I agree whole heartedly with much of what has been said.
I think everyone here in this thread has given good answers and put solid reasoning behind them.

I personally think that you can take pretty much any "normal" kilt be it a tartan or plain and *make* it work for formal or casual by matching it up with the proper clothing and accoutrements.
I think that a Utilikilt (although it might not look as nice as a traditional woolen 8 yarder) when matched up with a nice shirt, jacket, tie etc can look *very* sharp!
Take these guys for instanceignore the guy's white basketball shoes)




As for my new USA Kilt (thanks again Rocky!) or Nubia's good ol' Brasilikilt I would feel quite comfortable wearing it in a formal setting because it's a KILT, plain and simple......I've read many posts on this forum about people stopping to ask a guy in his kilt if he's a bagpiper, or going to some kind of formal event. A kilt to a lot of people says "He must be dressing up to go somewhere nice."
Just the other day, some of the little neighbor girls were asking me why I was wearing my kilt, before I could answer their grandmother said "He must be going to some formal event" I simply explained that I wear it because I like it.

It's very safe to say that we on this forum know much more about kilts than your average person off the streets.
Most people don't know much, if anything about the differences between 4 yard, 8 yard, polyvicose or worsted wool.....most people wouldn't know to look and see if your kilt was fastened with belts and buckles, velcro or snaps

I mean......If someone were to make a snooty remark, or downtalks to me about wearing my kilt to a formal event, I can say with confidence "I had my kilt custom tailored.....what about your pants?"
Even the more modestly priced kilts are still expensive well crafted garments which are (for the most part) custom tailored to fit the people ordering them......
To me that says you're willing to put in the extra money and effort to look really nice........anywhere you go!
A kilt was never designed for someone to look poor, slovenly or disheveled.
A kilt was made for the person wearing it to proudly distinguish themselves as an individual who has class and isn't worried about what anyone else thinks!

I hope that despite all my rambling I was able to make a few points you all can identify with :-)

When you're kilted, you're a cut above the rest!

Iain