Which look??

[tinksdad]

I admit I'm new to the kiltie thing and I may be over-loading from all the information here. I've read and re-read the "1 Kilt 10 Looks" sticky many times. I even bookmarked it so I can get to it easier. I have never been a fashion horse, so picking the right look to fit the occasion with a kilt has gotten me totally befuddled. Working around the house or running to the store... no problem. Put on the SportKilt with a matching polo shirt and I'm good to go. (I started an Xkilt; but had to throw it in the washer to get all the chalk marks out so I can start over. I really buggered them good.)

Any ways, to the crux of the matter. Which look do I strive for on a casual dinner date with a lady acquaintance? We were once lovers; but now are just good friends, so I am not trying to impress her. We go out to eat together once in a while, we visit, we chit chat. I just want it to look right and fit the occasion.

I bow to the experts here for advice.

[Tony Miles]

what kind of restaurant?

[tinksdad]

Nothing fancy. Usually one of the chain restaurants.... Chili's, TGIF, etc.

[Bugbear]

A polo shirt might work. What kind of hose do you have?

[Rex_Tremende]

Looks 2 or three (minus the hats and plus suitable comfortable shoes not boots) would work in the situation you describe, I think. I almost said #1, but I really do think that dinner with a lady requires the hose be pulled up (lunch, maybe not). I think the key to this sort of thing is to figure out how you would go if the kilt wasn't involved, and then try to find the equivalent level of dress with the kilt. Maybe at this point you're seeing the parallels.

Regards,
Rex.

[KFCarter]

I think Ted's right about a polo shirt. And you can dress up a polo nicely by pairing it traditional hose instead of short, or scrunched down socks. IMHO, a polo shirt, kilt with a nice belt, decent sporran (casual would be okay here), traditional hose and some comfortable shoes would be fine in the settings you mentioned.

[tinksdad]

Thanks for the answers. You confirmed what I was all ready thinking; but wanted affirmation. I will have to wait though until the hose I ordered arrive. I'm getting three pair to start with...... cream, green and red. Just have to pick a polo that matches one of those. I have a biker friend that does leatherwork who is going to make me a kilt belt and simple sporran.

Geez. If I can't dress myself for something this simple, you all are going to become very valuable to me before next summer. Upon learning that I now own my first kilt, my daughter informed me that she expects me to be kilted for the wedding they haven't quite set a date for. I don't know much about their plans yet; but it is supposed to be an informal outdoor afternoon ceremony. My future S-I-L will be kilted. They took his measurements and sent his order off to Scotweb for his. I don't know what tartan he's getting yet. For myself, I do know a Sportskilt or an XKilt won't be appropriate, so there's at least one more kilt going to be added to my wardrobe.

[Stratherrick]

Aye, anything on the casual front - no silver on your sporran, the plainer the better in fact. Go easy on the shoes/boots too.

As for your top, wear what you might have worn had you been wearing trousers which, for me, might even include a T-shirt. Your aim should be to feel comfortable with yourself and not, as you rightly point out, go for the big impression. This side of wearing your kilt in Scotland, you'll be making a statement by wearing ANY sort of kilt alone!

Best of luck!

Bruce

[KFCarter]

You're right about your daughter's wedding... you're going to want a traditional, tartan kilt and if you can afford it, and have enough lead time, it would be the perfect excuse... oops, I mean occasion... to have an 8-yd, hand-stitched, wool kilt made. There is no shortage of great kiltmakers in the US and the UK to choose from (including the source your mentioned, Scotweb), but many have a pretty long waiting list, so you'd need to pull the trigger on that soon.

If that isn't in your budget, a PV tartan kilt, traditionally made, would fit the bill and I'd suggest you take a look at the USA Kilt website and check out Rocky's "semi-traditional" kilt. I can also highly recommend a Tartan Freedom Kilt from Steve Ashton.

Now... "personal opinion" alert: You mention that it's going to be an outdoor, informal event, so I don't think you'd have to go the full "day wear" or "smart daywear" look as seen in photos #4 or #5 (in 1Kilt 10 Looks) but... I'd still recommend that a smart daywear jacket and waistcoat (as seen in 5) would be a really useful addition to your kit. For the wedding, if it's really casual, you could opt to just wear the waistcoat, a collared shirt (and tie if you felt like it). If the wedding became a little more formal (you never know with brides, she could change her mind) then you could add the jacket and a semi-formal sporran and still be good to go. I've found my charcoal gray braemar jacket and waistcoat to be one of the most useful and flexible items in my arsenal as it can dress up or down pretty well and cover a broad range of social and business events.

Here's a link to the jacket I have. It's called a "Crail" by the manufacturer although some say that it's more in the style of a "Braemar"

http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/craill_jackets.html