Utilikilts worn formally?

[Zardoz]

I'll preface this by saying I do not own a UK, or any "UK type" contempo kilts,
but reading the first post I was thinking "sure, why not?"
But honestly, after looking at most of the photos that thought changed to "maybe not". As some have noted, I kind of see UKs as chinos/casual slacks equivalent, and while you can wear a nice shirt and tie with chinos, I don't think a tux jacket would work too well.

[Bugbear]

I'll preface this by saying I do not own a UK, or any "UK type" contempo kilts,
but reading the first post I was thinking "sure, why not?"
But honestly, after looking at most of the photos that thought changed to "maybe not". As some have noted, I kind of see UKs as chinos/casual slacks equivalent, and while you can wear a nice shirt and tie with chinos, I don't think a tux jacket would work too well.

I think the material and things like snaps are a major issue; not sure I completely understand the construction of the UK without having one in my hands.

That being said, I am intrigued by the idea of a contemporary type of construction with more elegant materials and closures; canvas or denim studded with snaps isn't quite right in my mind...

[Tobus]

I'll preface this by saying I do not own a UK, or any "UK type" contempo kilts,
but reading the first post I was thinking "sure, why not?"
But honestly, after looking at most of the photos that thought changed to "maybe not". As some have noted, I kind of see UKs as chinos/casual slacks equivalent, and while you can wear a nice shirt and tie with chinos, I don't think a tux jacket would work too well.

I do own a Utilikilt, but I pretty much had the same mental progression as you did as I looked through the pics. I just can't see taking a UK past a certain point in formality. Mainly because, as artificer pointed out, the material simply doesn't suit it.

The good thing about Utilikilts is that they have tried to make various models which are more or less appropriate for different levels of dress. It would be odd, for example, to try to dress up a tan Workman model. But a black Mocker can go further. I'm sorry, though, their tuxedo model just looks bizarre to me.

I think it also bears saying that when one tries to take a modern kilt to the upper levels of formality, one is going to be compared to traditional kilts, whether they intend to or not. Even in the eyes of those who don't know anything about kilts, they will likely have a vague memory of a random image of Sir Sean Connery (or other celebrities) who they have seen dressed formally in a kilt. In terms of "pulling it off", this must be factored in.

One thing that really struck me as I was looking at the photos is that it really destroys the image of "formality" when you wear scrunched hose and show a lot of lower leg. Even if we're trying to completely ignore traditional kilt protocol, it just looks too casual to do that.