Rules and practicality from the knees down!

[Rexxx]

Hello! I finally got my full macIntosh red kilt! Since it was a pretty penny, it will be my go to kilt for awhile. I live in Hickory NC, close to the Grandfather games.
Anyway, I am still piecing together my outfit. I notice there are many threads, but I can’t seem to answer this. Guille brogues just seem impractical to wear out for everyday, especially when at a wet grassy muddy field! Like the games! I can’t imagine my Noble ancestors ran around Loch Moy in brogues. I see the men in TV shows wears boots up to the knees now. Which makes sense when hunting.

Hose seems less impractical, like socks. My question is, what really works that is practical and also looks damn good so the fashion police don’t cringe? I understand brogues are good for Burns night. Even then, formally, are there boots that are acceptable?
And then, what color will work best for the Red tartan?

And is a belt buckle necessary? Or even a belt necessary. It seems to flashy , takes attention away from the tartan. If yes, then just say”yes!”

Thank you in advance!

[Hirsty]

If you are going a bit casual - polo shirt, rugby shirt, or tee shirt hanging out - then I don't wear a belt as you won't be able to see it anyway.

If you are wearing a shirt (tucked in) be it short or long sleeved then a belt is best.

I am not a huge fan of these knee high boots. If I am going casual, then I often wear my hiking boots or camel boots (like the Timberland ones).

Brogues can be quite robust. I have worn my brown brogues to many a Highland Games, often muddy. Just clean them when you get home and ensure that you keep up with polishing.

Always wear decent length hose. There is something that doesn't sit right with me aesthetically with a man in a kilt and ankle high socks.

[Father Bill]

The answers to all of your questions will be best given when we know how traditional and how formal you're trying to dress. Otherwise, we just get people's personal preferences rather than their perspective.

Help us out here, please.

Bill+

[McMurdo]

I'd suggest looking at this thread

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...-attire-46888/

[California Highlander]

Hello! I finally got my full macIntosh red kilt! Since it was a pretty penny, it will be my go to kilt for awhile. I live in Hickory NC, close to the Grandfather games.
Anyway, I am still piecing together my outfit. I notice there are many threads, but I can’t seem to answer this. Guille brogues just seem impractical to wear out for everyday, especially when at a wet grassy muddy field! Like the games! I can’t imagine my Noble ancestors ran around Loch Moy in brogues. I see the men in TV shows wears boots up to the knees now. Which makes sense when hunting.

Hose seems less impractical, like socks. My question is, what really works that is practical and also looks damn good so the fashion police don’t cringe? I understand brogues are good for Burns night. Even then, formally, are there boots that are acceptable?
And then, what color will work best for the Red tartan?

And is a belt buckle necessary? Or even a belt necessary. It seems to flashy , takes attention away from the tartan. If yes, then just say”yes!”

Thank you in advance!

Congrats on the kilt! I just got my Mackintosh red too! For highland games, I wear brogue boots and House of Cheviot hose. I usually wear a double-prong celtic embossed kilt belt and a plain black leather sporran. Generally with the CMNA tee shirt (Clan Mackintosh North America). Away from the games, I might wear my regular brogues (brown or black) and perhaps a tweed jacket. Pub, likely a rugby or polo shirt and hiking boots or maybe the brogues. I don't go to any formal events, so never a PC or even an argyll.

As others suggest, looking the "10 ways" threads is great inspiration!

[Rexxx]

Hello and thank you for the reply.
Ok I will get a belt. Brown? What about the buckle?
I read somewhere that light grey or fox red Sporrans look good with red.


I plan on wearing outdoors in the NC sunlight to about 3 annual festivals and to 1 formal event per year. So I’m figuring that casual is best in the heat, unless somebody has advise how to dress it up and stay cool.

[Bruce Scott]

A pair of brogues like these should handle most outdoor conditions:



Often seen on Ebay - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SCOTTISH-...-/312252157930

[plaid preacher]

I'm going to start with the belt, because that is probably the easiest. I have a belt and a buckle that I like and which I seldom wear. IF you are wearing a sweater or a vest, the convention is that you do not wear the belt, and personally, often when in a jacket - even when not wearing a vest - I find the belt to be cumbersome and usually just leave it in the closet. The only time I seem to reach for it is when I am in shirt sleeves. So if you are building a wardrobe, I would suggest a good tweed jacket first.

As for footwear, I don't own gillie brogues and probably never will. I do have a pair of brogued dress shoes that I normally wear, but any dress shoe would do. When I am in a more casual rig, I normally wear a soft-soled dress type shoe (mine are Rockports). IF you are out in the elements then a more rugged footwear might be necessary, but normally if the weather is that bad you won't be out in it in your $500 kilt.

Do look at the "10 looks" thread, to gauge your style... and indeed you will find your own as you meet others and wear your kilt out a few times. I know my closet does not look like what I probably thought was highland wear when I first ordered my kilt; and still there are are couple of things in my closet that I don't wear that often and had I known they what I know now, would not have bothered spending the money on.

And finally, enjoy.

[kingandrew]

As Father Bill noted, it all depends on how formal the event you're attending is. For casual wear, I often opt for my brown hiking boots. On dressier occasions, any pair of dress shoes will be OK. The belt is optional, but if you wear one do look for something that is wide than the belt you wear with your trousers. I strongly recommend a decent pair of kilt hose or shooting socks, as shorter socks just don't look right with a kilt. You'll find a wide variety of sock colors and patterns are available in appropriate lengths, so choose something that you think will look good with your tartan and the rest of the outfit.

And enjoy wearing it (and all the compliments you will receive).


Andrew

[Tobus]

Guille brogues just seem impractical to wear out for everyday, especially when at a wet grassy muddy field! Like the games! I can’t imagine my Noble ancestors ran around Loch Moy in brogues. I see the men in TV shows wears boots up to the knees now. Which makes sense when hunting.

Hose seems less impractical, like socks. My question is, what really works that is practical and also looks damn good so the fashion police don’t cringe? I understand brogues are good for Burns night. Even then, formally, are there boots that are acceptable?

Modern ghillie brogues aren't very suitable for the wet grassy/muddy fields you're describing, if you want to keep your hose and feet dry. They are more of a decorative shoe, descended from early versions of shoes which were worn to protect the bottoms of one's feet but not to keep the feet dry. The holes, or broguing, were at one time functional components to drain water out of the shoe after crossing streams, bogs, etc. These shoes were never intended to keep feet dry.

Historically speaking, when men wanted to keep wet grass and mud from soaking their shoes and socks, they wore spats (short for spatterdashes). These have fallen out of style in the last century as boots came more into fashion, roads were paved, and automobiles decreased the amount of foot travel. But they are still a practical option, although (sadly) rarely used.

Your most contemporary fashionable option for keeping feet and hose dry will be something like ankle-height brogue boots.

As for formal occasions, however, a dress shoe is typically called for.