Help CMcG With Formality?

[CMcG]

Here are 3 outfits; any advice, comments, and/or criticism is sincerely invited! Just keep in mind that your tank costs more than everything you'll see below put together

Any time I've gone formal before, the kit has been mostly borrowed or rented. Over the last couple years I've slowly been putting together my own gear through eBay, vintage shops, and gifts... with the occasional dip into my little wee student piggy bank, of course.

Now I've got a couple Burns Nights coming up and a formal wedding in the summer. Help me get my rig(s) sorted?

1) formal aka "less is more"

Douglas modern tartan kilt, black Spencer jacket, 3 button black waistcoat, lay down collar pleated front white shirt, black self-tie diamond tip bow tie, black shirt studs, cap-toe black oxfords, bovine evening sporran, black horn with silver celtic knots sgian, navy hose, red flashes, purple stone topped kilt pin, gun metal monogramed cufflinks


2) alternative formal aka "Irish twist"

SWK green shadow tartan, black Braemar jacket, white flat front wing collar shirt, white stock tie w/ silver harp pin, MacQuarrie modern tartan waistcoat, cap-toe black oxfords, bovine evening sporran, black horn with silver celtic knots sgian, dark green hose, bright green flashes, shamrock sword kilt pin, gun metal monogramed cufflinks


3) fullest formal aka "more is more"

Douglas modern tartan kilt, black Spencer jacket, white wing collar plain front shirt, white silk 3 button waistcoat, white self-tie bow tie, cap-toe black oxfords, silver cantle horsehair sporran, purple jewel top sgian, shamrock buckled dirk belt, bonnie dirk, argyle hose, red flashes, purple stone topped kilt pin, gun metal monogramed cufflinks

[artificer]

#1 has my vote... less is nearly ALWAYS more.

[azwildcat96]

I too like the clean simple look of option 1. If you want to dress it up a bit, how about switching the hose to the dark argyle ones in option 3? Otherwise I think it looks great.

[Downunder Kilt]

I like Option 1 jacket, waistcoat, shirt, tie, kilt, but add the hose and sporran from Option 3 and let us know how it all goes.

[Hocfutue]

Agree--I prefer #1. Simple elegance.

Regarding #2: Not a big fan of clashing tartans.

Regarding #3: Putting a belt over a waistcoat ruins the visual line of the waistcoat.

Just my opinions--wear what you like, or more importantly, what your lady likes!

[tripleblessed]

I'd prefer number one, but wouldn't argue about the others.

[MacBean]

I prefr the kilt pin in #2 (and its verticality). That's a lovely horsehair sporran and I might consider mating it with #1. Personally, I like the red vest too, so might give that a try. Dirks seem over the top to me (I don't even wear a sgian dubh).

[ForresterModern]

I like Option 1 jacket, waistcoat, shirt, tie, kilt, but add the hose and sporran from Option 3 and let us know how it all goes.

+1 with one suggestion that might be disagreed with----straighten up the kilt pin.

[KiltedDixon]

To my untrained eye...#1 gets my vote.

[Mael Coluim]

+1 with one suggestion that might be disagreed with----straighten up the kilt pin.

and with the Argyll hose in #3. Simple elegance with a dash of understated splash.