"Western" Style with Contemporary Kilts

**Bugbear** · 21st January 12, 10:01 PM

I am interested in what you all have tried as far as Western styles with contemporary kilts; shirts, bolo ties, any sort of Western theme accessories. If it's with a traditional looking kilt, that's ok too.
Even things you have tried and that didn't work out.
Thank you.

**brewerpaul** · 21st January 12, 10:42 PM

Last September my girlfriend asked if I would go to a friends wedding. I said yes as long as I could wear my kilt. She said of course I would wear it. Even the bride wanted me to wear it. So I had my brand new German Heritage tank from Bonnie Green with black sporran, black belt with silver buckle, Gillys from Kommando Kilts and a Rutledge shirt from Gentleman's Emporium. The shirt is open collar old 1800's western style with pewter star buttons. It was a hit with everyone. My next purchase will be Victorian Wingtip shirt with brown and white horse hair bolo tie or a floppy bow tie or western tie. Ive yet to figure how to make my cowboy boots work with a kilt but Im still working on it. I have no problem with the western look or leather vest, which I also have, because Im from Texas. I like to find tasteful ways to mix the 1800's style with the kilt. My family settled in Texas from Germany in the 1800's. The mix can be nice if done well.

**Bugbear** · 21st January 12, 11:09 PM

I suppose the silver kilt buckles do look a bit like the Western buckles. The bolo or bola ties are interesting to me partly because both of my grandfathers wore them from time to time.
Thanks for the description.

**CMcG** · 21st January 12, 11:34 PM

I haven't done it myself, but lots of other people have. Some of these are more successful than others... I don't think cowboy boots work very well but the hat could be very practical in some climates.

**CMcG** · 21st January 12, 11:41 PM

I think Western style goes better with modern kilts, rather than tartan ones.

Here is Panache doing it rather well, though you his comments about his own outfit suggest he doesn't think it works:
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...tml#post377562

I think the best line of approach would to use one or two Western elements at a time, rather than trying to look like a full on kilted cowboy. Cowboy hat, western shirt, bolo tie are all good choices but maybe not all at the same time. Cowboy boots don't look so good to me with a kilt, modern or otherwise... ropers, maybe.

**Bugbear** · 22nd January 12, 12:57 AM

Ya, I agree, not everything at once. Western doesn't necessarily equal "cowboy" in my mind, though.

**CMcG** · 22nd January 12, 02:22 AM

Originally Posted by Bugbear

Ya, I agree, not everything at once. Western doesn't necessarily equal "cowboy" in my mind, though.

You're probably right that Western is not the same as cowboy, but that's an area that I don't know enough about to comment on. Apologies for conflating them

**Ian_G** · 22nd January 12, 03:12 AM

As you are from Texas, of course you can wear the kilt with western wear.
After all, four native born Scots died at the Alamo.

Ian

**BCAC** · 22nd January 12, 04:32 AM

Sorry, but for me I haven't yet seen a mixture western/scottish that "works".

**tundramanq** · 22nd January 12, 05:17 AM

All the looks seem to need OTC or knee high socks matching the boot colors to down play the scalloped tops of the boots. Panache looks really good with the shirt snaps matching the Mocker snaps. The straight top boots - wellingtons ? - seem to look best out of the bunch. But low cut shoes just don't say, " I wade around in cow patties". But most os us are "urban cowboys" anymore. Do I get change back from my two cents?