What level of dress would you classify this?

[Tobus]

I was perusing the "10 looks" thread again (it's a great reference) and decided to throw on my best kilted attire to see where it falls in the 1 thru 10 list of dress. I don't own a PC or other "formal" stuff, so this is as dressed-up as I can get.

I'm wearing standard black brogues, Argyle hose to match my kilt tartan, red traditional garter ties, a 'dress sgian dubh', 8-yard wool kilt, horse hair sporran, clan crest kilt pin with small feather adornment, dark charcoal tweed waistcoat with thistle-motif pocketwatch, lighter charcoal tweed kilt jacket (Victoria converted it for me from a regular tweed jacket I found at a resale shop) with faux-bone buttons, off-white shirt, and red tie.

Best I can figure, this falls somewhere between Jamie's #6 "dressy" and #7 "semi formal (suit equivalent)" looks. Or somewhere between McMurdo's #6 "smart day wear", #7 "dressy, and #8 "semi formal (suit equivalent)" looks. Where would you place it?

Since I don't live the kind of lifestyle where I get invited to formal affairs, I calculate that this is as dressed-up as I would ever need to be. My intent is for this to be suitable for wearing to weddings, church (sans sgian dubh), Christmas parties, or any other affair where other men would be wearing suits. Does it fit the bill without being under-dressed or over-dressed?

Sorry for the picture quality, but I had to lighten the pictures up and it made them grainy.

[Jock Scot]

I know some will not agree, but as you have asked----- smart(not formal) day wear(suit equivalent) would be my definition and slightly overdone. Why? Well, if it were me( and its not), I would look for another and less in the face sporran and I think, for me at least, the hose would be better plain as we are talking day wear here.Oh, and a smile helps no end!

[BLHS209]

I know some will not agree, but as you have asked----- smart(not formal) day wear would be my definition and slightly overdone. Why? Well, if it were me( and its not), I would look for another less in the face sporran and I think, for me at least, the hose would be better plain as we are talking day wear here.Oh, and a smile helps no end!

I will agree with Jock. Sporran (to me) is a little too much for the outfit. Change the sporran and it would be sharp day wear. The hose, don't bother me.

and yes, smile please

[LewdiKris]

I will agree with Jock. Sporran (to me) is a little too much for the outfit. Change the sporran and it would be sharp day wear. The hose, don't bother me.

and yes, smile please

And I say the same too.

LK

[BobsYourUncle]

Of course, Jock Scott is correct in every respect.

However, it appears to me that you have fallen under the sway of Josh of Skye Highland Outfitters, who advocates for hair sporran and argyll hose wearing for day time. I find Josh's views very persuasive, but you should understand that this will not look quite right to someone who knows highland wear but may not be part of this kind of "revival" movement. If you are interested in that kind of Kennth Macleay revivalism, and like the look, then keep everything as is.

You would probably not have asked the question and posted the pics if you weren't already thinking that you might get the reaction Jock Scott had. I think that as an outfit, yours is very well put together. However, if you want to pass the Jock Scott aesthetic test, then you should wear a non-hair daywear sporran [which gives you a huge range], and plain colored hose.

You clearly have put good time and effort into your kit. You wear it very well. I hope that you are enjoying it, and that the lack of a smile is not from stressing out about your kit. You've done very well--enjoy!

[MacRobert's Reply]

Jock's assessment is, as usual, spot on. This is smart day wear with (at least in Scotland) the hair sporran swapped for a day sporran and less elaborate hose. With these modifications it would be ideal for weddings, church and other events where suits are worn. Very nice hose but it would work better for white or black tie IMHO - an evening rather than a day-time event.

[Tobus]

You would probably not have asked the question and posted the pics if you weren't already thinking that you might get the reaction Jock Scott had.

Yes, I quite expected it. Jock Scot's input is, as always, valuable from a modern Scottish perspective.

I do, though, favor the more historical look of patterned hose and hair sporrans for daywear. I've never considered it a "revival" movement, but I suppose that's what it is. While modern kilt styles have trended toward plainness (which seems to me to be contrary to the point of kilt wearing), I feel it's perfectly suitable... it's just not the "modern" look.

As for daywear sporrans, I just can't bring myself to wear one of those plain, tiny, boring ones that have become the 'uniform' of kilt-wearers everywhere. The closest I could come to it would be a hunting sporran like this one (borrowed from, but credited to, the Scottish Tartans Museum's gift shop website):

[rtc872]

Lol everyone is saying what to lose. I will take a different approach. The bottom would make great evening wear. To make it white tie look into shinier shoes but you would pass muster. The top is smart day wear.

The reason, The top is smart day wear because 1, Your Jacket and waistcoat are tweed. 2, You jacket and waistcoat are different shades which is fine for day but no good for evening. 3, You are wearing a tie.

To make the top suit the bottom you would need a black barathea argyl and waistcoat or a PC to bring it to the more formal level. You could get away with the tie but I would be swapping it out for a bow tie in the evening.

The bottom everyone else has covered very effectively. It is very formal and wouldnt suit day wear so you probably should dress it down to match the jacket you have.

Ultimately the bottom looks great and the top looks great but they are different levels and dont match. Much like wearing patent pumps and black tie trews with a necktie and normal suit jacket. Nice hose though. It has made me more interested in trying to pick up a pair. Look forward to seeing where you go with this.

[Lyle1]

I think your outfit would be quite acceptable for any of the events that you mentioned, at least in most of the U.S.A. The distinction between day and evening wear will not be an issue to most people you are likely to encounter. The only suggestion that I would make is to move your kilt pin much closer to the bottom edge of the kilt apron. In theory, the kilt pin is there to keep the apron from blowing open.

[MacLowlife]

I wonder if I can agree with everyone above, or whether that would mean that I can't make up my mind.

I do hope you get to grinning now and again, because you look pretty good. I also agree that the fancy hose and sporran might be a little much for some situations, just as the casual jacket and waistcoat might fall a little bit short for others. But I think you would look right at home and very good, too, in most church or daytime situations. You might try swapping the tie for a solid colored bow ( not black) if you wanted to be just a little more dressed up for weddings and evening parties- or maybe just leave off the vest. I know that a vest is dressier in some ways, but a nice plain white shirt front is dressy, too, and it eliminates one of the two more casual elements of your rig. I don't think a dressier vest would quite work with the tweed jacket, but it doesn't sound as if you would need it to.

Let me add that I think you would look a hundred times better at, say, a Kirkin of the Tartans service or a funeral than the poor guy who showed up in his Prince Charlie. I am not one of the PC hating crowd, but I do think they look a little bit sad in the daytime. And I think you look great.