OVER THE TOP: peacocks amongst the penguins

[MacLowlife]

From time to time, we have discussed the festive tradition of Highland wear- a tendency towards the colorful and eye-catching in our formal dress. I think there was a thread on "bling" but I wanted to see what pictures might be available of colorful and flashy formal THCD, particularly worn in contrast to more somber Saxon dress at the same function.

Or does everybody reserve their very best kiltwear for events where the majority of men will be kilted? How about being the only kilted guest at a wedding? Will you strap it on, or will you put on the monkey suit like everyone else?

I think everyone is tired of my red PC- well everyone except me- but I will refrain from posting that same picture again. Instead, I will ask the rabble for pictures, preferably of yourself, in full figure, standing out from the black and white crowd. Or just standing otherwise...


Thanking you in advance, I remain, yr hmble &c...

[M. A. C. Newsome]

For myself, if I am going to be wearing the kilt to a function where I know I am likely to be the only one kilted, I do tend to tone it down a bit, compared to a similar function where the majority of men will be in the kilt.

For example, if I were wearing the kilt to a formal dinner where most of the men would be in suits, and I would be the lone kilt wearer, I'd likely wear solid hose, a plain leather sporran (perhaps one with a functional brass cantle), either a tweed or barathea Argyle jacket (with or without waistcoat), dress shirt and solid or striped neck tie. Traditional, yet relatively understated.

Now, I may indeed wear the exact same thing to a more Scottish oriented formal dinner, where most men would be kilted. However, my tendency would be to go a bit fancier. I would likely wear diced or Argyle hose rather than self-colored. I may polish up my buckle brogues. I may wear a hair or fur sporran. I may decide to go with my sherrifmuir over an Argyle jacket. Instead of a neck tie I may go for a silk cravat or a lace Jabot.

Why do I make the distinction? Perhaps for several reasons. I think that in situations when I am going to be the only one kilted, the kilt itself serves to set me apart from the other men present, so anything else that is overtly out of the norm, such as a lace jabot or buckle brogues, may be seen as "over the top." So I tend to avoid those things that are rather foreign to modern day saxon dress. Also, I think it is important in these situations to illustrate the kilt as clothing and not costume. Not that I think the aforementioned accessories are "costumes" but I could see how they may appear costumish to those who are unfamiliar with Highland dress traditions.

On the other hand, at a Scottish function where many men will be kilted, I see no such reasons for restraint and I try to showcase all the variety and color and flare that Highland dress has to offer!

[CMcG]

I think everyone is tired of my red PC- well everyone except me- but I will refrain from posting that same picture again. Instead, I will ask the rabble for pictures, preferably of yourself, in full figure, standing out from the black and white crowd. Or just standing otherwise...

Let's see the red PC again!

Wearing a kilt to an event where I'll be the only one is OK with me as long as it is appropriate to the level of dress, acceptable to the host, etc. I would generally go with Matt's wise words regarding when to keep it simple and when to get flashy.

Let me give an example of why I would now dress to impress a bit less in a crowd of 'penguins.' A couple years ago, I was in the wedding party of buddy and he asked me to kilt up. The rest of the groomsmen were in tuxes and I wore a kilt, horsehair sporran, and Braemar jacket but the same waistcoat, bow tie, shirt, and shoes as the rest.

I think the horsehair sporran was really too much for that crowd... some people were confused, others curious, and some downright offended. In a social situation where people are not familiar with Highland attire, that much hair in front of ones groin can certainly raise some eyebrows!

Or maybe it was the white hose... pity I didn't know better yet

[saxandpipes]

Let's see the red PC again!

Wearing a kilt to an event where I'll be the only one is OK with me as long as it is appropriate to the level of dress, acceptable to the host, etc. I would generally go with Matt's wise words regarding when to keep it simple and when to get flashy.

Let me give an example of why I would now dress to impress a bit less in a crowd of 'penguins.' A couple years ago, I was in the wedding party of buddy and he asked me to kilt up. The rest of the groomsmen were in tuxes and I wore a kilt, horsehair sporran, and Braemar jacket but the same waistcoat, bow tie, shirt, and shoes as the rest.

I think the horsehair sporran was really too much for that crowd... some people were confused, others curious, and some downright offended. In a social situation where people are not familiar with Highland attire, that much hair in front of ones groin can certainly raise some eyebrows!

Or maybe it was the white hose... pity I didn't know better yet

Maybe people were offended that you looked more like the groom than the groom... Although, I wouldn't blame you entirely... The bride does seem to be giving the impression that she is gravitating towards you somewhat... ;)

Cheers!

Michael

[cessna152towser]

Two years ago one of our USA members gave me her late father's waistcoat in Cunningham tartan. The 'merican lassies seem to love the look of the matching kilt and waistcoat, though personally I feel it is over the top tartan and I prefer to wear the kilt and the waistcoat separately.

I think the garish red Modern Cunningham kilt looks better when it is paired with a black Argyle jacket.

Or the tartan waistcoat could be worn with black trousers or a black kilt.

A saffron kilt is perhaps a bit over the top when worn with matching polo shirt and soccer socks.

[xman]

I guess I'll echo Matt's sentiment about appropriateness in context. I would like to have worn diced or Argyll hose, but I didn't want to outshine my brother the groom so I went with solid hose. I might have worn a PC, but again, not being in the wedding party I wanted to tone down a bit. The hair sporran is the only evening sporran I have so in this regard I accepted that I would likely have the best bag of the bunch and simply swallowed that one. I would otherwise have toned it down a bit too. There were other kilted gents at the wedding and all were suitably less showy than the wedding party.



I really did try to get the lads to don better hose, but they opted for "what I had" and "what I'm used to". Perhaps next time.

For a Burns' supper, well no holds barred.

[Pleater]

A bit over the top?

Do we have a Naughty Step on this Forum?

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

A saffron kilt is perhaps a bit over the top when worn with matching polo shirt and soccer socks.

[ForresterModern]

https//i22.photobucket.com/albums/b345/cessna152towser/album%20name/P2090005.jpg[/IMG]
A saffron kilt is perhaps a bit over the top when worn with matching polo shirt and soccer socks.

...unless you are a walking advertisement for Irn-Bru. ;)

Really, though, I like the look of a matching tartan vest under many settings where a little upgrade in class is desired. I have one but have yet to make a public appearence in it as of yet---soon, very soon.

By the way, Hi Alex. Glad to see you are looking well.

jeff

[CMcG]

Maybe people were offended that you looked more like the groom than the groom... Although, I wouldn't blame you entirely... The bride does seem to be giving the impression that she is gravitating towards you somewhat... ;)

Cheers!

Michael

It was the groom's request and I double checked the whole outfit with him prior to the wedding. One really shouldn't deny a man his requests for his wedding day, should one?

But yes, a bit of a peacock among penguins if ever there was one

[OC Richard]

Yes the fellow with the claret hose, plain jacket, long necktie, and goathair sporran really stands out: an extra bit of class, or dash, or panache. With that jacket, less is more.

I did the same thing at the Burns Supper I piped at this January. I knew that all the men were going to be dressed to the hilt with Prince Charlies, bow ties, etc and white hose.

I purposely decided to go the other way entirely, with a charcoal jacket and claret hose:



Not that I could have worn a Prince Charlie, because I don't own one now. The overall plainness of my kit allowed my vintage sporran, my one bit of bling, my one over-the-top thing, to really stand out.