Utilikilts worn formally?

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Biblemonkey's thread here reminded me of a conversation I had with the leader of a Christian retreat I am going to be serving on. We were finishing up a team building session, and I was wearing a tan UK with a black What's under the kilt t-shirt from USAK. At this retreat, the people serving are some times giving talks to the other attendees, and are expected to dress formally. I am not giving a talk this time, but have in the past, and usually go with my
X-Marks box-pleat from Matt Newsome, black wool jacket, tie, hose, etc.. Anyway, I have not served on a team with this leader before, and he asks me if I have a "formal" kilt, assuming a tartan one I guess. Anyway, I said yes I did, but as I was driving home (its a 2 hour trip, so plenty of time to think), I wondered if anybody had worn their UK in a formal manner and if so, how about posting some pictures to this thread so we can see what works?

Here is a pic of me in my UK worn casually, but how formal can/has anybody gone with a UK?

[Riverkilt]

Utilikilt olive Mocker with necktie at work a few years ago.

[CMcG]

A friend bought me a Utilikilt last year but I have only worn it around my apartment, except for one trip over to my benefactor's place to show it off and thank her. If I wanted to dress up, a traditional kilt outfit would be my first choice. Come to think of it, while I sometimes play around with more modern looks (especially for Canadian-Irish events) most of my kilt wearing is traditional and Scottish...

The internet, however, has a few pictures of people wearing Utilikilts in a more dressy way. Personally, I think one without cargo pockets is more suitable for this (Mocker or Tuxedo models).

Here are a few pics for your consideration. Some outfits are more successful than others, but I'll let you be the judge:







This last one is actually from the Utilikilts site and features a matching Utilikilt, vest, and spats:

[Panache]

I wondered if anybody had worn their UK in a formal manner and if so, how about posting some pictures to this thread so we can see what works?

Some time ago I receieved a PM from another member asking me the same question and if I would respond to a thread. I can't find the thread but here was my best attempt to dress up a modern kilt.




I really think that trying to go much further in dressing up a UK is going to look odd.

Cheers

Jamie

[CMcG]

Some time ago I receieved a PM from another member asking me the same question and if I would respond to a thread. I can't find the thread but here was my best attempt to dress up a modern kilt.

That was me that PMed you, my good sir, and here is the thread (LINK). It is a pity that it is now locked and wasn't made into a sticky...

[Panache]

Now, what about a tan or other color UK?

I'd go with a nice sweater, kilt hose (no flashes, use the elastic garter if you need them to hold them up), and a nice dress shirt opened at the collar.

That was me that PMed you, my good sir, and here is the thread (LINK). It is a pity that it is now locked and wasn't made into a sticky...

Thanks! I tried the search function on the forum and Google but wasn't able to find it.

Cheers

Jamie

[masonpiper]

Could not find a pic, but I have one of the pebble gray mockers and do wear it dressed up. It is a more formal fabric that the originals, and lends its self well to being dressed up. I wear black gillies, black or burgundy hose, the kilt, usually a white shirt and tie, sometimes a sweater and I found a gray wool jacket that is waist length or I wear my black Argyll and vest.
Not a suit level of formal, but above the sports coat and slacks, what I call lodge uniform.
Peace all

[Alan H]

I think I'm pretty free-thinking when it comes to this stuff, but I kind of have to agree with the consensus..... what follows is my opinion, only.

A contemporary kilt is sort of like blue jeans or maybe "Dockers". I LOVE my carhart and Levis blue jeans. When I'm not in a kilt, I'm in blue jeans. My X-Kilt and revK digicamo kilt are analogous to this.

But I wouldn't wear a pair of blue jeans to a truly formal, as in black-tie, gig. There's "contemporary dressed-down formal" like kilt + turtleneck or maybe a cool embroidered third-world shirt, possibly even a modified sportcoat with a tie and button down shirt. I'm all for it. But that's about it.

It doesn't mean that you CAN'T wear a kilt like this to black-tie, it just means that I, personally, think it looks kind of funny.

If someone just hates, hates, hates tartan, can't spend multiple hundreds of dollars on a kilt, but want to wear a kilt uber-formal, then maybe they can try something like that Stillwater black shadow "heavyweight" kilt???

[artificer]

It doesn't mean that you CAN'T wear a kilt like this to black-tie, it just means that I, personally, think it looks kind of funny.

If someone just hates, hates, hates tartan, can't spend multiple hundreds of dollars on a kilt, but want to wear a kilt uber-formal, then maybe they can try something like that Stillwater black shadow "heavyweight" kilt???

I agree completely, Alan. If I recall correctly, I think we've seen pix in the past of someone in the shadow tartan dressed to the nines. It looked quite monochromatic, but very cool, in a modern sort of way.

Now I'll have to try to dig it up.

As a place-holder, here's one I just dug up online.

Although I do dislike the black wing collar and lighter "mobster" ruche tie.
ith:

[Zardoz]

I'll preface this by saying I do not own a UK, or any "UK type" contempo kilts,
but reading the first post I was thinking "sure, why not?"
But honestly, after looking at most of the photos that thought changed to "maybe not". As some have noted, I kind of see UKs as chinos/casual slacks equivalent, and while you can wear a nice shirt and tie with chinos, I don't think a tux jacket would work too well.