semi- formal event help

[ASinclair]

Hello, daveMc!



and, to answer your question, what Steve said.

[JohntheBiker]

Agree with Steve that more information is needed to provide you with more detailed advice. However, absent details, I would suggest that a tie would be called for + sweater or tweed jacket.

[daveMc]

ok thank you for the advise so far. others will be wearing mostly suits and floor length dresses, but all band performers will be wearing tuxes. my plan was to wear kilt, hose, flashers, sporran, white dress shirt, black tie, and vest. I was wondering because every time I happen to go to these events, I check my jacket immediately due to the amount of movement and people attending.
my fear is that if there were to happen to be someone that would find it not up to par.

thanks again for all the advice.

-dave

[daveMc]

ok thank you for the advise so far. others will be wearing mostly suits and floor length dresses, but all band performers will be wearing tuxes. my plan was to wear kilt, hose, flashers, sporran, white dress shirt, black tie, and vest. I was wondering because every time I happen to go to these events, I check my jacket immediately due to the amount of movement and people attending.
my fear is that if there were to happen to be someone that would find it not up to par.

thanks again for all the advice.

-dave

[Nathan]

If the others are wearing suits and the ladies are in gowns, the Argyll jacket with a long tie is the appropriate choice. I wouldn't wear a black bow tie without the jacket, but I wouldn't wear either to this particular event.

If you don't have an Argyll, I'm afraid you may be a bit underdressed in your shirt sleeves and might be better off in a suit until you acquire the proper kit.

A tweed Argyll would certainly suffice for this event, as would a black barathea silver buttoned dress Argyll with a long tie. You may be able to hire a dress Argyll for the evening.

Although I don't recommend going jacket-less for an event where the others are wearing suits, if you do choose to wear the kilt and don't want to spring for a jacket, perhaps you have a waistcoat/vest with a cloth back rather than a satin/polyester one. A five button waistcoat and long tie is the best choice for this level of formality.

Good luck, Dave! Hope the snow isn't too severe today!

[JohntheBiker]

Nathan is right in terms of appropriate kit and it seems that it makes a difference to you in terms of what people think about your attire. A tweed Argyll will give you a suit equivalent and is a good investment if you are going to wear your kilt regularly.

[MacLowlife]

If you were going to be in your shirtsleeves anyway, then being in your shirtsleeves in a kilt is no different. BUT, if you would have worn a suit and removed your jacket, then you may want to do the kilted equivalent- wear some kind of jacket and then, if you feel moved, take it off.

We talk about jackets as if everyone always wore kilt-length jackets with their kilts. These days, Saxon jackets are often cut shorter and may even be an acceptable compromise. If you do not have a kilt jacket (and can't rent one) AND you are planning on removing it as soon as you enter the event AND you have a Saxon one that looks OK, I would at least wear that, rather than wandering into a room full of suits with no jacket at all.

I would also think hard about your shirt, since that is what people are going to see- Consider maybe a solid blue one or a white one that is clearly not a tuxedo shirt. Let us know how it works out.

[Spartan Tartan]

Here again we have confusion with "Semi-Formal". Some people in tuxedos, some in suits and women in full length dresses... That is certainly a minefield to navigate and get it right!

That being the case, I rescind my previous advice about the sweater/jumper. If all the other men will be wearing jackets, I would think that you should as well.

Do I understand that you are in the band that will be performing that night? If so, you can remove the jacket for your performance and then put it back on whey you are done and cool down. But, I (personally, my style/choice) would not wear a vest in that circumstance without my jacket.