Dressing formally kilted, noob

[Altenberg Bagpiper]

I posted this here: http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...13#post1151613
but I'd appreciate a critique here please
Things I know I'm doing wrong.....
5 button waistcoat with a bow tie instead of a 3 button. I can live with it.
Ghillie brogues - actually I really liked them. Shined up a treat. I may replace with Oxfords if I can find some that fit well.
Hose - sat a bit low. I'll need an upgrade. Calves were a little tight too.
What am I missing?

Attachment 9979

You outfit looks very nice and you wear it well. I had a three button waistcoat made from tartan material a couple of years ago with two small pockets. For a slightly different look I think the three button waistcoat looks great when wearing a pocket watch and chain. It also allows a bit more of the white shirt to be seen as well which can give a more balanced look depending on the tartan you are wearing.

[Tony]

Thanks AB!

I have a black waistcoat from elsewhere. I may see if I can alter it sufficiently to a formalish 3 button

[creagdhubh]

Agree with these opinions. Most Highland Formal do's I go to here in Australia, the vast majority of men are wearing ghillie brogues and your hose height appears spot on from the photo, and good kilt height also

Agreed. Well done, Tony.

[Wil]

And drat....

Forgot I'll have to learn how to knot a bow tie. I better get practicing.

Tony, jump on youtube to learn how to tie a bowtie. It's super easy and the clips are great not hard to follow. I learned just the other day in just 3 watches.

[Tony]

Tony, jump on youtube to learn how to tie a bowtie. It's super easy and the clips are great not hard to follow. I learned just the other day in just 3 watches.

Thanks Wil - once I had 2 epiphanies it came out just about right.
1. It's pretty much a fancy shoelace knot
2. Keeping it loose helped a lot. For ages I was trying to get it right first time, nice and tight. Miserable failures followed. Then I kept it loose, got all the bits in roughly the right place and slowly tightened it up bit by bit. Everything fell into place.

[Tony]

Agreed. Well done, Tony.

Thanks Kyle!

[Tobus]

Then I kept it loose, got all the bits in roughly the right place and slowly tightened it up bit by bit. Everything fell into place.

Yup, that's really the thing that I like about bow ties. As long as you know how to tie it, there isn't much skill involved. You just "rough it in" first, then do a series of tugs-and-adjustments, and it'll end up perfect.

See, now that you've done it (and once you've worn a bow tie 3 or 4 times), you'll shake your head in wonderment as to why people are so intimidated by them.