casual ceilidh... What to wear?!

[Paul]

Hi guys. I've been invited to a ceilidh tonight... at first I thought "great - an opportunity to wear my PC" but when discussing it with a friend involved with the organising he said it was "more of a casual ceilidh".
So I'm a little confused... how casual is casual?

So I'm thinking between a few different outfits:
quite formal - shirt with tie, Argyll no waiscoat, belt and seal skin sporran
cross between the 2 - shirt no tie, charcoal tweed no waiscoat, belt and bovine sporran
pretty casual - black ghillie shirt, belt, bovine sporran with cantle (or leather day sporran - no cantle)

any input would be appreciated as I need to leave for it in 3 hours!

[Zardoz]

I'd go the shirt no tie, jacket no waiscoat route. Have fun!

[HeathBar]

The last option would likely be what everyone else is wearing. But if you wanted to play it safe, you could go with the shirt jacket combo, no tie.

[Kilt_Em_All]

If I remember correctly from some of Jock's posts, the Scottish definition of "casual" is a bit different from what we here in the States consider casual. Having said that, I'd go with the argyll w/o the waistcoat and bovine sporran.

-Elliott

[Chas]

All the ceilidhs I've been to are closer to visiting a Folk Club than going out clubbing. More Tartan Army than Military Ball.

Regards

Chas

[Jock Scot]

I suspect most people going will be wearing jeans,shirt,pullover and some sort of trainers. As you are wanting to go kilted I would suggest kilt, shirt, pullover, day sporran, hose pulled up, black shoes and forget the tie.

[thescot]

If it's too late to ask your friend about the level of "casualness," I'd opt for the jacket, belt, and tie. You can always remove the tie and "loosen up" a bit, but if everyone else has a tie and you don't, you'll look a like a real bumpkin.

My policy is to be at least as well dressed as the best dressed fellow there. You can always dress down once you show up, but it's impossible to dress up.

[caig]

Paul, a casual ceilidh is just that - casual. So I would say no jacket as you will not be wearing this whist dancing. Ghillie shirt is loose enough to aid ventilation. Plain sporran would be fine - no need to wear evening fur for a casual event. Casual events are good for dressing in your own style - be adventurous !

Enjoy the evening whatever you wear.

[Paul]

He said he doesnt have a clue what others are wearing - but is a little older than me and wears suits a lot for his job. Therefore he'll be wearing a suit with shirt and tie.
I'd say formality seems to be different for those of a younger generation. Seeing someone young in any sort of shirt or suit is often seen as "very formal"... and that's my main issue! generally - people (other than regular kilt-wearers) tend not to look at one's sporran to identify a level of formality.

As I am waiting on regular tie brogues being delivered I'll have to go with my ghillie brogues tied up the leg. I'd feel quite comfortable wearing a shirt with no tie - especially since it's black and I could make my outfit black-based pretty easily which would mean even if I do look slightly too formal - I wont stand out too much!

[Paul]

Paul, a casual ceilidh is just that - casual. So I would say no jacket as you will not be wearing this whist dancing. Ghillie shirt is loose enough to aid ventilation. Plain sporran would be fine - no need to wear evening fur for a casual event. Casual events are good for dressing in your own style - be adventurous !

Enjoy the evening whatever you wear.

Thanks for the advice!
By the way - you're in one of the first official gathering pictures! I havent spotted anyone else from Xmarkers yet on the entire 1000 of them!