A Kilt Style Guide: From Black Tie to Streetwear in Photographic Examples

[CMcG]

DRESSY

This is the realm of the tweed jacket, solid colour hose with flashes, patterned shirt or solid colour shirt (though in these photos the distance makes my tattersal invisible), simple or hunting sporran, brogues (or maybe polished boots if it were a wedding in a field), and more rustic sgian dubh. I wish I had a waistcoat that matched my jacket, but I do like the relaxed look of them being different colours. Again for warm weather, I would skip the waistcoat and go with belt but this time it would be a simpler buckle. This level of dress is sometimes called ‘daywear’ but I think it is also appropriate for less formal – but still dressy – evening events too. At a less Scottish and more contemporary affair, I might go with just a crisp white Mandarin collar shirt and waistcoat instead.






SMART CASUAL

For times when I’m kilting up but dressing down in formality, or when the weather gets warm, I go for smart casual style. Simple or hunting sporran, rustic sgian, brogues or casual oxfords, and I still like to wear hose with flashes. No jacket required, though I could see myself wearing a tweed Crail with no tie. Various types of button down casual shirts paired with either a plain leather belt or a waistcoat/sweater. Another variation would be a polo/golf shirt.

[CMcG]

STREETWEAR

This is sort of informal “anything goes” and, though I usually lean towards a more traditional kilt look, horses for courses right? A bright green Celtics jacket and wool flatcap for the Saint Pat’s parade; solid green kilt with scrunched down hose, parade boots, and cotton flatcap for an Irish punk band concert; tee shirt and no sporran for studying at home; and a Utilikilt with boots, scrunched hose, Ronin E-Ville tee shirt, and camouflage cadet hat for my next DJ gig. No sgian dubh for any of these… and no kilt pin or sporran for the Utilikilt.

[Downunder Kilt]

Great set of examples CMcG. I must of missed the doeskin mess jacket on previous threads. I think it looks great. The only thing I am not too keen on is the tartan waistcoat in the dressy section, just not my cup of tea that's all.

I think pairing the darker green waistcoat with the lovat green jacket works a treat and I reguarly do the same, though my waistcoat is doeskin.

Thanks for the trouble you've gone to, setting this up for us

[xman]

I don't know about those other fellows but this guy is cool.

Nice display, Colin. Thanks.