Bring the whole outfit together

[cavscout]

Piece by Piece I'm trying to assemble an outfit which will allow for the individual items to be wearable for many occasions (casual, semi and formal). I'm going to go with the Fraser Hunting tartan 8 yard kilt and Add a Eton Tux jacket and vest to achieve a PC look. This question centers on a glengarry to go with this formal rig.

One thought is to use a simple black glen. I don't want to use the standard red/white dicing as it would clash, I feel, with the kilt (brown, green, red, blue, white). Without the hackle.

The other is to choose a glen with a similar color contained in the kilt. I like the SF Green Glens (no Dicing). Though it may not be a close match to the green in the kilt. I had thought I'd be able to find a dark brown glen but I think the only brown available is a kahki tan.

The third option I just noticed at Kiltstore is a tartan glen in woorsted or brushed wool. This I guess is the real question...would a tartan glen appear too busy with the PC outfit? Is this a time for KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid )

[Moosehead]

Just a note on the dicing for you Yanks: it really means loyalty to the Crown.

[cavscout]

Ahhh, good to know .

[Moosehead]

Kinda thought that might get ya.

The SF Glen would be a good choice. If the colour is a little light, dye it slightly darker.

[mddock58]

Moosehead
Just a note on the dicing for you Yanks: it really means loyalty to the Crown.

We all appreciate information like that!

I wouldn't want to offend accidentally!

[Moosehead]

hehe...I don't think you'd be offending anyone, other than maybe yourselves. Then again, you kilt-wearin' Yanks are already expressing a deeper appreciation for the customs and traditions of the "old country".

Remember, prior to the USA's entry into WW1 and WW2, thousands of you boys took the oath to the Crown, many becoming Officers who hold the Queen's Commission. The Crown of today is not the Crown of George III.

Cavscout, should have noted: if the SF Glen colour is too dark, wear it in the sun for awhile while its wet, it'll fade real quick.

[Southern Breeze]

Just a note on the dicing for you Yanks: it really means loyalty to the Crown.

Nothing wrong with that. After all, a mans wife IS queen of the house.

[cavscout]

I wouldn't want to offend accidentally!

Or unknowingly commit to anything " I agreed to do what !?"

[Pleater]

You might get a better result with the green glengarry as it would be separated from the tartan - and if the overall effective shade of the tartan is lighter than the shade of the green within it then there should be little problem.

I think you are right to avoid the dicing.

Colour is an important part of my designing work and I am fairly sensitive to its effects.

I once was suddenly confronted by an elderly gent in a tartan suit - cross cut trews, jacket, plaid, hat - and the physical shock was quite severe.

[macwilkin]

Just a note on the dicing for you Yanks: it really means loyalty to the Crown.

I've always heard this, but I've never seen any documentation for this statement. Not all regiments who wear the glengarry have dicing; The Black Watch is the prime example of this, and they are a "Royal" Regiment -- they wear plain glengarries and/or balmorals. There are elements of truth to it, but like a lot of things, I don't take it as "gospel". A Black Cockade, now that displays loyalty to the Crown, as a white cockade displays Jacobite sympathies (although some of the Scots who fought for the Government in the '45 wore Red Saltires on their bonnets, and some Covenanters wore Blue!)

That aside, I tend to agree with the others about the green glengarry (although my personal preference is for a balmoral) -- but one thing to consider -- how many times do you actually wear a bonnet with formal wear? Unless your part of an escort at a Burns Supper, or in a colour party, you really do not wear a cover indoors. Usually when I attend a formal function, I leave the headgear at home, because I'm just going to have to "babysit" all night anyway.

I have a diced glengarry, but I only wear it as part of our Scottish society's colour party at events -- for "everyday" wear, I stick with my black bonnet, although the green bonnet is very tempting!

Cheers,

Todd