Quote Originally Posted by usndoc
I am getting ready for Burns Night. Last year I was still putting the final stitches in my first kilt. Not having a kilt at the time, I wore a standard dark suit and tie.

This year I will have my choice of several kilts. But, I need to decide on formal accessories. Can someone recommend some options?

If I go with a doublet, where is a good low cost place to get it? What styles would be appropriate for a larger guy? What shirt options are there?

I have seen others wear a Harris Tweed type jacket and tie. Is this an acceptable wear for a formal event? What shirt should be worn with it?

Some showed up wearing a jacobite type kilt shirt with no jacket at all.

I have some time to research so please feel free to post some ideas. Also, I would like to go with something multi functional as I may be wearing this to my wedding. I hate to buy one time use clothing. I am a mason and we wear tuxes often. So instead of renting, I bought my tux. It was a good investment.

Thanks,

Doc
Doc,

A lot will depend on the organization (I presume it is a Scottish/St. Andrew's Society) putting on their Burns Night --I know our Burns Night is the most formal event of the year, and the majority of the kilted gents there are in Argyll jackets, PC's or doublets, with only a few day jackets being worn by gents who do not have the formal rig. In contrast, I attend a Burns Night in Arkansas this year where there was more of an "anything goes" attitudes towards dress -- formal, day jackets, Jacobite shirts, great kilts dripping with swords, dirks, wearing headgear inside, and civilian non-kilted mufti.

If you are going to attend at least three formal events in a year, it's best to buy the formal rig. The Charlie or Argyll are the standards; if you get a doublet like the Montrose or the Sheriffmuir, you are going to need a jabot and lace cuffs, which is the equivalent of white tie, and will limit you somewhat -- I recommend the PC. For tux shirts, most places today sell the "winged collar" shirts, which technically are for white tie only -- I personally like the stand & fall (regular) collars for black tie -- but others like the classic 1930's look of the winged collar, so it's up to you.

If you're going to wear your kilt to the wedding, I'd go with the PC, which you can also wear to Burns Night, St. Andrew's dances, etc. Remember that it is better to be over-dressed than under-dressed.

Cheers,

Todd