Burns Supper advice needed?

[Kristen the MacKenzie]

I would love some advice for upcoming Burns Supper, with dress code "smart casual".
1. Is it acceptable to wear my kilt? (I understand that strictly speaking women's never historically wore the kilt.)
2. I intend to wear my MacKenzie weathered kilt, a white feminine tuxedo top, dress boots, and a tasteful head piece of my Clan plant badge.) Does this sounds formal/not formal enough?
3. What should my date wear--as in tartan/no tartan (who has no claim to tartan)? I was thinking of buying him a Burns Check scarf that he could arrange somehow (he's creative that way), or do I allow him to wear a piece of my tartan?

Thanks to any who will advise me,
"A MacKenzie in Oregon"

[Standard]

I'm certainly no expert, but the kit that you describe for yourself sounds good to me. Are you planning to forgo a tie? For "smart casual" I'd think a bow tie would be a little much. If you still want to wear the female tuxedo shirt I think it would look ok, but a plain white button down might be a more relaxed look.

As for your friend, how about a nice tartan tie if he won't consider a kilt himself.

Don't forget that here on XMarks we love to see photos!

[Tartan Tess]

In Maine, the Robert Burns dinner means to celebrate everything Scottish.
Kilts are #1 so as a women wear it if you wish with respect.
Here at least, it is OK if your date looks like he is out to a nice dinner.

[Kristen the MacKenzie]

Thank you Standard, and Tartan Tess.
@ Standard- I will post my Burns Night outfit! Very excited about it.
@ Tartan Tess- Thanks for the vote for ladies wearing kilts. I did not know how it would be viewed in the greater Gaelic community. When I had it made in Edinburgh, the gentleman was slightly cool about the whole thing, and let me know that women never wore the kilt. ;)
Bon jour to France!
Thanks all for welcomes, this is such a warm feeling to find so many passionate about the tradition!
Kristen.

[cessna152towser]

Probably best to check with the organiser to see what sort of dress code they have in mind.
I have noticed on this site, that American style Burns suppers often have the men in very formal kilt outfits complete with Prince Charlie jackets, evening sporrans with cantles, and the ladies in tartan hostess skirts.
This is indeed authentic as some Burns suppers in Scotland do nowadays follow this format.
However most Burns suppers which I have attended here in Scotland have been much less formal. At the Burns supper which I attended last night there was a mix of modern smart casual and Burns era vintage style clothes. Bear in mind that Robert Burns was a lowland Scot and that the lowlanders did not wear kilts in the times when he lived. Last night I was the only gent wearing a kilt to my Burns supper, which I wore semi-casual, Argyle jacket shirt and necktie, but a plain leather day sporran and plain hose with no flashes. That said, a lady in a kilt or a tartan skirt, or a man in a kilt, should never go wrong at any Burns supper.

[OC Richard]

Yes as mentioned above, around here Americans of Scottish ancestry use a Burns Supper as a venue to trot out their most flamboyant finery.

Prince Charlies, velvet Montrose doublets, lace jabots, fly plaids, tartan hose, buckled shoes, dirks and brooches and pins galore.

It's interesting that the Burns Supper you're going to is aiming for more casual attire.

The outfit you mention sounds perfect to me.

Being hired as a piper, I usually wear my ordinary piper's dress. Tonight and Tuesday I'm playing at Burns Suppers and I'll be in my charcoal tweed jacket and IOS kilt. I'll forgo the finery this year!

[Jay]

Friday night I attended my first Burns supper. It was casual. Some had their finest black tie. Others wore a ghillie/Jacobite shirt and casual shoes. Me? I wore kilt, sweater, long hose with black combat boots.

Probably only a third of the men were kilted.

Overall, an enjoyable evening. We were all there to have a good time and no level of dress was looked down on.