Apprpriate dress for ceremonial occasion

[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.

[Farmer Jones]

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.

The tweed jacket I can do. I seem to have inadvertently amassed a collection of tweed jackets over the years. I have so far resisted joining the Legion, despite their regular requests that I do so, because of all my other community commitments. So I do not have a Legion tie. In the past I have worn plain ties, service organization ties and fraternal organization ties, with a suit. However, as a result of Downunder's insistence, I have already written to my parliamentary representative to have him ask the minister of heritage for guidance on a dress code for these occasions.

[Downunder Kilt]

The OP is officially representing the Country of Canada, the Kilt is not the National Dress of Canada, that is what I am saying. It is not just the tartan that the OP is referring to in this issue. I am not saying that the maple leaf tartan does not represent Canada. I am not saying that a person representing themself or their organisation should not wear the kilt. I am not saying you cannot wear the maple leaf tartan on the day. What I am mystified about is that a person representing the Canadian government at an official function would want to wear the national dress of another country. I would have the same query to a person who was a representative of the Canadian Goverment who would want to wear the Greek Foustanella/Tsolias to the ceremony. I totally agree that the kilt is a Scottish icon for any number of countries, but still does not make it right that a person representing the Canadian Goverment to wear the National dress of another country to an official event. Please seperate the tartan and the kilt. It is not the tartan that I see as being incorrect it is the method of wearing it in this circumstance i.e. as a kilt

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.

[Dangerdean]

The OP is officially representing the Country of Canada, the Kilt is not the National Dress of Canada, that is what I am saying. It is not just the tartan that the OP is referring to in this issue. I am not saying that the maple leaf tartan does not represent Canada. I am not saying that a person representing themself or their organisation should not wear the kilt. I am not saying you cannot wear the maple leaf tartan on the day. What I am mystified about is that a person representing the Canadian government at an official function would want to wear the national dress of another country. I would have the same query to a person who was a representative of the Canadian Goverment who would want to wear the Greek Foustanella/Tsolias to the ceremony. I totally agree that the kilt is a Scottish icon for any number of countries, but still does not make it right that a person representing the Canadian Goverment to wear the National dress of another country to an official event. Please seperate the tartan and the kilt. It is not the tartan that I see as being incorrect it is the method of wearing it in this circumstance i.e. as a kilt

A)The OP didn't ask for opinions about the appropriateness of wearing a kilt at this occasion, he asked about appropriate accoutrements.
B)As the link posted by Father Bill makes clear, the Maple Leaf tartan is an official national symbol of Canada, thus entirely appropriate for this occasion, where he's laying a wreath on behalf of Canada, but isn't an international delegate or something.
C)Further to your points, if someone wanted to wear Greek national dress to fulfill this task that would probably be fine with most people here. Suit and tie is not an official Canadian national dress.
D)Lastly, you'll notice that the Canadians involved in this thread are all cool with the idea.

Personally, I'd go with one of your tweeds and an appropriate rep tie. Since you have until November, maybe look at having one of your jackets altered to a kilt cut.

[TheOfficialBren]

The OP is officially representing the Country of Canada, the Kilt is not the National Dress of Canada, that is what I am saying. It is not just the tartan that the OP is referring to in this issue. I am not saying that the maple leaf tartan does not represent Canada. I am not saying that a person representing themself or their organisation should not wear the kilt. I am not saying you cannot wear the maple leaf tartan on the day. What I am mystified about is that a person representing the Canadian government at an official function would want to wear the national dress of another country. I would have the same query to a person who was a representative of the Canadian Goverment who would want to wear the Greek Foustanella/Tsolias to the ceremony. I totally agree that the kilt is a Scottish icon for any number of countries, but still does not make it right that a person representing the Canadian Goverment to wear the National dress of another country to an official event. Please seperate the tartan and the kilt. It is not the tartan that I see as being incorrect it is the method of wearing it in this circumstance i.e. as a kilt

Mike, it sounds like the OP wrote to the appropriate official organisation and received the official go-ahead to wear his kilt in the official Canadian tartan as recognised by the Canadian government. Canada's Scots make up a very large portion of the population and have contribute much to the nation's history...the first PM was Scottish-born!
There are Highland regiments in the Canadian Armed Forces. Kilted regiments from Canada have defended their nation wearing kilts!

Gaelic is a living language in parts of Canada. Scottish culture is alive and well in Canada, arguably moreso than in parts of Scotland today.

Like it or not the kilt began as a Scottish symbol (and still is, very much, first and fore-most Scotland's national dress) but has evolved to represent more than just Scotland but rather all Scots regardless of their nationality. Yes, a people's nationality and culture are two entirely different things. You're an Australian of Scottish heritage, as I understand. Australia has kilted regiments (Citizen's Brigades, if I recall correctly, and ar least five Regular Army units who were kilted for ceremony but took to the field in shorts during WWII) and Scottish-Australian organisations (military and civilian), do they not? Why the rub, sir?

I don't mean to come down so hard but goodness, man, what is the deal here?!

[Jock Scot]

You did momentarily have me questioning something I have seen done for many years, so I phoned the Legion headquarters and asked. You have to remember, this is Canada, not Australia. Your ways may not be our ways. The kilt may have started as a Scottish national dress, and been exported by the diaspora, but it is not longer just a Scottish national dress, as it has been adopted as a method of showing honour in many other places.

I have really tried to stay out of the conversation, but this is too much!

---------"the kilt is not longer just a Scottish national dress". Really? Says who? A Canadian? I think that there maybe a few Scots, more than a few, that would have something to say about that! I am appalled at the arrogance and insensitivity of that remark.

[Phil]

I have really tried to stay out of the conversation, but this is too much!

---------"the kilt is not longer just a Scottish national dress". Really? Says who? A Canadian? I think that there maybe a few Scots, more than a few, that would have something to say about that! I am appalled at the arrogance and insensitivity of that remark.

Hopefully, Jock, Farmer Jones simply experienced a moment of confusion when making that unfortunate post and is just waiting to re-phrase what he said to something like "the kilt is Scottish national dress but has been adopted as a method of showing honour ...etc".
I am sure that he didn't really want to describe such an important symbol of our heritage in such a casually dismissive way.

[StevieR]

I haven't yet contributed to a thread where feelings and passions run this high so I am thinking and typing very carefully!

1. The kilt represents all Scots regardless of their nationality - I like that Bren, thank you.

2. The kilt is Scotland's and only Scotland's national dress.

3. ". . . it has been adopted as a method of showing honour in many other places. . .". Really? For no other reason than it's a kilt?

4. I can think of a small number of countries where I would not be surprised to see someone wearing a kilt and laying a wreath in an official capacity at a Remembrance service, but it seems to me very clear that the individual would be doing so to portray his and who he was representing's connection with Scotland. If that is the intent, I can see nothing wrong with it.

[BCAC]

Hopefully, Jock, Farmer Jones simply experienced a moment of confusion when making that unfortunate post and is just waiting to re-phrase what he said to something like "the kilt is Scottish national dress but has been adopted as a method of showing honour ...etc".
I am sure that he didn't really want to describe such an important symbol of our heritage in such a casually dismissive way.

Phil, I'm all out of "ayes" for today, so have a + 1.