Help CMcG With Formality?

[CMcG]

WOW! You've got both a kilt and a waistcoat in MacQuarrie tartan? If it was me I'd be saving like made (or out robbing a bank) to have a dress Argyll jacket done up in the same tartan... ahhhh, I can see it now... silk gauntlet cuffs, velvet collar, cut steel buttons....

Meantime, I think the slightly higher-cut black waistcoat would be my choice, with a nice silver and amethyst brooch to keep the stock in place. Of course, with that same waistcoat you could also go for a full lace jabot, something that would definitely add to the dressy look.

Not only do I have a waistcoat and kilt in MacQuarrie tartan, I've got a tie and pants too! The matching jacket (and hose?) would certainly make for one a h#ll of a look, but I don't think I'm quite up to that level of sartorial challenge yet

Given that it would take me ages to save up that kind of money, I've still got some time to warm up to that idea, though

FYI the MacQuarrie gear came as part of a set in an eBay cornucopia, in which I sold the tweed jacket that came with them to cover the cost of the purchase:
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...nucopia-62008/

[rtc872]

Are the pants in case someone looks up your kilt?

I really like the first and last ones, exept for the belt. I didn't even notice the waistcoat because of the belt which defeats the purpose of wearing the waistcoat.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Are the pants in case someone looks up your kilt?

I really like the first and last ones, exept for the belt. I didn't even notice the waistcoat because of the belt which defeats the purpose of wearing the waistcoat.

The only time a belt is worn with a waistcoat is when you are wearing a dirk and then the belt is worn over (not under) the waistcoat.

[CMcG]

Unless the wedding invitation specifies "white tie" (and I can't imagine that it would), I'd suggest:

Douglas Kilt
Argyle Hose w/ red flashes
White fold-down collar shirt
Black "Braemar" jacketn (I'm just not a big fan of these "Eton" style jackets)
Black 3 button waistcoat
Black bowtie
Hair Sporran
Dress Sgian Dubh

Best of Luck!

I'm still waiting to get the final word on the wedding.

The father of the groom (the host of the wedding) is a Scot and told me to wear my kilt. The son has opted instead to wear a tuxedo. The father's view is that the kilts should look better than the tux... it remains to be seen how far he wants to take that.

As for the jacket, I agree that the Braemar could work too. As a point of information, I think my Spencer has more in common with a Mess jacket because of the peaked bottom... when I think Eton, it has more of a square bottom edge. Maybe you don't like any of the above because they aren't traditional enough?

I recall that back in 2008 we discussed preventing the loss of kilt pins, and this suggestion was made (it works too!):

"If the pin system would be adequate to hold what he normally makes they should be able to hold a kilt pin. In general there shouldn't be more stress on a kilt pin then in other applications. The one thought I have is the use of a pin "lock." Many people use a rubber band as a back up to the pin. With the clutch pins pass the pins trough the apron of the kilt, through a piece of rubber band and then put the clutch in place. Even if the clutch is lost the rubber band will hold the pin in place.

The same thing is done for the safety pin style pin. Pass the top of the pin through the apron, then through a piece of rubber band back through the rubber band, out through the kilt at the bottom and close the clasp."

Sound advise! This would allow a better view of the stone too boot!

That is a nice solution! I do that with my clutch pins but I never thought to do it with the safety pin style. And azwildcat96 is right that it will allow a better view of the stone

Are the pants in case someone looks up your kilt?

<snip>

It looks like the vest was made to go with the pants because of how the tartan lines up. Often, tartan vests that are made to go with a tartan kilt are cut on the bias... but I guess it could be worn with either the tartan kilt or tartan pants. I like it with the solid colour kilt most of all, to keep things more interesting.

I'm still waiting for MacLowlife to chime in on what he was suggesting about the tartan vest and dirk?

[Bee]

Agree--I prefer #1. Simple elegance.

Regarding #2: Not a big fan of clashing tartans.

Regarding #3: Putting a belt over a waistcoat ruins the visual line of the waistcoat.

Just my opinions--wear what you like, or more importantly, what your lady likes!

I like how you think! I said the same thing for #3
I like #1 but with the argyle hose in #3!

[davidlpope]

As for the jacket, I agree that the Braemar could work too. As a point of information, I think my Spencer has more in common with a Mess jacket because of the peaked bottom... when I think Eton, it has more of a square bottom edge. Maybe you don't like any of the above because they aren't traditional enough?

Might be. I'm not sure exactly why I'm not so partial to "mess jacket" styles. One issue is that there seems to me to be less of a "margin of error" in tailoring a "mess jacket" style of jacket. What I mean by that is that most that I see seem to either be cut too low, where the front "points" of the jacket come down far on the kilt, or too high, where there is a gap of white shirt showing between the kilt and the bottom edge of the jacket. If an "Argyll/Braemar" jacket is a little long or short the design of the jacket seems more forgiving, at least to me. Additionally, many of this style of jacket that I see seem to be converted "waiter's jackets" and are built to be more utilitarian and less formal dress. Some "conversions" are more successful than others. I guess I'm thinking if you have a nice, well-made black kilt jacket I'd probably wear that.

Either way, I'm sure you'll look sharp. Best of luck!

[MacLowlife]

I'd like to see that waistcoat with a tartan kilt. I know I will sound an alarm here, but it doesn't even have to be the SAME tartan, as far as I am concerned. I just like to see as much tartan as you can comfortably carry. And, once you get the kilt and waistcoat on, put on the dirk, just for fun. Then start swapping jackets until you get to the one that sits best with the waistcoat.

Brother Pope has just pointed out how the points of a mess jacket can't be changed- that is, they land where they land, with either shirt frontage (or sideage) showing or with too much kilt obscured ( or, in the case of Goldie McLocks , they land JUST RIGHT). And, with a tailored, non adjustable waistcoat, the same is true of its points, too. I believe they should end behind the points of the jacket.

You may find that none of your jackets will sit properly over the tartan waistcoat. Short of putting a wide belt over the bottom or altering the waistcoat, there is not much you can do. I guess you can always buy another jacket. MoR suggested elsewhere the importance of trying on a short formal jacket with your kilt to minimize this gap problem. If the sett of your waistcoat matches the sett of your kilt, the problem of extending too low may not be so obvious.

Of course, you can easily avoid all of this trouble by sticking with the sound advice offered above. You will look fine regardless of which outfit or combination of outfits you choose. May you wear them all in great good health!

[CMcG]

Thanks for the elaboration MacLowlife.

The Spencer jacket seems to work with the tartan waistcoat... maybe even better than the white one! And I've tied the bow tie with a narrower horizontal spread. Also tried to make it a more non-chalant knot, as per Irish Jack O'Brian's suggestion.

I'm still looking for a suitable pin to put on this kilt but used a plain, safety pin style for the moment.

Without further ado, here's the pic:

4) full formal aka "the MacLowlife"

MacQuarrie modern tartan kilt, black Spencer jacket, white wing collar plain front shirt, MacQuarrie modern tartan waistcoat, white self-tie bow tie, cap-toe black oxfords, silver cantle horsehair sporran, purple jewel top sgian, shamrock buckled dirk belt, bonnie dirk, argyle hose, red flashes, gun metal monogramed cufflinks

[robbiethepiper]

Unless planning murder of people/haggis, dirk best left at home?.....

[rtc872]

Nice look. I too am not a dirk man but it does look at home with this outfit