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

**Melfice** · 25th September 12, 01:30 PM

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** · 25th September 12, 02:26 PM

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.

**Peter Lowe** · 25th September 12, 02:43 PM

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** · 25th September 12, 02:54 PM

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** · 25th September 12, 03:23 PM

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** · 25th September 12, 04:16 PM

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** · 25th September 12, 04:24 PM

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.

**CMcG** · 25th September 12, 06:00 PM

Originally Posted by Melfice

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 would wear the yellow shirt because it seems more casual and fun than the starkness of a white one. Stick with black hose, unless your cream ones are the really thick, cable-knit ones, because otherwise they tend to look a) rented or b) like athletics socks. In the future you might want to invest in some coloured hose like lovat blue or lovat green.

A waistcoat with no jacket is OK, and please do not ever wear a regular jacket with the kilt because it will be too long and look sloppy. On second thought, check your waistcoat and make sure it isn't too long such that it would get in the way of your sporran... if you're worried about getting cold, a sweater is also a good option, as others have mentioned.

Originally Posted by Melfice

..
I'll try to get pictures up later, if I can and if you need them.

Pictures are always helpful with this sort of thing!

**Melfice** · 26th September 12, 08:57 AM

Originally Posted by 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.

Ah, that is good advice. I was probably overthinking this, yeah. It's just... one colleague asked if I were going to wear the kilt, and that spread like wildfire, and I just want to look smashing, y'know?
I've already had a "kilted" dinner before, but that was in an all-black Utilikilt. It felt easier to dress with that. :P

Originally Posted by kiltedjoss

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

Ooh, that sounds neat, actually. Will try!

Thank you, everybody! The advice was most welcome. I'll try to get pictures of every suggestions when possible, but not today. I forgot I hadn't washed the shirts yet (they're brand new!), so there's that.
Once again, thank you!

**matt.mackinnon** · 26th September 12, 12:00 PM

I'd disagree with the yellow being more casual than a white. A white shirt without a tie is very casual. If you are going with too much colour, it's more of an attention getter than just hanging out type of ware. I've got an informal dinner party to go to this friday, and am planning to ware my Herratage of Scotland kilt with a simple black sporran, white shirt and black hose. I'll probably bring a grey sweater with me in case the party moves outside.

The best advice from here has been wear what you would if you didn't have the kilt.. the kilt is just like a pair of trousers.