Lovers of Scotland, poetry and tradition, rejoice! Burns Night is just over the horizon. A night where we celebrate the life and work of our National Bard, Robert Burns and of course, enjoy a few whiskies while we’re at it.
As we start to make plans for Burns Supper 2022 we thought we should give you an idea of what to wear during the festivities. If it wasn’t obvious already, a kilt is your go-to choice for a Burns Supper but to be a little more specific, a traditional kilt outfit is recommended. Burns night is seen as a formal occasion for the most part and therefore, a traditional Prince Charlie or Argyll kilt outfit is best. While we are all massive fans of the contemporary tweed kilt outfits, they are less suitable for this occasion. Below we will detail a few of your options if you don’t already have a traditional outfit to wear.
The Prince Charlie is often considered the tuxedo of kilt outfits. The jacket features a short cut design with tails, stain lapels, epaulettes and a 3 button set cuff. Traditionally a Prince Charlie outfit is worn with a three button waistcoat but is also available with a slightly more modern 5 button waistcoat. A black bowtie is also usually worn with this outfit but a tartan bow tie is also a contemporary choice while wearing a 5 button waistcoat. Black ghillie brogues and black kilt socks as well as matching tartan flashes and a dress sporran help finish off this traditional kilt outfit. For Burns Night, you can’t go wrong with a Price Charlie Kilt Outfit.
The Argyll Kilt Outfit is slightly less traditional than a Prince Charlie outfit but still features a lot of the same characteristics which makes it perfect for formal events like Burns Supper. The Argyll jacket has gauntlet cuffs on the sleeves, epaulettes on the shoulders and buttons on the front pockets. The jacket is longer in length than the Prince Charlie and therefore looks more like a suit style of jacket. A black five button waistcoat is usually paired with a tartan or black bowtie. Black ghillie brogues, black kilt hose and tartan flashes are also worn with an Argyll outfit. You can choose to wear a dress sporran or semi-dress sporran with this outfit but because Burns Night is such a traditional occasion, we recommend choosing a dress sporran.
Hire an Outfit
Hiring an outfit is a great option if you are attending your first Burns Supper or you don’t have use for a kilt during the rest of the year. At MacGregor and MacDuff we have both the Prince Charlie and Argyll kilt outfits available to hire. Hiring online is the simplest way to organise your outfit for Burns Supper. Our hire outfits are available in 14 different tartans which include our ever popular mist range. Click here to view our hire section. Once you choose your outfit, select your measurements and tartan choice. Once we receive your order our team will be in touch with you to confirm your sizing to ensure the perfect fit. We will then deliver your outfit anywhere in mainland UK. Standard hire is four days which means there is no rush in sending things back to us. Especially handy if you need a lie-in the morning after the Burns Night celebrations. For kilt hire in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Prestwick, book an appointment to visit one of our stores here.
Buy an Outfit
Buying an outfit is the obvious choice for people who often find the need to wear a kilt or people looking to replace an old outfit. MacGregor and MacDuff kilts are made using the highest quality materials by Master Kiltmakers with decades of experience. As a result, a MacGregor and MacDuff kilt can easily last a lifetime and beyond. When buying an outfit, you also get to choose from over 4,000 tartans. If you are planning on mainly wearing your outfit at Burns Suppers, why not consider a Burns tartan.
Another benefit of buying a MacGregor and MacDuff outfit is you’ll be able to book an online appointment which is especially beneficial for people who are based too far away from our stores to visit for a fitting. This includes our international friends as we are able to ship our kilts anywhere in the world.
Online Exclusive Starter Package
If you want to own your own outfit but don’t want to spend a lot of money, our Starter Kilt Outfit options may be just what you’re looking for. These packages start at just £525 and include everything you need to look the part at your next Burns Supper but for less. Our Starter Kilt Outfit packages are exclusively for online customers and are available in both the Prince Charlie and Argyll options.
Burns Supper is celebrated on the 25th of January each year and most people will have their outfits organised before Christmas. For this reason, it’s important you book your hire outfit in good time as most years we do become fully booked. If you are looking to buy an outfit, we would also recommend making sure you organise things early as lead times over the Christmas period are longer. Ordering your kilt at least 10 weeks in advance is best to ensure your kilt is ready in time.
If you have any questions or would like to enquire about an outfit for Burns Night 2022 feel free to email us at info@macgregorandmacduff.co.uk
