Have your friends told you they felt underdressed while you are in a kilt?

[Thekiltedmohawk]

In the first two pictures. You and me dressed pretty similar except for the flashes which I haven't wore it yet.

You look sharp in the pictures, sir!

[NUist]

I'm going through this at this very moment...I'm going kilted to a friend's wedding and my dear wife is feeling under dressed - she's been moping around and generally acting stressed the last 2 days.

I tried explaining that I'm just going 'semi-formal' like she is, but in her eyes, the mere presence of my kilt bumps me into another (higher) category of dress.

She's going shopping in the morning. lol

[Richrail]

I think the most important thing is that you are comfortable with who you are. You are now a kilt wearer you will always stand out. Enjoy the expression and freedom to be truly different, with time comes confidence.

[The Wizard of BC]

My wife has made that same comment.

So I always try to remember that the kilt, all by itself, is to most people pretty fancy.
Add to it a sporran and hose and you are already over the top when compared to pants.

Yes, we all know that wearing a kilt sets you apart and different. That is one of the reasons we wear it.

But there is a rule that I tell my customers. This rule is specifically for weddings but applies in part to everyday.

The Rule is thus -
There is one inviolatable, unbreakable rule concerning the kilt at weddings.

NEVER, EVER, outshine the bride!

I also use this same rule anytime I am with a lady. You want your lady to be the center of attention. When you add a fancy sporran and all the bright, shiney bits to your outfit, it does not take much before all anyone will notice is the guy in the kilt.

This is exactly why I refuse to dress THCD. It is just too over the top for daily wear and takes the focus away from my lady.

I purposely dress down as much as possible. A plain shirt. No or very little jewelry. A plain, unadorned sporran. Simple everyday shoes. A jacket and tie only if the other guys in pants are wearing jacket and tie.

And I always try to see what my wife is wearing. If possible I will dress one level down from whatever she is wearing.

[Thekiltedmohawk]

My wife has made that same comment.

So I always try to remember that the kilt, all by itself, is to most people pretty fancy.
Add to it a sporran and hose and you are already over the top when compared to pants.

Yes, we all know that wearing a kilt sets you apart and different. That is one of the reasons we wear it.

But there is a rule that I tell my customers. This rule is specifically for weddings but applies in part to everyday.

The Rule is thus -
There is one inviolatable, unbreakable rule concerning the kilt at weddings.

NEVER, EVER, outshine the bride!

I also use this same rule anytime I am with a lady. You want your lady to be the center of attention. When you add a fancy sporran and all the bright, shiney bits to your outfit, it does not take much before all anyone will notice is the guy in the kilt.

This is exactly why I refuse to dress THCD. It is just too over the top for daily wear and takes the focus away from my lady.

I purposely dress down as much as possible. A plain shirt. No or very little jewelry. A plain, unadorned sporran. Simple everyday shoes. A jacket and tie only if the other guys in pants are wearing jacket and tie.

And I always try to see what my wife is wearing. If possible I will dress one level down from whatever she is wearing.

That's the wisdom we the gentlemen must heed to.

[ratspike]

There is one inviolatable, unbreakable rule concerning the kilt at weddings.

NEVER, EVER, outshine the bride!

Only a man would worry about this. I say this as a veteran of over 300 weddings, and as the guy who typically has more interaction with the bride than anyone else, including her mother, on the wedding day. No dude ever has to be worried about outshining the bride, even if she's wearing a gunny sack. I promise. I've seen plenty of people try but it never works. Once it's game time the girl in the white dress is all anyone is interested in.

[The Wizard of BC]

Actually Ratspike I'm sorry to differ with you. Perhaps my perspective is different than yours.

I actually started to tell guys about the rule after hearing from audience members, bride's family members and bridesmaids. I began to hear quite often that the groom in his full rig with fly plaid and enough shiny buttons to blind those in the first three rows was a distraction from the bride.

So I try to guide guys into toning it down if possible. If nothing more that a show of respect and concern for their bride.
Most guys are more than willing to give center stage where it belongs, they just do not have enough experience with the kilt to know any difference. They are usually going by what they see on the web as wedding outfits.

I had one guy who was fully convinced by one of the Scottish Highland Outfit companies that he absolutely must have a bright white rabbit sporran and a purple ruche tie to match his Flower of Scotland Kilt. He had ordered pure white hose from this company because no one else had them. He had also ordered purple Ghillie Brouge laces because they told him that he was following tradition.

The bride's mother was almost in tears and frankly the guy looked like a circus clown. He had seven bright chrome Clan Crests in that one outfit which cost him over $2000.00. (and everything from the kilt to the Prince Charlie to the shoes were made in Pakistan of terrible quality)

When the entire wedding party came into my shop to be fitted for the groomsman's outfits I was able to show them that just a few small changes could tone down the entire look.

In the end the Bride's mother kissed me, all the bridesmaids hugged me and the Bride's father handed me his credit card for a whole new groom's outfit.

Ever since I have tried to guide guys towards a little more subtle quality to their outfits. It's amazing what something very small and insignificant like changing the buttons on an Argyle from bright chrome to antique pewter or even black can do.

I am almost constantly amazed at how many guys are totally convinced by the large web based companies that a Prince Charlie, Fly Plaid and white hose are some sort of requirement. Even for a beach wedding.

So yea, those of us going out to a dinner with our wives or just to the local pub, sometimes need to be reminded that we don't have to dress to the nines every time.

[tpa]

Perish the thought that I would ever try to outshine my wife, I'm sure she would find a way of getting her own back and then some. However it is not likely to happen, more often than not I am being told to dress up a bit as my natural tendency is to tone everything down as much as possible, though there are limits when I'm wearing either of my Anderson tartan kilts as they are not exactly inconspicuous in tartan terms.

[cck]

This opens a wide arena for discussion. Let me take a different tact and point out that if you are wearing a wool tartan kilt, that alone may be the most expensive item of clothing in the room.

[Julia Elliott]

I just need to respond to this because this is a huge pet peeve of mine. When did we need to start apologizing for being well dressed? I imagine the response the fellows are getting when kilted is similar to the comments I get when I am wearing any type of skirt or dress.( why are you so dressed up !??) In general , folks are dressing much more casually then they used to , and those who like to make a bit of an effort are made to feel like they are going overboard . Enough!!! Please come out in kilts to your hearts content !!