ties and kilt nights

[lukeyrobertson]

Hey everybody,

I have two questions for you. When I wear my kilt jacket and long tie, where should the bottom of the tie be? Tip about the middle of the belt buckle? Higher, Lower or tucked between the shirt and the kilt (I generally tuck the tie in when I'm wearing a waistcoat)?

And, this I think is more fun. I'd like to hear from the kilted ones that have attended a "kilt night". Besides coming kilted, what has the host of the evening planned for the night? What was your best kilt night? And where was it? Someone's home, a restaurant/lounge? Topics discussed? Stories told? A wee dram to be sure, but what else?

I hope everyone had a fine Christmas and New Year's celebration. My resolution? To wear my kilt as often as I can. Got to get my money's worth you know!

Best! lr

[Zardoz]

I was taught that a necktie should just touch the top of a man’s trousers, covering the top of the buckle or button at the longest. I carry this etiquette over to kilt wearing as well, with the tie just grazing the top of the kilt or buckle. Because on average kilts are worn higher than pants, this scheme can be a little hard sometimes with standard neckties, they can be way too long sometimes and I'll end up tucking a bit of the narrow end into my shirt. I've acquired a few of the shorter wool ties sold through various kilt vendors, and these are better for me.

This having been said, I find I rarely wear a tie without a waistcoat, so that covers any miscalculations in length I may commit.

Edit;

I forgot to cover the kilt night question.... I think that "coming kilted" was about the only "planning" that went into most of the kilt nights I've been around! I'd say the best kilt nights I've attended were at restaurants or pubs, part of the fun is messing with the other patrons!

[ForresterModern]

First question, I usually wear a tie with a jacket and waistcoat, and being tall I don't have any problem with my tie being too long, so I just keep it tucked up under the waistcoat out of sight at the bottom.

Second, only been to a few kilt nights, but the best has to be the one thrown for myself, my son and my wife in Toronto in Sept 2009 by the SOKS group, a great bunch of folks. Out for drinks and dinner at a nice pub around the corner from our hotel, followed by some carousing and photos for posterity sake, posted on here somewhere. A grand turn out, great hosts and hostesses for our trip, and some excellent scotch imbibed, among other things. Thanks for the memories.

jeff

[Jordan]

When I wear i tie i try to make sure the point is just above the top of my kilt/ belt buckle. Again if you have a waistcoat on it doesn't really matter because no one will see.

My favourite kilt night would have to be down in Dumfries last January. Topics discussed everything from how to behave appropriately in a military mess emviroment to dirty jokes

[thescot]

I agreee that the tip should be at the top of the kilt/belt to the middle of the buckle. There shouldn't be any shirt showiing beneath the tie tip.

If you're in a waistcoat, it really doesn't matter as long as the tip doesn't hang out. Nothing shouts "goober" like having your tie hang out below your vest.

[EagleJCS]

Nothing shouts "goober" like having your tie hang out below your vest.

But, but, I thought the tip of the tie was supposed to show in that little notch at the bottom!


Seriously, the tie/kilt thing follows the tie/trousers thing. The end of the tie just meets at the waistline/belt. It will be hidden by the waistcoat.

The only kilt night I've been to was our local meet-up a year or so back (has it been that long?) to meet our out-of-town X-marker lethearen. It was a decent night. Very casual, at one of our local Irish watering holes. (The closest we used to get to Scottish ones. There's now a Tilted Kilt here, but that's not really Scottish either.)

[piperdbh]

Nothing shouts "goober" like having your tie hang out below your vest.

Tell Andy and them Goober says, "Hey!"

[Tobus]

On the subject of ties, I find that most ties are already too long for me, even when worn with trousers. If I tie it so that the small end is even with the big end, it already hangs to the bottom of my belt buckle or lower. And of course it's even worse when wearing with a kilt.

So what's the best thing to do for those of us who have this problem? If you tie it where the big end is the right length and the small end hangs way down, what should you do with it? Tuck it into your trousers/kilt, or twist it into your shirt between button holes? Also, does anyone have tips on how to shorten a tie to a custom length?

[Jordan]

On the subject of ties, I find that most ties are already too long for me, even when worn with trousers. If I tie it so that the small end is even with the big end, it already hangs to the bottom of my belt buckle or lower. And of course it's even worse when wearing with a kilt.

So what's the best thing to do for those of us who have this problem? If you tie it where the big end is the right length and the small end hangs way down, what should you do with it? Tuck it into your trousers/kilt, or twist it into your shirt between button holes? Also, does anyone have tips on how to shorten a tie to a custom length?

Personally I tuck the thin end into my shirt if it's too long. To customise it you might be able to cut a bit out of the middle but I'm not an expert

[Zardoz]

On the subject of ties, I find that most ties are already too long for me, even when worn with trousers. If I tie it so that the small end is even with the big end, it already hangs to the bottom of my belt buckle or lower. And of course it's even worse when wearing with a kilt.

So what's the best thing to do for those of us who have this problem? If you tie it where the big end is the right length and the small end hangs way down, what should you do with it? Tuck it into your trousers/kilt, or twist it into your shirt between button holes? Also, does anyone have tips on how to shorten a tie to a custom length?

If not wearing a waistcoat, I just tie it so the big end is the right length and tuck the small end into the shirt. A tie bar keeps everything in place and the gig line straight. With a waistcoat, I just tuck the ends in the kilt!

Most tailor/alteration shops offer services for ties, generally to narrow your wide 70's ties, but I'd guess they could shorten them up as well.