Outfit help please

**Caradoc** · 21st November 06, 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by flairball

My question is; because I'll only be a guest, and not part of the ceremony, is wearing a tux shirt and a bow tie too formal?

Is this a daylight wedding, afternoon, evening? My personal take is that a tuxedo is too much for anything during daylight, especially outdoors.

That said, the bride's wishes should be weighed.

For my own wedding (2PM, Edinburgh) I wore a charcoal tweed Argyll, a good dress shirt (spread collar, French cuffs), et cetera. She wore a one-piece long-sleeved dress in ivory lace, and looked amazing - the more so after she decided it was too chilly to go without her red shawl, which matched my tie and the piper's red tartan.

So, yes - the tux shirt and bow tie seems too formal to me. But you might ask the bride and groom how they feel about it.

**Panache** · 21st November 06, 09:34 AM

Originally Posted by Caradoc

... a good dress shirt (spread collar, French cuffs...

Caradoc has a great suggestion here. If you want something a little nicer than a regular dress shirt go with one with French Cuffs, the cufflinks really add a touch of class. Oddly enough Target carries them for under $30 (and sells pretty inexpensive cufflinks too.) I happened on some really nice white dress shirts there this year with the French Cuffs on the clearance rack for $6. I bought one. Took it it home. Thought about it and went back and bought 3 more. Just remember to take out the little plastic collar things before washing.

Cheers

**Caradoc** · 21st November 06, 09:40 AM

Originally Posted by Panache

Thought about it and went back and bought 3 more. Just remember to take out the little plastic collar things before washing.

Three of my French-cuffed shirts have come from Target.

I take the plastic collar stays out and use my own set of stainless steel stays. They won't warp if you forget them, won't melt into the fabric, and won't rust.

The cuffs are definitely a step over the regular Arrow pinpoint dress shirts - even cheap French cuffs (as long as they're not coming apart!) add that extra touch of class.

And cufflinks open a whole new world of accessorization.

**arrogcow** · 21st November 06, 09:47 AM

While this is a pic from last Easter, I wore this same outfit to a wedding just a few weeks ago (only kilted guy there)

I probably could have not worn the jacket, but it was cold.

Adam:biggrin:

**motorman4life** · 21st November 06, 11:15 AM

moved post to new thread.

**HeathBar** · 21st November 06, 12:11 PM

Originally Posted by motorman4life

So, the questions are; What color hose should I use? Should I get traditional brogues or a fancy/formal sporran with a silver cantle? Or both? What else am I missing?

Is this the kind of jacket that needs a vest? If so, I would get that first. If you get a sporran with a silver/chrome cantle, your buckle should also match. But if you wear a vest, then you don't need a belt, so forget about the buckle. Off-white hose are fine, and wingtips are fine too.

Post a pic of what you have. Really if anyone wants someone from the forum to give their opinion on their outfit, you really ought to show us a picture of what it looks like. My mental picture of your outfit, might be different than someone elses. And you might end up with confusing opinions. Compare it to walking up to a blind person, describing your outfit and asking "how do I look?". I'm not trying to jump on anyone here, but help us to help you.

**flairball** · 21st November 06, 11:20 AM

Okay. Thanks for the help. The tux shirt is definately out. I haven't got a decent jacket which is cut for a kilt, so I was trying to avoid any outfit which requires a jacket. The jacket, however, is a good look, and appropriate for the situation, so I will look into either buying or renting one. I will pick up a shirt as recommended, and try to find a tie. I've been looking for black herringbone vest, so if I find one I may be able to wear it instead of a jacket.

I noticed that Stillwater has some tartan ties now. Though I doubt I'd wear a Black Watch tie, I may consider buying a Nightstalker tie, or even a Black Stewart kilt and tie.

**Panache** · 21st November 06, 01:12 PM

Originally Posted by flairball

... I haven't got a decent jacket which is cut for a kilt, so I was trying to avoid any outfit which requires a jacket. The jacket, however, is a good look, and appropriate for the situation, so I will look into either buying or renting one.

There are a number of threads on X marks about modifying a sportcoat (either DIY or having a tailor doing it). If you find the right deal on a coat (think Clearance racks or thrift shops) you can have one for under a $100.

Be careful about too many pieces of the same tartan (flashes, kilt, tie, and hat). You run the risk of "Brigadoonery". I think that a kilted outfit can get away with just two. So my rule is you can have a matching tartan cap, OR flashes, OR a tie to go with your kit. BUT JUST ONE! This is just my opinion. If you have or are going to get matching flashes, then I would pick out the least prominent stripe in the kilt and go with that color for the tie (to bring it out.)

Whatever you decide, make sure to post a picture!

Cheers

**motorman4life** · 21st November 06, 01:26 PM

I have heard here and elsewhere that it is a no-no to wear a matching tartan tie with a kilt. Maybe someone else can enlighten us, because I think it looks just fine. I agree with Panache, it can be taken too far pretty quickly. Hat, tie, kilt, flashes.. garish, at best.

**Colin** · 21st November 06, 02:09 PM

Depending on the formality, why not try the kilts, hose and flashes, a regular dress shirt and tie (plain colour), and maybe a waistcoat or even a sweater vest (plain colour). I wore somthing similar to a whisky tasting last Friday (no tie) and it was a good mix between casual and semi-formal.

This black one would work really well http://www.menswearhouse.com/menswea...=1164143347835 as would this charcoal one http://www.menswearhouse.com/menswea...=1164143347839