Kilt Accessory Themes

[ziggy]

Hello all,

So, this is something I have been throwing back and forth, and I have a feeling of the response but it still has to be asked. Themes (for belt, kiltpin, sgian dubh, sporran etc) can be mixed if you want I assume. I would think that unless you have a purist watching you, wearing a thistle sgian dubh and say, clan crest pin and sporran is fine. Big thing for me is I like the thistle theme but I doubt I ever get a thistle sporran, though maybe. Generally I'd wear the Gunn crest as my family name is a sept of the Gunns.

Of course if I was going full fress, I'd try to wear all clan crest, but you know... also I know many of you don't wear all the different accesories, just the same. Any thoughts?

This is more for opinions than looking for a definitive answer, as I'm sure one isn't out there.

Ian

[Tim Little]

There are no definitive answers!

Kidding aside, my personal take is that having a single theme (e.g., clan crest, thistle, rampant lion, etc.) for all one's accessories might be a bit much -- a bit too contrived, perhaps? -- but rarely will anyone other than yourself be looking closely enough to notice.

[McMurdo]

You can wear all matching accessories or not, it is completely up to you. For me I'd rather mix and match that way I find I have more freedom to create a pleasing outfit and not be nailed down to one specific look.

[Panache]

Having a subtle theme can look very nice.

For instance I like wearing a antler handled sgian dubh with my antler tip kilt pin and antler buttoned Freelander Sporran



The antler theme is subtle and (IMHO) works well with the tweeds I am wearing.

But it can go a bit to far.

I am a Galbraith, as much as I might like being a Galbraith imagine if you will the following outfit:

Galbraith tartan kilt
Galbraith tartan flashes
Galbraith tartan tie (with Galbraith clan crest tie tack)
Galbraith tartan glengarry hat (with Galbraith clan crest badge)
Galbraith clan crest sporran
Galbraith clan crest kilt pin
Galbraith clan crest sgian dubh
Galbraith clan crest ring

If we wanted to go formal we could add a Galbraith tartan waistcoat and doublet with a Galbraith tartan fly plaid!

No longer would I be the humble Jamie.

I would have become...


GALBRAITH MAN!!!!!


Now obviously you aren't meaning to do what I am speculating about above.

However it seems to me that too many matching clan crest items don't enhance an outfit. It seems a bit like a uniform.

Myself, I would rather pick one clan crest item you really like and show some individuality/creativity with the rest of your outfit.

Why draw with only one color when the big crayon box holds hundreds?


Hope this was of help.

Cheers

Jamie :ootd:

[Tim Little]

Glen makes a good point, of course.

A further thought:

I think a uniform theme comes across as being, well, rather too uniform-like. I think that's probably just fine if you're in a pipe band or similar circumstances where uniformity is mandated or preferred, but again IMHO it is a bit much for civilian dress.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

As I'm sure you've pick up from Jock Scot's postings, in Scotland nobody really worries about "matching ties and hankies". As one of the traditionalist fuddy-duddies here, I can tell you that I don't go in for all of this "clan crest" stuff on belt buckles, sgians dubh, kilt pins, sporrans, and what-nots. Day wear and evening wear I use a blanket pin for a kilt pin, and my day wear sgian dubh has a horn handle. Eventide I swap it for a silver mounted one with a black handle. I have a rather simple leather sporran for day wear, and in the evening wear a full-face muskrat sporran or, if the event is black tie, I wear a seal-skin sporran with my crest discretely engraved on the cantle.

To me it seems enough to wear a kilt in one's clan tartan, and a "clan badge" in one's bonnet. I tend to think anything else is over-kill.

[macwilkin]

As I'm sure you've pick up from Jock Scot's postings, in Scotland nobody really worries about "matching ties and hankies". As one of the traditionalist fuddy-duddies here, I can tell you that I don't go in for all of this "clan crest" stuff on belt buckles, sgians dubh, kilt pins, sporrans, and what-nots. Day wear and evening wear I use a blanket pin for a kilt pin, and my day wear sgian dubh has a horn handle. Eventide I swap it for a silver mounted one with a black handle. I have a rather simple leather sporran for day wear, and in the evening wear a full-face muskrat sporran or, if the event is black tie, I wear a seal-skin sporran with my crest discretely engraved on the cantle.

To me it seems enough to wear a kilt in one's clan tartan, and a "clan badge" in one's bonnet. I tend to think anything else is over-kill.

What Rathdown has said is spot on, INMHO. It's sort of like the unwritten "rule" regarding lapel badges -- any more than one is overkill.

T.

[JSFMACLJR]

I don't buy into this these business at all. My kilt is made of cloth in my clan's tartan. Sometimes I wear a clan crest badge on my bonnet, but usually I wear my own crest. I do not even own a kilt pin or a belt buckle with any form of clan crest on them. Now this is just MY PERSONAL OPINION, but I think those kilt pins made like a sword with the clan crest badge soldered on look a bit too much! Again, I repeat, THAT IS MY OWN PERSONAL OPINION. By all means feel free to wear one if YOU like it.

[The Guy in the Kilt at UC]

I say mix it up. Everything matching looks a bit odd to me. When I see a mix of things, it looks like someone put a bit of thought into their outfit. Kind of like the way a hand tied bow tie looks better than a pre-tied because it is slightly antisymmetric.

[ziggy]

Thanks all for the responses, very helpful, and what I expected too.

Generally I can see the argument on wearing two many crests. A kilt in principle should be seen for what it is, it doesn't seen alot of extras if done properly. Kinda like those gold rimmed crystal glasses you saw alot in the 80's / 90's......was the gold really necessary? Maybe that one is just me though :P

Anywho I will be wearing a Wilson tartan, so I like the idea of wearing like a Gunn Kiltpin \ sporran, you know, show the historical lineage of my roots... other than that yeah I agree. I am not big on headress so i figure this works. I will probably NEVER wear a fly plaid because well....for me, it wouldn't work. I also probably won't wear a crest belt buckle, i found a really nice celtic knot one I like.

So yeah!...and yeah, very good, haha. It really shouldn't be a uniform, should it. For me it's just the idea of having the historical aspect to it I like. For instance I like the thistle crest because of the thistle itself, and the old story that goes with it, seeing as they Gunns are of viking descent.

Ian