What Makes a Kilt Formal?

[James MacMillan]

I see your point. It really is all about the accessories.

Oh neat, my point got made......................

[O'Neille]

Yeah, I gotta get some more of those "casual" accessories.

[fluter]

Ah but Grant that photo is of us all in Semi-Formal wear, the question was what makes an outfit Formal. None of us were Formal that night.

Guys, remember that it was a Yank who asked the question. To us, formal means "I wore both shoes and socks."

And BTW Semi-Formal is a term of art more easily applicable to women's dress than men. However traditionally it meant black tie.

[Riverkilt]

For me, "formal" means my best stuff. Thats my hand sewn wool kilts.

A fellow could wear a polyesther suit to a formal affair, but he'd look and feel better in a wool suit.

As often mentioned on this board there is nothing like the feeling of strapping on a hand sewn 16 ounce wool tartan kilt in a tartan that is meaningfull to the owner.

It just feels better to me to be kilted up in my best at a "formal" occasion.

Course out here in the canyonlands "formal" means best boots, best jeans, a western cut sport jacket, bolo tie and all the turquoise jewelry you can attach to yourself.

Ron

[McMurdo]

Guys, remember that it was a Yank who asked the question. To us, formal means "I wore both shoes and socks."

And BTW Semi-Formal is a term of art more easily applicable to women's dress than men. However traditionally it meant black tie.

Well sorry Fluter but we are talking Formal kilt/Formal kilt outfit, so I still stand by my original comments

1.that a formal outfit should not include a Sportkilt.

2. None of us were formally dressed in the photo Grant posted, we were in Semi-Formal kilt outfits.

As for Semi-Formal being more applicable to women, why then do we as kiltwwearers have semi formal sporrans, day jackets etc. BTW I was always taught that Black Tie was Formal not Semi Formal.

[fluter]

McMurdo, I hope that I did not give offense! If you don't know it by now, I am prone to indulge in pedantry for humorous effect. Where I said "traditionally" it has almost become "historically" --- and of interest only to a few old fogies & Miss Manners. However I believe Miss M. would back me on the categories.

Well sorry Fluter but we are talking Formal kilt/Formal kilt outfit,

I wasn't quite sure what Kent meant by formal: possibly a continuum of degrees of formality? I know what you meant by semi-formal, I was just (a) teasing you (b) pointing out that the terminology is not as simple as it may seem (c) in short, playing with words. If you were not amused, I apologize.

1.that a formal outfit should not include a Sportkilt.

No argument here! at least, not unless substantial wagers are involved. I had a feeling the original disputants may have been thinking "No Utilikilts in a dressy setting." Which would be fair enough, until you showed them the UK "tuxedo" kilt.

2. None of us were formally dressed in the photo Grant posted, we were in Semi-Formal kilt outfits.

...or allowing for pedantry, you were all in informal kilt outfits. Traditionally speaking.

why then do we as kiltwwearers have semi formal sporrans,

Search me! IMO they are somewhat useless, but I'd buy one if I liked it.

BTW I was always taught that Black Tie was Formal not Semi Formal.

I was pointing out that it was not "always" so. Formal (was) white tie or that stuff you wear for diplomatic receptions; semi-formal, black tie or a daytime formal (of the morning coat ilk); informal, business suit.

[Kent Frazier]

I had a feeling the original disputants may have been thinking "No Utilikilts in a dressy setting."

This has been a great discussion and I'm learning quite a lot from it. To the best of my knowledge, neither my wife for our friend had even heard of a Utilikilt. I know I hadn't until I joined these forums.

The discussion was about a character in the Outlander series of books by Diana Gabaldon wearing a "formal kilt". I said I didn't think there was a "formal" kilt, but that the accessories determined the formality. I'm not sure exactly the time period she was referring to, but the books are about a woman who travels back in time in Scotland. The "modern" time period in the books is just after World War II.

[ccga3359]

Guys, remember that it was a Yank who asked the question. To us, formal means "I wore both shoes and socks."

Do the socks have to match like they have to up here in Canada (matching hockey logos)?

[Kent Frazier]

Guys, remember that it was a Yank who asked the question.

So what, exactly, was it that indicated I was a "Yank"?

[ccga3359]

So what, exactly, was it that indicated I was a "Yank"?

That distinctive texas drawl where each word leans against the next.