and bow tie. I would of course not want to be casually dressed either. Just as the military present do not wear their dress uniforms. My question is about the proper jacket/tie and accoutrements that I should wear with my kilt for this formal, but not "evening formal" occasion. I do have a goodly selection of tweed jackets (some dating to the 1970s) to choose from, if that is appropriate.

[Downunder Kilt]

At the risk of opening a can of worms, if you are representing Canada on such a day, why would you wear the Cultural/National dress of another country? To my way of thinking there are plenty of times to wear your maple leaf kilt to show your national pride, but as a representative of Canada is not one of them.

[Farmer Jones]

At the risk of opening a can of worms, if you are representing Canada on such a day, why would you wear the Cultural/National dress of another country? To my way of thinking there are plenty of times to wear your maple leaf kilt to show your national pride, but as a representative of Canada is not one of them.

The Maple Leaf tartan is the national tartan of Canada. It is specified for use on these occasions. Kilts are common dress in this part of Canada and are frequently seen. Kilts are worn by many organizations on these occasions. In this part of Canada, the kilt is as close as we get to national dress. It is most certainly considered appropriate here. Not only that, we have a National Tartan Day on April 6th. On Canada Day (July 1st) more tartan is seen than not.

[Father Bill]

You can find the government of Canada's official invitation to use it including as a kilt on national occasions at http://www.pch.gc.ca/eng/1363631111199/1363631151090

[Downunder Kilt]

I am not disputing anything you say. Many States, some countries and many organizations have their own tartan. Many countries have a National tartan day. I always wear my kilt to ANZAC Day Remembrance Services, but I am only representing myself, not Australia. The difference I am suggesting is that many others maybe be wearing a kilt to represent an organisation, be it Armed Foces (where the kilt is part of uniform), the local St Andrews Society, the local pipe band. They are representing their institution, not the country of Canada.

[Farmer Jones]

I am not disputing anything you say. Many States, some countries and many organization have their own tartan. Many countries have a National tartan day. I always wear my kilt to ANZAC Day Remembrance Services, but I am only representing myself, not Australia. The difference I am suggesting is that many others maybe be wearing a kilt to represent an organisation, be it Armed Foces (where the kilt is part of uniform), the local St Andrews Society, the local pipe band. They are representing their institution, not the country of Canada.

But I will be representing Canada, so will appropriately attire myself in Maple Leaf tartan, in accordance with local custom, and my question remains about the rest of the suit I will wear.

Edit: I have confirmation from the Royal Canadian Legion on the correctness of this.

[Downunder Kilt]

We are talking about whether the kilt is appropiate to represent Canada, not the tartan. I have no qualms with anybody wearing a kilt, in whaterver tartan to any type of ceremony where they are representing themself or an organisation. However when is representing ones country in an event, in this case, one that is remembered world wide I cannot understand the rationale behind wearing the national dress (the Kilt) of another country

[JSFMACLJR]

But I will be representing Canada, so will appropriately attire myself in Maple Leaf tartan, in accordance with local custom, and my question remains about the rest of the suit I will wear.

Edit: I have confirmation from the Royal Canadian Legion on the correctness of this.

Surely the Governor General represents Canada at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Day?

[Liam]

I am about to get my first kilt, which will be Canadian Maple Leaf. For the past many years I have been selected to represent Canada at the cenotaph on Remembrance Day. I will be doing the same again this year. This is not a formal occasion, so I do not wear a tuxedo, but rather it has been my habit to wear a dark suit. So when I wear my kilt to perform this duty this year, I would not be wearing it with a formal "evening" jacket and bow tie. I would of course not want to be casually dressed either. Just as the military present do not wear their dress uniforms. My question is about the proper jacket/tie and accoutrements that I should wear with my kilt for this formal, but not "evening formal" occasion. I do have a goodly selection of tweed jackets (some dating to the 1970s) to choose from, if that is appropriate.

Further to my note, an appropriate dark tie would be perfectly acceptable.

As a fellow Canadian, I would see it perfectly apppropriate to wear the official tartan of our country to honour our fallen at a Remembrance Day Ceremony. The Maple Leaf tartan is a national symbol and I too wear it on both Remembrance Day and Canada Day, with pride. Those who suggest that the kilt is a Scottish only icon know very little about the history of Commonwealth countries, (or particularly Canada). I would suggest a grey tweed jacket, perhaps with a Canadian Legion tie if you have one.

[Godot]

You may want to find your shortest tweed jacket... anything longer than the bottom of the fell tends to hide the pleats and hinder their "swish". This will depend on the cut of the jacket and your build of course.