Need help deciding on my outfit

[Rory]

Hi everyone,

I have just commissioned my first kilt in my family tartan that i will be wearing to my sisters wedding in a couple of weeks!
I have just moved from Scotland to the East Coast of America so wearing a kilt amongst all these americans will turn a few heads...Hopefully!

Now i am looking to try and keep my outfit light and breathable because where i will be for the wedding the temperature is usually around 30c. Toasty!
Because of this i really don't want to be wearing a jacket or a waist coat so my question is, is it ok for me to wear a white shirt with my tartan tie? I have read that a lot of people don't like to see people wearing a tie that is the same tartan as the kilt.
I dont have a lot of money either which brings me to my next question, are sporrans necessary?
If no sporran a Belt is probably required?

I have nothing in my hands yet, the kilt, flashes & tie will be delivered to me a few days before the wedding (bad at planning!) so i still need to get shoes, shirt and belt (if required). A wee dagger might have to be bought too.

If you have any suggestions of my predicaments that would be awesome!

Please see the link below for the ties, flashes and pocket thing-a-ma-bob.

Thanks!!

Rory

http://i.imgur.com/QOPQmI4.jpg

[Liam]

Rory... I'd suggest that a sporran is a fairly essential item, as is a kilt belt. As you have already acquired the matching tie, garter flashes, etc. I'd go ahead and wear them with a white shirt, black shoes, perhaps light weight navy kilt hose, and perhaps a sleeveless v-neck sweater, or sweater vest.(With the sweater or sweater vest, you could get away without the kilt belt). If it gets too warm, simply pull off the sweater. As you will likely be the only one there kilted, you'll look fine. Oh, and you can skip the sgian dubh as well.

[Mikilt]

Rory,
First of all,

Second, read this thread. It's a great guide to dressing you kilt up or down. http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...-attire-46888/

As far as keeping your outfit light and breathable, wear the kilt-equivalent of whatever you would wear with trousers. If you would be going jacketless but with a tie, it's fine to wear just that with a kilt. Also, as long as your tie tartan matches your kilt tartan, you'll be fine. (mixing tartans is a no-no!) Maybe get yourself a kilt jacket for more formal occasions. You can always take it off if you get too warm.

A sporran is a matter of practicality. Most kilts don't have pockets to put keys, money, phone, etc. Wear the sporran. You only need a belt if it's necessary to keep your kilt up. If your kilt fits well, no belt required. Black dress shoes will suffice.

The "wee dagger" is known as Sgian Dubh and while it's part of Highland Dress, you can choose to wear or not wear one. Just ask yourself if it's appropriate to the event.

Do you have kilt hose? You didn't mention them. When it comes to dressing for nice occasions, these are not negotiable. You can choose any color. You can match, complement or contrast with your kilt/tie. For what it's worth, white hose are usually frowned upon around here. Do what you will.

You said that you have commissioned your kilt. Are you buying an off-the-rack kilt or is it being made for you? If it's being made, the kiltmaker surely needs to know the time constraint. Making a kilt can easily take weeks. It also depends on the kiltmaker's queue.

Some food for thought. All of the above are just my point of view. YMMV.

Congratulations on your first kilt and again, welcome.

[MacLowlife]

There are many ways to economise on hose, but several of them may not be appropriate for a wedding. Hiking socks, boot socks, almost any kind of knee socks can be made to do. For most men, the thicker they are, the better they will look. If it were me, I would patch something together on the sock front and spend my budget on a sporran. Ironically, many cheap ones have a dressy look to them. Perhaps not a high quality, long lasting dressy look, but a perfectly OK for the first few wearings dressy look.

If you have a few weeks and a little money, try finding a lightweight sportcoat or solid colored suit coat that you can cut down or have converted. It may not be perfect, but you can probably manage it for under $75 -$100, if you haunt the thrift shops and find a low-cost seamstress with a sense of compassion and a taste for adventure. Other threads will help- search for "jacket conversion". If, as someone else has observed, you would not be wearing a jacket to this wedding, even if you were wearing trousers, then don't bother with one for your kilt. If you want to look just a little dressed up, consider a waistcoat. Again, you said you did not want to wear one, but it really does dress up the otherwise bare shirt. Again, you may be able to find one on the cheap. Try for something solid and high-cut ( what is often called a 5 button waistcoat around these parts.)

Lastly, you are in the position I recently heard somebody compare to Superman. On his home planet, Superman was just another guy, but here, he is special. In Scotland, you would be one more Scot, but in the US, you are transformed into That Scots Guy. Well over half of the people you meet will assume that you know everything about kilts and that your outfit is absolutely correct and completely typical. Unless you do something really stupid or really outrageous. So don't try to get away with an Aloha shirt or high topped sneakers. But whatever else you do will automatically be considered fine, because of that cute way you talk. Just go ahead and develop a strategy for "the question" especially if you wil be drinking. Or if others will.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoUV5d09JZw

[Richrail]

from Reno, NV.

[TheOfficialBren]

from Southern California!

I will second the above advice. A simple sporran can be had quite inexpensively (try here: www.whatpriceglory.com). You may also try tartanista on Ebay (reasonable prices and okay quality. Also, usakilts.com have some decent sporrans for reasonable prices.

None of the above are top-notch quality sporrans but they will suffice reapectably until you can afford a nicer one.

Hose is certainly a must (although white is currently unfashionable in the kilt-owners-world-at-large). You can find some for around $16-$30 on Ebay, USAKilts.com, and Scotweb.co.uk. I would go with Lovat blue, Lovat green, claret, or charcoal (not black). Those colours will match any kilt for any occasion.

A white dress shirt is perfectly acceptable for pretty much any occasion (including a wedding). A tartan tie is perfectly fine (so-long as it matches your kilt). Other options are striped, solid, and patterned ties. Black (day or evening) or brown (day) shoes will suit you very well; I never wear ghillie brogues and don't own any.

A waistcoat (vest) would dress it up a bit more but is not required by any means.

I would, in all honesty, skip the belt. Unless you are attending a black tie event where 'bling' is 'king' it will be one more expense and headache to worry about.

Have a good time and best wishes!

[Rory]

Mikilt- Thank you for your reply. I realise that i was pretty vague in my initial post regarding some points. First, i got the kilt commissioned maybe 2 months ago and i have been in contact with the chap who will be finishing it this weekend! My kilt is the same tartan as in the linked image i posted so all items will be the same tartan

Hose i have not got. I will be looking for some unless my father has some kicking about that i can have.

All your points are excellent, i really appreciate the effort you put into helping me!

[Rory]

MacLowlife - I will look into trying to find a sporran that would break the bank. I think i can probably find some socks/hose easily enough!

I'll have a search for a waistcoat, i know it will look so much better if i do, however limited fund may not allow it to happen, but i will definitely have a search. Would i just be looking for a black 5 buttoned waistcoat?

I have to admit i did have a good laugh at that youtube video! Im still undecided if i should go commando or not!

Thanks so much!

[Rory]

Bren - Thanks for the links and shop suggestions, i will check them out!

Hose, cheapish sporran and a waistcoat are on my list of thing to buy now! Hopefully i can find them cheap!

Thanks very much!

[Downunder Kilt]

Rory, in relation to a waistcoat don't limit yourself to a black one. If you have some thrift shops around, pop into those and have a look for waistcoats. Probably pick one up for 5 bucks or so.