just another n00b...

[AKScott]

When I proposed three weeks ago, the first words out of my brides mouth were, "You are going to wear a kilt to the wedding, right?"

We have looked at several pictures online, she wants me in black tie with a fly plaid.

I own a tuxedo already, and two different black silk ties I tie myself. Good there, but I own nothing else that I think can work.

Background, I live in Fairbanks, Alaska. At opening night of the symphony this season I was one of five men in any kind of neckwear at all, out of about 150. It would be perfectly ordinary for a resident to wear the same work clothes he wore to work as a welder this morning to the opera this evening. While the casualness is arguably lamentable, I am glad I live in a town where people do go to these events and don't feel somehow "less than" for showing up in work clothes.

So, in the "ten ways to wear" thread, green kilt, #4 and #5, day wear and smart day wear are going to be very dressed up for Fairbanks. In the red kilt series, #5-6-7-8 are about as far as I can dress up without alienating people. I can envision owning an argyll jacket, but it would be quite dressed up for weddings, funerals and New Year's Eve parties.

Putting on any kind of jacket is unusual here, unless it is cold weather gear.

Question one: It seems like wearing a fly plaid with an argyll is hardly ever done, or just not done. True? I am perfectly comfortable renting a PC jacket for my wedding and then purchasing an argyll in the future. I am planning to rent a formal sporran anyway, and go with plain leather after my own wedding.

Question two: Is the Scott modern green ever pleated to the stripe? I am just curious how it would look. All the pictures I can find show it pleated to the sett, which is fine, I am just curious. The harder I look the more cuious I am.

Qustion three: shoes. No ghille brogues for me. Likewise, black wingtips are going to be virtually useless for me here. Can I wear the black slip on loafers that go with my tuxedo to my own wedding, and then find some appropriate brown lace up shoes to go with the kilt dressed down? I am old enough the question is not whether I can afford them but rather do I want to make room to store them until they wear out?

Item four is the fly plaid. It is my own wedding, and my bride wants me in it, so I have to figure something out.

First, I have no use for a "miserable scrap of tartan." I want to use a piece of cloth big enough to use as a motoring wrap in the good car (at least until we have children to christen), my fiance frequently feels cold on the leather seats.

I have paraded about the house some with a folded blanket on my shoulder. It is a viable option, but I am not confident on wearing a Laird's day plaid with black tie.

This brings me to Matt Newsome's belted fly plaid, the starting piece double wide by two yards is a fine size for a motoring wrap.

Link thingy: http://kiltmaker.blogspot.com/2008/04/now-thats-plaid.html

My best current plan is to make one of those. I can take whatever stitching out after the wedding to make it into a wrap. I am thinking I will sew some small pockets behind the pleated corners resting over the left breast pocket of the jacket and put counterweights in the pockets to keep it from pulling the jacket open. I reload all my own hunting ammunition and have a vast array of small bits of heavy metal to choose from. I estimate that fully counterweighted it will weigh less than a large caliber pistol.

Oh yeah, no white hose, got it.

Am I going far wrong or making reasonable choices here?

Thanks.

[EagleJCS]

I'm definitely not an expert, but I'll give this a go...

Question one: It seems like wearing a fly plaid with an argyll is hardly ever done, or just not done. True? I am perfectly comfortable renting a PC jacket for my wedding and then purchasing an argyll in the future. I am planning to rent a formal sporran anyway, and go with plain leather after my own wedding.

Haven't worn a plaid of any sort myself, but, from what I've seen and read here, a fly plaid is hardly ever worn anymore, period. EXCEPT for grooms at their own wedding. (One way of distinguishing the groom from the rest of the male half of the bridal party.) Usually, though, it's worn with the Prince Charlie. If you're renting a sporran, then I'd go that route and get the jacket and waistcoat as well. Since you say the more formal styles of dressing are rarely seen up your way, I'd say go with the tweed argyle and waiscoat at a later date.

Question two: Is the Scott modern green ever pleated to the stripe? I am just curious how it would look. All the pictures I can find show it pleated to the sett, which is fine, I am just curious. The harder I look the more cuious I am.

Yes, the Scott Green tartan can be pleated to the stripe, just pick which stripe you want. I have seen it pleated to the yellow, to the white and to the red. (You'd have to go to a large gathering of the Clan Scott Society, like the AGM, to see that. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of them. You could contact the Society to see if anyone else may have pics available.) You'd also have to choose WHICH stripe of each of those colors - the left-most or the right-most.* I have also seen the Scott Red - which I've been told is considered the more formal Scott tartan - pleated to the white stripe. The Scott Green is a fine choice though. Just don't wear the "Ancient" or "Weathered" variants, and definitely not the Scott 'Hunting' (Brown)version.

Qustion three: shoes. No ghille brogues for me. Likewise, black wingtips are going to be virtually useless for me here. Can I wear the black slip on loafers that go with my tuxedo to my own wedding, and then find some appropriate brown lace up shoes to go with the kilt dressed down? I am old enough the question is not whether I can afford them but rather do I want to make room to store them until they wear out?

I would say the tux shoes would be just fine. Maybe find some removable buckles to dress them up a bit more?? What say the more experienced amang the Rabble?

Item four is the fly plaid. It is my own wedding, and my bride wants me in it, so I have to figure something out.

Again, haven't worn a plaid, so no help there.

Oh yeah, no white hose, got it. Yup.

Am I going far wrong or making reasonable choices here? Sounds OK to me.

* For those in the know, here's the thread count:
G16, K6, W6, K12, Y8, B24, G12, K16, G24, R6, G6, W6, G6, K16