How to Complete this Outfit?

[CMcG]

Now that I've had a chance to reflect on these a bit, I think the tartan vest/kilt and diced hose combo is really better suited to formal evening wear. I'm having a hard time imagining a daytime event that would call for being as dressed up as the #2! Unless I, like Alan Cumming, somehow also get an OBE



I'm also thinking that, given the high cut of the vest, pearl button studs would look better than black on the formal shirt. You can really only see 2 of them and they seem to break up the flow of the tie/shirt/tartan area.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Alright, I've taken everyone's generous suggestions and put it all together. Let me know what you think? Can I pull any of these off?

#1 formal evening attire


This is 100% spot on. I know you're having second thoughts about the black shirt studs, but in my book they work just tad better with black tie than either pearl or gold studs which really are a white tie accessory. The sporran is "ab fab" and in my opinion make the outfit because it mutes the tartan to a degree.

The sporran in #3 would also work well with this outfit, but would really lessen the impact.

#2 formal day wear
(hunting sporran, solid blue tie)


Another winner!

#2.1 dressy evening attire
(formal sporran, ABF tie)

With a black tie (see #1, above) this would work; as it is, I think the sporran is wrong as it is just a tad dressier than the ensemble. For my money you look the best in outfits 1 & 2. (I like the ABF tie, btw.)

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

#1 formal evening attire


This is pretty much "poster boy" perfect for how traditional Highland attire should fit. The sleeves are at the near-perfect length, and show just enough cuff. The diced hose come up to exactly the right spot; any higher and they'd start to look like a girl's knee-hi socks. The kilt cuts to the top of the knee, which balances the entire look; longer and the whole outfit would look bottom heavy. As has been said before, ghilie brogues are an outdoor shoe, and these well polished oxfords exude confidence as opposed to trying to look "Scottish". Finally we come to the horsehair sporran, which is (again) worn at the correct height and, as it should, hangs nicely below the hem of the kilt. I am a major devotee of the horsehair sporran, but if it is too short it tends to look like a whisk broom, rather than a sporran. This one is spot on!

#2 formal day wear
(hunting sporran, solid blue tie)

Again everything fits as it should, and this outfit would be as appropriate at an afternoon wedding as it would be when enjoying chateaubriand and a '66 Lafite Rothschild in a fine restaurant with an elegant companion.

I know it helps being tall and young and good looking, but frankly, even Quasimodo would get lucky if he were this well tuned out.

[Lyle1]

Alright, I've taken everyone's generous suggestions and put it all together. Let me know what you think? Can I pull any of these off?

You pull them all off. Ditto what MOR said about the young and tall! Version #3 is my least favorite. The broad red strip in the tie, pulls the red in the tartan vest up to your chin. I think there should be a break in color from the vest to your face. I can't explain it better than that except to say that while it is a nice tie, it does the same thing to that outfit that a tartan tie would do.

I never understood why people objected to a tartan tie with a tartan kilt until I saw a picture in another post of a member wearing a tartan tie and then a picture of the same outfit with a different tie. The outfit with the tartan tie looked nice, but seeing the second picture made me realize that the outfit with the matching tartan tie lacked color contrast. Everything was the same, and it became boring. That is what I think the tie with the red stripe does when worn with the red tartan kilt and vest, except in this case, so much bright red is overpowering, even though you are tall.

[CMcG]

I know it helps being tall and young and good looking, but frankly, even Quasimodo would get lucky if he were this well tuned out.

Aw shucks, thanks MoR

Nothing like a lot of tartan to hide one's hunchback

[AKScott]

I don't know if it is from reading MoR's posts or just looking at so many pictures lately.

I was trying to decide between red or blue garter ties for this since one or the other should work 99.44% of the time. I scrolled back to find MoR's originial comment about the flashes.

He nailed it again of course, yellow or green garter ties would probably work great with that. I was wondering about a really really light blue, like Saint Andrews or Ancient as pictured in the STM Lewis line.

I can see the red flashes aren't working for you, they are just along for the ride. Thanks for sharing.

[davidlpope]

#1 formal evening attire

Very nice! I think this outfit looks great. You've really pulled things together nicely. Now you can start saving your pennies for a pair of bar buckle brogues!

If the waistcoat is a bit long you can always "square" the bottom of it off at the correct height, but the whole ensemble looks good to me. You'll be one of the best-dressed fellows at your next formal highland gathering!

Cordially,
David

[NewGuise]

Nothing like a lot of tartan to hide one's hunchback

Nope, doesn't work that way. Sorry. You'll just have to admit to high levels of studliness and deal with it.

Personally, my favorites are 1 and 3.

[piperdbh]

You know you've arrived when Mac of Rath calls you the "Poster Boy".

[CMcG]

Very nice! I think this outfit looks great. You've really pulled things together nicely. Now you can start saving your pennies for a pair of bar buckle brogues!

<snip>

*sigh* I'll add that to my seemingly never-ending list. It is fun though, trying to put together that perfect and really unique look.

You know you've arrived when Mac of Rath calls you the "Poster Boy".