outfit advice

[TimC]

I think by now you've already got the message but I'll still put in my vote for the off-white hose.

-Tim

[starbkjrus]

In a couple weeks I'm going to an awards dinner for one of my wife's clubs. The dress is what passes for "formal" these days, dark suit and tie for men, evening wear for the ladies. Of course I'm not gonna wear a suit again! I think I have what I need to put together a 'semi-formal'.
Here's what I'm figuring on wearing;

Black argyll jacket
White wing collar shirt
black bow tie
Ireland's National kilt
Black Kilt belt & big silver buckle
Black leather dress sporran
Black dress shoes

My question is about hose, the tartan is primarily black and dark green with gold and white stripes... My impulse is to wear either Black hose w/ green flashes, Or Dark Green hose w/ black or gold flashes, My wife suggested Off White hose as being more formal, but I just don't like the look. I'm leaning towards the black hose to balance the jacket. :confused: Help me out!

This actually is a bit of a toughie. I like what you have put together but I beg to differ on one point. It's NOT formal. It's semi-formal (If its really formal then you have two choices only - PC or Montrose). Get rid of the wing-collar shirt and the bow tie. Go with a standard collar shirt and a long tie - preferrably to match the kilt - lovat green perhaps and then go with matching hose and black flashes.

In my opinion an Argyll does not support a wing-collar shirt - only a PC and perhaps a Crail.

Just my two cents worth.

[Zardoz]

guess I'll go with the off-white!

[Rampant Lion]

I wore an Argyll jacket with a wing collared shirt and bow tie as best man for my brother's wedding. It looked good. Not quite as good as a PC, but still nice. However, I like the way a regular collared shirt with a straight tie looks better. With the bow tie you just might "out formal" everyone there if they're just going to be wearing suits with straight ties.

I would definitely go with the off-white hose if you got them, with green flashes as someone suggested.

Just my thoughts though.

[Retro Red]

I was thinking the same thing as starbkjrus, namely that a wing collar shirt & black bow tie are strictly formal-wear. I second his suggestion of standard collar white shirt & long tie.

[efer]

I'm in the off-white camp as well.

Personally I like the overall look when the shirt and hose are the same or very similar color. It keeps a visual balance to my eye.
Maybe match the tie and the flashes to compliment the kilt.

Do post some pictures when you decide what your are wearing...

[Bob C]

This actually is a bit of a toughie. I like what you have put together but I beg to differ on one point. It's NOT formal. It's semi-formal (If its really formal then you have two choices only - PC or Montrose). Get rid of the wing-collar shirt and the bow tie. Go with a standard collar shirt and a long tie - preferrably to match the kilt - lovat green perhaps and then go with matching hose and black flashes.

In my opinion an Argyll does not support a wing-collar shirt - only a PC and perhaps a Crail.

Just my two cents worth.

This was my initial reaction, too. But, as long as the Argyll is black, I believe it will work with the wing collar and bowtie.

An Argyll is certainly closer to formal than a Crail.

Zardoz, we will definitely need pictures.

[David Dalglish]

Off white yes--You can still wear a bow tie semi-formal, but with a normal white shirt

[Pour1Malt]

piccies?

[Andrewson]

When I first read your description, Zardoz, I too thought that the wing collar shirt and black bow tie were a bit OTT for a semi-formal do. (I hadn't thought about the effect with the Argyle jacket but I guess that is another reason not to be too formal.) I'd support the normal shirt and tie - colour matched to your tartan.