A very informal dinner - dressing up too much, or not enough?

[Melfice]

Alternative title: Would you run screaming if you saw me coming through the door?

So, I've got a fairly informal dinner coming up soon. Just a few colleagues on a nice get-together at a wok restaurant. Nothing fancy.

I've got this outfit picked out so far, but I'm afraid I've no great eye for fashion, and may need a nudge (or a kick in the you-know-where if a nudge won't help):

Wallace Dress tartan (it's a rather dark dye-job, mind) with a simple black leather sporran (it's all I've got and I'm out of budget for another one!). Black kilt hose with (weathered) red flashes to match the tartan's red. Also a simple sgian dubh for in the hose. Nice black shoes to finish the bottom off.
Fairly straight-forward. Now's the iffy bit.
A rather nice gold-ish yellow dress shirt. It closely matches the yellow in the tartan, but now I'm afraid it might dominate too much... I do have the ability to tone it down a bit with an anthracite coloured five-button waistcoat, but I've no jacket to go with the waistcoat.

So, here's my questions: Should I swap the yellow shirt out for a white one, and switch to cream kilt hose? Or do you think I could make the yellow shirt work?
And will a waistcoat alone look out of place? I think I might be able to dig up the jacket that went with the waistcoat but: 1) it's most likely way to small by now. 2) it wasn't bought with a kilt in mind.

I'm definitely NOT doing a tie, though. Not a tie-guy, and I'm afraid that'd be dressing up WAY too much anyway.

I'll try to get pictures up later, if I can and if you need them. I hope you can visualize without though.

Thank you for the help!

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

How would you dress if you weren't wearing a kilt? Dress like that, only with your kilt instead of trousers, and don't worry about matching. No one in Scotland worries about matching their shirt to their kilt. Except, possibly, tourists.

[creagdhubh]

How would you dress if you weren't wearing a kilt? Dress like that, only with your kilt instead of trousers, and don't worry about matching. No one in Scotland worries about matching their shirt to their kilt. Except, possibly, tourists.

***

[Nick the DSM]

Don't think about it too much. Just go with how you look and if it fits.

[Melfice]

So, it's been a while since I last posted here. I was a bit too busy to go gallivanting on the webs.
Just following up on my own thread:

I promised pictures, but that's kinda problematic.
At any rate, the whole ensemble was fairly well received. About half thought it looked great, well matched etc etc. A little less than half'd rather seen I ditched the waistcoat and maybe not wear a bright shirt like I did. The remaining folks would have rather seen me in trousers. ;) Their loss!

So, hey. Once again, thanks for the advice. And next time I'll try to remember to just wear what I normally wear, instead of (not really) freaking out about matching.

[Peter Lowe]

From the waist down sounds great. Personally I would wear a white shirt, no tie and a pullover that matches the hose or a prominent colour in the tartan. Just my 2p worth!

Enjoy your night out.

Peter

[TheOfficialBren]

I agree with Peter. When in doubt keep it simple. A white dress shirt with a pullover sweater will be classy enough but down-to-earth enough for the occasion. You will look more "at home" in your kilt to your colleagues and will not seem like you are putting on a costume.

Have a great time!

:-D

[kiltedjoss]

I like the yellow shirt sans tie. To very casual add the unbuttoned vest and roll the shirt sleeves up a turn. Let's see pics!

[brewerpaul]

What is the weather like there, keep it casual if that is what you plan. Im a fan of pullover sweaters when it is cooler and I go to a casual gathering. Ive worn them at peoples homes, at movies and at gatherings. Think of what everyone else might wear and like was said above, what would you wear if you we not wearing a kilt.


Color goes a long way when you have a monochromatic kilt or a dark one. Hamilton Gray with burgundy sweater and kilt hose. Not trying to be matchy but they do a little.


My tank with a copper pullover sweater. I was afraid I would have to give up some sweaters when I wore kilts but Ive seen other folk in them looking great so I carry on too.



Of course a bomber style jacket is all about casual.

[Friday]

I agree with McMillian, how would you have dressed with out the kilt and how will the others be dressed? Will anyone else be wearing a jacket, with or without a tie? Personally, and my wife does not let me out without a check of my attire, would see no reason not to wear the vest. I might even wear the vest unbuttoned, if the dinner is that level of informality.

Be comfortable in what you wear and how you wear it.