Are you planning for a special day in the next couple of months? Is your spouse or your family have deep Scottish roots in their DNA? Look no further than a kilt tuxedo rental.

If you are recently introduced to Scottish traditions, a kilt tuxedo rental can inform you that it's traditional for men to wear their kilts as a sense of honor. The tuxedo will give you, your special someone, or your friends a stunning appearance.

A Brief History on the Kilt Tuxedo

During the early 18th century, the second Jacobites uprising prepared for their next attack on the fight for the throne of Scotland. Previously, they supported the exiled king, King James VII of Scotland and II of England, who fought to take his family name, the Stuarts, back into their rule after being removed for their Catholicism faith. Parliament chose in favor of his daughter, Mary II, due to Protestant faith.

The Jacobites return was started by the 6th Earl of Mar, John Erskine, in 1715 in Braemar, Scotland. In total, he recruited around 6,000 men for the cause. With 30 years of victories and losses, the son of King James VII/II, Charles Edward Stuart, has decided to take the reigns of the army to fight for the throne for his father. While taking command, Charles designed a coat for the Jacobites to wear with their kilts.

This coat became known as the Prince Charlie jacket, named after Charles’ nickname, Bonnie Prince Charlie. Along with the uniform, they carried around their bagpipes and their weapons.

They were later banned after the Battle of Culloden in 1746. The Diskilting Act of 1747 announced to Scotland and England that the kilt was forbidden as Parliament saw it as a source of rebellion. Thankfully, in 1782, the ban was repealed.

Prince Charlie’s Kilt Tuxedo

The Prince Charlie jacket can be described as a kilt tuxedo for being seen at social events paired with a black tie.  While it can be compared to a tuxedo jacket, the tuxedo has no tails on the back, and the Prince Charlie jacket has two. This jacket is strictly used for formal occasions like weddings, balls, family reunions, and military ceremonies.

The jacket is embroidered with barathea, a fabric made of pure wool that provides insulation for the winter months. The coat's shoulders have silk braided epaulettes to conserve its military roots. Around the jacket are silver buttons that are split into groups of six. They arranged vertically and symmetrically on the front, the sleeves, and the tails.

Inside the jacket, it’s paired with a waistcoat. The waistcoat can be worn with three or five buttons. And last but not least, the jacket comes along with a full dress sporran to hang in front of the kilt.

Completing the Tuxedo

No kilt tuxedo would be complete without their finishing touches. Here are some tips you can use to look great in your tuxedo.

  • Use A Bowtie- While a necktie is matched to wear with a tuxedo, the bowtie is the better option for a kilt tuxedo. Because the waistcoat has a more open chest area, it makes the jacket look more uniformed.

  • Don’t Use A Belt Buckle- For the Prince Charlie jacket, a belt buckle is not required to wear. The buckle will make the entire kilt feel more casual than formal and your waistcoat would feel uncomfortable when sitting.

  • Plain White Dress Shirt- Wearing different colored dress shirts can draw away attention from the main event. Go with the classic white. There are already have many different colors on the tartan of the kilt. Any more colors will make the entire kilt tuxedo clash.

  • Black Gillie Brogues and White Hoses- Gillie brogues are the standard shoe to wear with a kilt tuxedo. Pairing black ones with white color hoses can help match your jacket and dress shirt.

  • Sgian Dubh- A sgian dubh is a traditional Scottish knife that was once used for cutting bread, fruit, and cheeses, and it was also used for hunting. For ceremonies, only the handle and the sheath will be used for safety measures. It can be stored in the hose or the pocket compartment of the sporran. For a blade version, it can make an amazing gift for the groom.

  • Clan Crest- The most valuable accessory you can have on your tuxedo is a clan crest. The best part about this accessory is that it can inform what clan you are a part of for someone who doesn't know about clan tartan patterns.

Measuring For A Kilt Tuxedo Rental

For a kilt tuxedo rental, you have to be prepared to give out your measurements before submitting an order or consulting with your rental dealer. To do this task, use a tape measure or a tailor measuring tape. A weight scale. And a friend to help you measure and write down your measurements.

You can follow along with the kilt measuring tutorial with these written instructions.

  1. Starting with the neck area, you want the end of your tape to be low on the chest. This prevents the collar of your shirt from tightening on the neck and allows you to breathe.

  2. Next, measure the sleeve. You want to measure from the back of the neck to the shoulder tip, then down the arm, and stop past the wrist right above the thumb knuckle.

  3. Then, lower the end of the measuring tape in between the shoulder blade ends. Wrap the tape around the chest to the back. And add two or three more sizes to prevent the torso from tightening.

  4. Afterward, it's time to measure the waist. When measuring a kilt, it's a similar method when measuring a dress. Starting from the belly button, wrap it around along the hips, and pull it tight. Depending on the body build, the waist size will vary.

  5. Moving towards the shoe size, compare your dress shoe size and your casual shoe size. Shoe sizes are measured by half sizes. Dress shoes are more likely to be measured in whole sizes. So if your current foot size is at a whole and a half size, submit your shoe size as a whole.

  6. Finally, measure your height and weight. Measure from the back or the forehead of the head down to the toes or heels of the feet. Then, scale your weight on the weight scale. Keep in mind to be accurate with the measurements so your rental dealer can find and suggest kilt tuxedo sizes you can wear.

Our Mission

At Kilt Rental USA, it’s important to you or your partner to wear your Scottish heritage comfortably while staying glamorous for special occasions. To learn more about our kilt tuxedo packages, contact us at Kilt Rental USA.