Formal Kilt Oufit - Help!

[mbhandy]

I just sent an email to Burnett's and Struth with a couple questions about those vests. Perhaps I can convince the Flame-Haired Celtic Amazon Goddess that I deserve one more present under the Christmas tree.

Cheers

Panache,

I like your second outfit. After all "One must have a Little Colour"
If I was not expecting everyone to be formal. It does stand out and If there is no pipe major there who will know???

My wife is trying to talk me out of wearing the vest to her Christmas party because it is informal. I got one of Burnett's vest this summer and it is great and for the money, excelent.

In the in go with what you like.

MrBill

[Blu (Ontario)]

Silly as it may be... that narrow band of cloth worn around the waist is called a

c u m m e r b u n d.

... at least according to Mr. Webster.

.

[cloves]

do you have black hose? I've always liked the look of dark hose with a formal outfit....why not give the first outfit with dark hose a try, as opposed to the colored ones in the pic.

[Captain]

Well that certainly explains why my spell check kept trying to change it to that...

[Macman]

I agree with Bob C. Very nice jacket!

[MsPuddles]

I do think you look quite dapper in both outfits..There is nothing like a well dressed Kilted man!!

[Alan H]

I happen to like the cummerbund bettr than the satin vest, BUT....

If you don't wear the vest for anything else, you could put everything on and very carefully have the Goddess mark the bottom of the jacket on the vest. You'll want the vest an inch or so shorter than the jacket.

OK, when she marks it with chalk, and she'll have to be inventive with the bottom line of the ting in the front, then trim that puppy down. You'll lose the bottom button, for sure, and that will leave you with a three-button vest.

Replace the buttons on the vest with silver/pewter twins to the jacket buttons and try it again. It might work.

Then again, it might not and then you've spoilt a perfectly good vest.

Try this....no cummerbund, no belt. Hhowever make a small chain enclosure to hold the front of the jacket together. Basically this will be two buttons, twins of the ones you have on your jacket, joined by a -inch (roughly) length of matching chain. Orchard Supply Hardware sells shiny silver chain, it'll cost you less than a dollar.

Use the chain/buttons thing to limit how "wide" the front opening of the jacket goes, and wear it with NO cummerbund and NO vest. That's how a mess dress jacket usually works. if you decide to maket his your permanent solution then you'll want to replace one of the front buttons of the jacket with a button hole.

It's worth a try, anyway...try it before changing out the button for a buttonhole..

[Bob C]

Of the new pics, the one with the belt is the best. If you just hitch it up so you don't see so much tartan above it, I think you'd be all set.

The vest would be fine if you shorten it and change the buttons, as Alan suggests.

[Panache]

Ok Folks,

I'm sure you are all sick to death of me trying out variations for my kilted formal outfit. I really appreciate all of your feedback. None of what I have done so far felt right for me. So I've appreciate your help as I've muddled through this. I took Alan's advice on how to modify the vest.

...If you don't wear the vest for anything else, you could put everything on and very carefully have the Goddess mark the bottom of the jacket on the vest. You'll want the vest an inch or so shorter than the jacket.

OK, when she marks it with chalk, and she'll have to be inventive with the bottom line of the ting in the front, then trim that puppy down. You'll lose the bottom button, for sure, and that will leave you with a three-button vest.

Replace the buttons on the vest with silver/pewter twins to the jacket buttons and try it again.

I replaced the buttons and simply folded the bottom to see how it would look.

Here are the results:



When I looked in the mirror it looked right to me.

I need to adjust the bottom hem line of the vest a bit and give it a quick iron to make a sharp crease and put a couple of stiches in it to hold it in place (I also have the vest adjusted a tad too tight). I will purchase a wider nicer black satin bowtie that will match the vest and I think I will be set.

Cheers!

[Bob C]

Once you shorten the vest, I'd say you've got it. Nice work.

You should still consider the off-white hose, though.