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  • 12th February 07, 01:47 PM
    tashaar
    a new historical kilt question
    Been a while since I been here. You were all so wonderfully helpful the last time. I had a quick question about outerwear that should be worn with a kilt. For those who don't remember, I'm writing about a character wearing a kilt to a formal ball in early spring of 1902. I do have the book The Kilt and How to Wear It (great resource) but it says nothing of outerwear that I can see. Would one wear a black Inverness coat with the kilt? It does mention that gloves are not required (though Victorian/Edwardian gentlemen did tend to wear them for balls and going outside in any case). And - what about hats? A top hat would look silly. He could wear a tartan "bonnet" as Mr. Erskine notes, but I'm not sure my character would wear a tartan hat to this affair--he's not entirely comfortable yet in his kilt-wearing persona. What is best, a bowler? A Homburg?

    Anyway, suggestions are appreciated. Thanks for all your help, it's made my story much more colourful!
    --Ann
  • 12th February 07, 01:51 PM
    Big Mikey
    I would think that if your character is "middle class" or has a military background, a black glengarry would be appropriate. A wee bit formal but not over the top.
  • 12th February 07, 02:02 PM
    bubba
    Like Big Mikey said, a Glengarry for formal, but for a bit less formal a Balmoral.
  • 12th February 07, 02:22 PM
    tashaar
    How about the coat? Black Inverness? It's a trifle cold outside. He also has white gloves, only because he is (as were many gentlemen of the time) more conventional - not to touch a lady's bare hand at a ball.

    And he does have a military background, though he was medical. They do take the hats off when they come inside, correct?
    --Ann
    PS: I suppose he's upper middle class, not gentry necessarily, though he is an educated gentleman.
  • 12th February 07, 03:17 PM
    bubba
    I would imagine a wool Inverness cape would be appropriate.
  • 12th February 07, 03:20 PM
    macwilkin
    Bonnets off, always indoors, ESPECIALLY at a formal function.

    Regards,

    Todd
  • 12th February 07, 03:27 PM
    tashaar
    Thanks, gentlemen! You are truly a wealth of information!

    Blessings to all!
    --Ann
  • 12th February 07, 09:48 PM
    Seaforth Piper
    I've an article from the West End Gazetter from about 1915 which goes into the subject. I'll try to dig it up for you.

    From memory (of the article - I'm not quite that old!), the cloth for Highland evening dress of the era would likely be black or bottle-green velvet, in a cut simular to non-kilted evening-dress, with tartan hose, buckled shoes and sgean dubh. head-dress would most likely be a 'blue bonnet' (Kilmarnock aka balmoral).

    the "Bonny Prince Charlie" was considered 'new' in 1915

    gotta go, the bairns are calling!

    R
  • 12th February 07, 10:07 PM
    Jeremiah
    When I go to my buddy's wedding I will be wearing a Fedora....
  • 13th February 07, 03:12 AM
    SnakeEyes
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Jeremiah View Post
    When I go to my buddy's wedding I will be wearing a Fedora....

    I don't think people were wearing fedoras in 1902, especially not at formal functions. Unless you were just saying, in which case... go hard. I love fedoras, I own 2 of them.
  • 13th February 07, 04:42 AM
    macwilkin
    Kilmarnock...
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by kiltykiltycauldbum View Post
    I've an article from the West End Gazetter from about 1915 which goes into the subject. I'll try to dig it up for you.

    From memory (of the article - I'm not quite that old!), the cloth for Highland evening dress of the era would likely be black or bottle-green velvet, in a cut simular to non-kilted evening-dress, with tartan hose, buckled shoes and sgean dubh. head-dress would most likely be a 'blue bonnet' (Kilmarnock aka balmoral).

    the "Bonny Prince Charlie" was considered 'new' in 1915

    gotta go, the bairns are calling!

    R

    R -- Wouldn't a Kilmarnock be a little "out of fashion" by the early 1900's? -- the Kilmarnock or Hummel Bonnet was the precursor to the Glengarry at the turn of the 19th century.

    Cheers, (B)

    Todd

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