Kilt for prom

[auld argonian]

Hmmmm...not look smart? Okay, some people may not think that "Full Highland Dress" looks smart because they think of it as the old fashioned Kiltie-on-a-biscuit-tin thing but you can tip it toward a more contemporary look if you try. Maybe build on the kilt and cool it on the shiny buttons and fringed stuff in favor of a modern thing.

If you look at the threads on formal kilt wear here, you'll see that the majority of photos are men dressed in a very trad style.

Try some of the references to the Dressed To Kilt fashion shows and you get an idea of doing some more contemporary looks...though it IS a fashion show so it does go a bit overboard.

Best kilted prom thing in the media: Kurt on Glee. All right....he DID wear leggings underneath but the dude made the kilt look good. I'm pretty sure that they did the leggings to find a way around the underwear question thing. It was FOX...you know how weird they get...

Anyway....kick it around wi' your young lady and tell here that you can do it with a more contemporary flair...get some input from her...look at some reference photos on the internet...getting the prom thing together is better if you do it together. Gives her the option to do something cool with tartan on her outfit...I'd like to point out that tartan bustiers seem to get a universal "two thumbs up" on THIS forum, even from the female members. Many tartans are available in silk as well as wool...while a sash might be too "old" for you young people, maybe wearing tartan as more of a stole over bare shoulders might make a statement.

Hey...this is supposed to be ROMANTIC! What's more dashing and romantic than a kilt? Am I right or am I right?

Best

AA

[Chas]

Thank you for all your replies, this will all be of much help to me. Yes, proms in England are black-tie although somebody in the year above mine dressed up as the Stig from Top Gear last prom. One of my friends did also wear a kilt to prom.


I am 15 and I think that I might wear them now and again, probably just for fun when I visit my friends abroad. :P



I don't really do things such as a 'night out with the lads', but if it's that expensive do you recommend I just rent one?

15! Do Not Buy. Rent Only. You will just not get the use out of jackets and waistcoats.

eBay might very well be a good solution. Especially if you open the search parameters to UK and Used. In your size, there are bargains to be had.

Regards

Chas

[Calanon]

Well, I do hope that it's not too romantic. I don't think my girlfriend would be pleased about that if I were to be romantic with another girl. :P

[Calanon]

Sorry for the double post, but is there any specific type of shirt that I should wear or will any white one too?
And would a red tie look good? I've decided on the kilt and I've gone for the Hunting Stewart tartan.

[Chas]

Sorry for the double post, but is there any specific type of shirt that I should wear or will any white one too?
And would a red tie look good? I've decided on the kilt and I've gone for the Hunting Stewart tartan.

Hi Calanon,

Good start!

Yes any white shirt will do. Points on the collar would be nice if you can. Rounded collars were fashionable about a hundred years ago with clerks and stores assistants - at work. Because they had detachable collars, they would come home, change their collar for one with points (or wings) and then go out for the evening.

Red tie. Should really be a bow tie. One that you tie yourself will look a million times better than a pre-tied. And when some idiot unties it (because it is funny), it will be so cool to walk to the nearest window or mirror and re-tie it in front of everybody. A definite way to impress your young lady.

Your kilt. Good choice - good colouring. Does not scream "Look at Me". A little bit too long. You should be aiming for the bottom of the kilt to be at the top of your knee or the middle of the kneecap at the lowest. There is a danger of a kilt worn too low looking like a skirt - you don't want that.

Jacket. Fits you well across the shoulders and is a good length - to wear with a suit. If that is the jacket you are going to wear with your kilt, do not do it up! Most jackets worn with kilts are a lot shorter (they finish at the top of your bum) and are left open. You might consider, wearing a fancy waist coat and no jacket - it will show off the kilt more.

Options. You will need a sporran. Does not have to be fancy - you won't be carting vast amounts of stuff around with you on the evening and you have the pockets of your jacket if you need them. Another reason why the jacket is not done up - it gets in the way of the sporran.
Waistcoat - See above, not an essential, but a nice touch. Something with a fancy front in one of the colours of the kilt or maybe matching your tie.
Hose - Not white if you can. There is nothing wrong with grey. A pair of garters to hold them up. The elastic bands that the postmen use and throw away every day will work fine - they are tucked away, no one sees them. A couple of bits of ribbon in either the yellow or red of the kilt to act as tabs and job done.
Shoes - black and shiny. Nothing else will do.

A lot of this stuff can be got for very little money on eBay. Always use the "used" tab.

Last but not least - underwear. "Always wear what is appropriate for the activity in which you are engaged." Will some of your "friends" try and lift your kilt up? Or will everybody behave like perfect Ladies and Gentlemen for the whole night? Only you will know. There is nothing wrong with trying to save yourself some embarrassment.

If this works and it is a good night (and there is no reason why it shouldn't be), you will probably want to wear a kilt again and again - it gets very addictive.

I hope this gives you something to think about and work on.

Regards

Chas

[Calanon]

Hi Calanon,

Good start!

Yes any white shirt will do. Points on the collar would be nice if you can. Rounded collars were fashionable about a hundred years ago with clerks and stores assistants - at work. Because they had detachable collars, they would come home, change their collar for one with points (or wings) and then go out for the evening.

Okay, I'll most like just get a plain white shirt then as I will be wearing that for other things too.

Red tie. Should really be a bow tie. One that you tie yourself will look a million times better than a pre-tied. And when some idiot unties it (because it is funny), it will be so cool to walk to the nearest window or mirror and re-tie it in front of everybody. A definite way to impress your young lady.

Okay, a red bow tie then, although as I'd be buying the tie I did want something I could use a lot but I suppose a red bow tie would be possibly reusable.

Your kilt. Good choice - good colouring. Does not scream "Look at Me". A little bit too long. You should be aiming for the bottom of the kilt to be at the top of your knee or the middle of the kneecap at the lowest. There is a danger of a kilt worn too low looking like a skirt - you don't want that.

I think I may have actually put it on a bit too low, my mum was worried that it was too long first of all. >.>

Jacket. Fits you well across the shoulders and is a good length - to wear with a suit. If that is the jacket you are going to wear with your kilt, do not do it up! Most jackets worn with kilts are a lot shorter (they finish at the top of your bum) and are left open. You might consider, wearing a fancy waist coat and no jacket - it will show off the kilt more.

I'm not wearing that jacket, I'm wearing the Highland Morning jacket. http://www.moss.co.uk/pws/hire/highl...d_jackets.html

Options. You will need a sporran. Does not have to be fancy - you won't be carting vast amounts of stuff around with you on the evening and you have the pockets of your jacket if you need them. Another reason why the jacket is not done up - it gets in the way of the sporran.
Waistcoat - See above, not an essential, but a nice touch. Something with a fancy front in one of the colours of the kilt or maybe matching your tie.
Hose - Not white if you can. There is nothing wrong with grey. A pair of garters to hold them up. The elastic bands that the postmen use and throw away every day will work fine - they are tucked away, no one sees them. A couple of bits of ribbon in either the yellow or red of the kilt to act as tabs and job done.
Shoes - black and shiny. Nothing else will do.

I will have a sporran, the http://www.moss.co.uk/pws/hire/highl...cessories.html semi-dress sporran. Again, the waistcoat will be there with the jacket. I'll have beige hose and red flashes/garters.

Last but not least - underwear. "Always wear what is appropriate for the activity in which you are engaged." Will some of your "friends" try and lift your kilt up? Or will everybody behave like perfect Ladies and Gentlemen for the whole night? Only you will know. There is nothing wrong with trying to save yourself some embarrassment.

I will be wearing pants underneath. Thanks for the help.

[CMcG]

Calanon, you would be wise to heed Chas' excellent advice. Chas, thanks for taking the time, you do Xmarks proud!

[tulloch]

You will be wonderfully attired. Looking forward to the photos afterwards.

[guardsman]

Myself , I like flashes that match, secondly whichever Tartan you prefer in your family Clan Tartan. I lean towards owning a kilt and hiring jackets as need be, a kilt with a jumper can always be worn , aP.C. or Argyle jacket wont be. And nothing wrong with cream socks, people in Britain ask me why I have coloured hose on !Relax and have a wonderful time

[guardsman]

Look out girls , theres a new man in town, Good on ye