What to wear to a Ceilidh?

[Sir William]

I attended a ceilidh when I was in Scotland last month and saw considerable difference in what was worn.

Almost all the men wore kilts or tarten trews. The Americans and Canadians tended to dress rather casually - polo shirts or open-necked shirts without a tie. The Scots on the other hand, tended to wear jackets and ties, ranging from tweeds to Prince Charlies. There were a few exceptions of course.

The women tended to wear equivilent attire, from blue jeans to cocktail dresses. Some wore tartan skirts or a sash.

What say you regarding what is proper attire at a ceilidh, whether in Scotland, the US, Canada, or elsewhere.

[Nighthawk]

It depends on the ceilidh! The one my wife and I will be attending after the Clan Donnachaid Burns night supper in January is a formal affair, so black tie is required. One of my own personal ceilidhs, on the other hand... Remaining fully clothed is itself occasionally optional! As to the formal we are going to. I will be wearing a Prince Charlie, my Albannanach tartan kilt, a tuxedo shirt, purple Lewis Rich kilt kilt hose, a black bow tie, kilt pin, semi dress sporran, and ghillie brogues. For something advertised as formal, I would wear no less. So I would think it all depends on the advertised level of formality- at least, with this being in the US and all. In Scotland, I’m sure it goes without saying that the level of formality is as least semiformal, but in the States, we assume that everything is very casual unless stated otherwise. Were I in Scotland going to a Scottish celidh, I would assume it to be at least a semiformal affair.

[dfmacliam]

I feel the proper way to dress, would to be leaning more to the shirt and tie. Its just more fitting.. being a dance, one should present himself "proper".

[McMurdo]

I do not think it matters where the ceilidh is, for me anyway I would have have to say semi formal. Tweed Argyll jacket, perhaps a waistcoat, a tie, a semi dress or dress sporran depending on your taste at the time, the rest of the outfit as you would normally wear, of course with a sgian dubh.

Something like this:


or this, at least, or perhaps a Prince Charlie or Montrose Doublet:

[Nighthawk]

McMurdo, you are always so well turned out! That's more or less the direction I would go for the average dance. I think a montrose may be a little much, though... but then again, that may be because I couldn't pull one off!

I can tell you what I would not wear, however- a polo shirt, or an open collar shirt with no tie! At any sort of organized ceiledh, that would be in my opinion disrespectful to the organizers who put so much effort into it, and to the other guests, who themselves should have made something of an effort to clean up.

[EagleJCS]

I would probably lean toward the semi-formal, regardless, but that's me. If you find you're over-dressed, it's easy to take off the coat &/or tie and remain in shirtsleeves. It's very difficult to dress "up" when you arrive under-dressed.

[Nighthawk]

I would probably lean toward the semi-formal, regardless, but that's me. If you find you're over-dressed, it's easy to take off the coat &/or tie and remain in shirtsleeves. It's very difficult to dress "up" when you arrive under-dressed.

Good point!!

[Bugbear]

One of my own personal ceilidhs, on the other hand... Remaining fully clothed is itself occasionally optional...

We really do need to get you wearing a jabot, Nighthawk.

[Stratherrick]

As others have said, it depends on the bash!

In village halls, I'd say you could go casual from the waist up. In Edinburgh/Inverness high society, you better get 'the look' right!

Slainte

Bruce

[Jock Scot]

An invitation to a ceilidh implies a certain amount of informality. Depending on the climate, for me, from the waist up, I would start with shirt and tie with a pullover, of various thickness, on top. The tie and the pullover may be discarded as things warm up!