Dress code: Cocktail party attire; elegant but no black tie. Kilt equivalent?

[BruceBC]

Heading to an event with the following dress code: Cocktail party attire; elegant but no black tie. Will be interesting to see what folks think would be a kilt equivalent. It is a scotch based event.

[davidlpope]

Tweed Jacket? Black Argyll?

[Downunder Kilt]

I would think that a dark suit equivalent for night affairs to lighter coloured suit equivalent for day affairs. eg. a tweed jacket in dark grey, green for night and a lovat green/blue, brown for day events. Always well polished shoes, and leather accoutrements suitable for the time of day. Depending on weather, a matching or contrasting waistcoat. Hose that tone in with your kilt or jacket, probably a white shirt and suitable tie.

[EagleJCS]

'Cocktail party attire; elegant but no black tie.' Hmm... ... sounds like a suit to me.

Kilt equivalent: I would think a dark tweed jacket with a long tie would be about right. Waistcoat optional. Of course shoes well-polished. The type of sporran and other accoutrements depends on the time of day the event takes place.

[David Host]

I'm in agreement with everybody else. My first thought would be to go with a tweed jacket (or argyle) and a tie.

[MacLowlife]

So much depends on your friends. I have been to cocktail parties where nobody wore a jacket and I have been to cocktail parties where all of the men were wearing jackets and ties.

Indoors, a tweed jacket might be pretty warm. Oddly enough, the hotter it is outside, the more comfortable you are likely to be indoors in a tweed jacket, because there will be AC. If it is cold outside, the hosts will be inclined to crank up the heat. Having said all of that, here is another opportunity for a subtly patterned worsted jacket, in the mode of the Duke of Rothesay. I vote for a quietly checked shirt, a figured bow tie, and the most colorful jacket you are comfortable in. This is a party, not a funeral or a bank meeting. If, by some odd chance, you have a tartan Argyll or crail jacket, here is a good opportunity to show it off. AND, just to stir the pot, if you insist on wearing a solid black jacket, why not a tartan bow tie in some sett or color way (ancient, hunting, dress, etc) other than your kilt?

[cable scot]

So much depends on your friends. I have been to cocktail parties where nobody wore a jacket and I have been to cocktail parties where all of the men were wearing jackets and ties.

Indoors, a tweed jacket might be pretty warm. Oddly enough, the hotter it is outside, the more comfortable you are likely to be indoors in a tweed jacket, because there will be AC. If it is cold outside, the hosts will be inclined to crank up the heat. Having said all of that, here is another opportunity for a subtly patterned worsted jacket, in the mode of the Duke of Rothesay. I vote for a quietly checked shirt, a figured bow tie, and the most colorful jacket you are comfortable in. This is a party, not a funeral or a bank meeting. If, by some odd chance, you have a tartan Argyll or crail jacket, here is a good opportunity to show it off. AND, just to stir the pot, if you insist on wearing a solid black jacket, why not a tartan bow tie in some sett or color way (ancient, hunting, dress, etc) other than your kilt?

That's a great post. Do what he said!

[Peter Lowe]

I would think that a dark suit equivalent for night affairs to lighter coloured suit equivalent for day affairs. eg. a tweed jacket in dark grey, green for night and a lovat green/blue, brown for day events. Always well polished shoes, and leather accoutrements suitable for the time of day. Depending on weather, a matching or contrasting waistcoat. Hose that tone in with your kilt or jacket, probably a white shirt and suitable tie.

I agree with Downunder. However if "elegant" means a "high end" casual clothes I would slip off to the cloakroom hang up my tweed jacket and take off the tie leaving waistcoat and open neck shirt!

Just my 2p worth

[auld argonian]

This points to a gap in the current lines of kiltwear. Sometimes the Argyll jacket is a bit much and a tweed is too daywear...I suppose that the Wallace style jacket might be a good compromise but they seem not be a standard item in a lot of Highland Wear suppliers' inventories. I'd also suggest that some of the manufacturers get hip and start making things in lighter wool blends....not just for the North American market where many kilties seem to live Down South but also for their home market where, I hear, they've had some warm weather lately and where that seems to be becoming more the norm than the exception.

Bottom line: need the equivalent of a nice Navy Blue Blazer but cut in a kilt style. One of our local (Chicago) mens clothiers has been having what seems to be a never ending close out sale on seersucker suits for summer wear...anybody out there brave enough to kick out the first seersucker kilt jacket?

Best

AA

[OC Richard]

It is a scotch based event.

After enough scotch nobody will care how you're dressed