Auld Lang Syne? Tam o’Shanter? Address to a Haggis? Heard of them? Well, you’ve certainly heard of the very first one. Written by poet ‘Robert Burns’ in the 1700s, these pieces are quintessential Scottish works.
Burns Night is held on the 25th January every year to honour the bard and to celebrate Scottish culture. Events happen throughout Scotland and in Scottish communities on this day.
If you’ve been invited to a Burns Night event, then you might wonder what you should be wearing. Luckily, you’ve stumbled on this page.
What is Burns Night?
As we said, Burns Night is held on the 25th January every single year. In theory, it is meant to celebrate the national bard ‘Robert Burns’, and while he does get a bit of a mention on Burns Night, the whole celebration is really a celebration of Scottish culture, from food to clothing. Events will often have a sprinkling of Robert’s poems in there too.
Clothing has very much become a major part of Burns Night. After all, there are plenty of pieces that honour Scottish heritage, including the traditional kilt, sporrans, and tartan. If attending a Burns Night event, then you’ll be expected to dress in a traditional Scottish manner.
While there will be some more casual events around Burns Night, the vast majority of events will be special dinners, mostly formal. If you’re invited to one of these events, then you’ll be expected to dress up in a way that honours Scottish tradition and respects Robert Burns.
Understanding the Burns Night Dress Code
Traditional Burns Night Dress is very formal. For men, this may include kilts with clan tartan, Prince Charlie jacket, Sporran, Ghillie brogues, etc. For women, this may mean a tartan skirt, tartan sash, or formal evening wear.
Casual and social gatherings are much more modern. While there may still be a touch of formality to these events, clothing will tend to err toward the more casual side of things. This means smart trousers and a shirt, smart-casual outfits that have a hint of tartan in them, etc.
You’ll be expected to wear formal highland dress during formal dinners, charity dinners, and any time the invitation specifies ‘black tie and highland dress’.
Traditional Burns Night Outfits for Men
If you’re struggling to know what to wear for Burns Night, the next couple of sections should give you a decent idea. We’ll cover outfits for both men and women. Remember, always look at your invitation to the Burns Night event to get a solid idea of what you need to wear.
The Full Highland Dress
This is for the most formal of events:
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Kilts are traditional for Burns Night. If you have your own clan tartan, wear that. Otherwise something universal like Black Watch will work (a neutral tartan).
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Prince Charlie jacket & waistcoat. This is very similar to a standard tuxedo waistcoat.
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Lace jabot is what you should be opting for if you want something very traditional. A bow tie could make a nice alternative.
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Ghillie brogues, hose, and flashes. The ghillie brogues are open-laced leather shoes, hose are traditional knee-high socks, and flashes are coloured garters.
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Dress sporran will complete the look. Opt for either a fur or metal cantle.
Semi-Formal Highland Dress
For semi-formal Burns Night events, you don’t need to go all-out on your outfit. You will need to dress reasonably well, though. You’ll also need flashes of that Scottish tradition tied in there.
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Argyll jacket: this is very similar to a Prince Charlie, just not quite as smart.
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Day sporran: simpler in design than the dress sporran. Typically made of leather.
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Shirt and tie: nothing too special here.
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Many people opt for tweed and wool options. They are casual, but still have that Highland vibe to them.
Modern, Less Formal Options
If you don’t need to be massively formal, then you have more options available to you:
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Tartan trews, which are just trousers made from tartan fabric.
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Dark suit, with a tartan tie to bring the whole ensemble together.
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Smart shirt with a kilt. Don’t worry about having a jacket here. That’s only needed for more formal settings.
Burns Night Outfits for Women
For women, choices are a bit simpler.
Traditional Ideas
Tartan skirts are almost a ‘must’ for more formal events. A sash over a blouse or a dress can help to complete the look. This is a style that could easily work for the more casual Burns Night events too.
Modern Choices
For a more modern look, many women opt for evening dresses with tartan accessories. Jumpsuits with tartan accents can be a little bit more casual. A smart-casual dress can be ideal for those less formal suppers, perhaps with a few tartan highlights.
What Children Can Wear
There’ll probably be fewer eyes on children who break the ‘formality rules’ for Burns Night, but it is still ideal to get them in the right clothing.
Mini kilts, tartan skirts, and trews can be used. More comfortable formal Highland attire can be used. Doesn’t need to be as extensive as what the adults are wearing. The key is that it should be comfortable. You don’t want children squirming around.
Burns Night Accessories
No look is complete without the right accessories:
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Sgian-Dubh: this is a small ceremonial knife. It is worn with a kilt, and tucked into the dominant side of the hose. The handle should be pointed out. When indoors at formal events, it should be removed.
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Casual events should have a day sporran. This is just a simple leather pouch. Dress sporrans, often made from fur and metal, are used for evening and formal dinners.
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Tartan scarves, shawls, and sashes are for women. They are pinned with a brooch.
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Ghillie Brogues and Hosiery: we already discussed Ghillie brogues earlier on. They are open-laced shoes. The hosiery should be secured with flashes (garters) which add a dash of colour to the look.
What Not to Wear
Here are a few tips on what you shouldn’t be wearing:
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Cheap kilts. Basically, anything that looks like it has been picked up from a costume shop. Wear a proper kilt.
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Stick to one type of tartan. You don’t want the outfit to look too confused.
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Never wear trainers with formal Highland clothing. In fact, try to skip it for the more casual events too.
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Don’t wear casual clothing to formal dinners. Check the invitation so you know exactly what you should be wearing.
Outfit Ideas Based on Event Type
Let’s wrap up by giving you a few outfit ideas depending on the event you’re attending.
Formal Burns Supper
This is when you’ll be wearing your full Highland dress. In some cases, you can also opt for a dark suit.
For women, evening dresses are a must. You can perhaps add a hint of tartan accessories here, but don’t go overboard.
Casual Home Burns Night
Relaxed smart-casual. You can opt for modern kilts, but buy/rent a proper kilt. Tartan shirt/dresses are also important. Although, to be honest, you might need to check the invitation here. Some casual events don’t require you to dress up too much at all.
What To Wear For Burns Night 101
Always check the event invitation for what you should be wearing. It should always give a decent hint of what is required. Do make sure that you test out whatever you’re wearing before the event, particularly if you have a longer dinner. You don’t want to be too uncomfortable. Finally, you don’t need to be Scottish to wear tartan. Wear it, but wear it respectfully.
Luckily for you, Rathbones Tailor have both adult and kids highland wear for hire!