A Question of Taste...

[CMcG]

...or a Question of Influence? I'm thinking it's six of one and half a dozen of the other. I've been reflecting on how my sartorial kilt-sense has grown and changed since I discovered Xmarks. Anyone care to join me in some self-relection?

How would you define your taste in kilt attire?

What is/are your main influence(s)? Have they changed over time?

How has Xmarks contributed to how you approach the kilt?

Before, my main influences were, sadly enough, rental kilt outfits and pipe bands because thats mostly what I saw around me, if and when anyone else was wearing a kilt. Neither really suited me but attempts at mixing in Saxon wear didn't really work out.

Now, I'm enjoying the benefits of the accumulated wisdom on this wonderful forum. The deep knowledge of the traditionalists is priceless but I also enjoy the contributions of modernists and individualists.

And then it hit me. The single biggest influence on my sense of taste is my lass, hence why I sometimes affectionately refer to her as my "official kilt inspector." Her aesthetic is North American and non-Scot but well informed by the available options within Highland attire.

She has patiently learned a ton of terminology about tartans, pleating styles, sporrans, sgians, doublets, jackets, etc. Now she knows quite a bit about Highland attire and has formed some excellent opinions. The other day I asked her to spell it out for me.

In her opinion, the way to go is contemporary-traditional. While she doesn't mind a Sportkilt-and-tshirt look for hiking or puttering around the apartment, she generally thinks the kilt should be reserved for special events. This means she favours smart casual, dressy, semi-formal, and formal looks.

She doesn't like modern kilts (Utilikilts et al.) or scrunched down hose with boots because they are too casual and not traditional enough. On the traditional side, she doesn't like lace jabots, doublets, dirks, PCs, full-mask or horsehair sporrans, hats with toories, too much tartan, too many mixed patterns, and too many colours because they look to either archaic, over-the-top or both.

I then pressed her to specify what she does like. Sgiannan dubh are cool. Hose always up with flashes; solid for daywear, diced/Argyle for formal, and white never. Black leather shoes, sporrans, and belts. Darker, short-fur, metal cantle sporrans are OK for dressing up. Tasteful mixing of patterns can work i.e. a subtle tattersal shirt with a tartan kilt. A button up shirt, tucked in is the minimum, which can then be dressed up with a sweater, vest, and/or Argyll/Crail/Braemar jacket. Tweed or black barathea for the jacket. Four in hand, black bow, or stock tie, depending on the level of formality. Traditionally styled, tartan kilts or Irish solid colours and any type of pleats.

I don't always listen because horsehair sporrans and lots of tartan are just awesome But by-and-large, I defer to her judgement. After all, she's the one who has to be seen in public with me!

[Mael Coluim]

You are a lucky and smart guy.

Now what was the question?

[Bugbear]

* "How would you define your taste in kilt attire?"

Well at one point I was a fan of the jabot, but I feel I never quite got a handle on the whole way things are done in Scotland.

* "What is/are your main influence(s)? Have they changed over time?"

I recall seeing some copies of very old photographs, and probably drawings when I was young, and that has, of course, influenced me. Then there is the discussions here on the forum. Trying to match the two up didn't always work out well.

* "How has Xmarks contributed to how you approach the kilt"

All I can really say is that I have made a few or still have a few friends here, and it was actually the first forum or socially interactive web site I joined. Some of those friends wear kilts; guess I'm a groupie. I'm not Scottish, though.

[llyd]

I am pretty much at the experiment stage...I do not have the $$$ for formal or dressy casual..yet...the cthulhu tartan box pleat will be my first decent tartan kilt...will see about vest, waistcoat, etc, later...anf of course I really wamt kilts in my clan tartans..Keith and Hamilton...maybe Gunn later on...
My usual outfit is a variety of tweed print polo shirts and casual kilts...camo or solid, made of cotton bottom weights, although I do have a nice lightweight Italian suit wool in an understated fashion tartan...would look nice with tweed or black jacket and tie..gotta get busy amd re hem it though....
Xmarks has taught me alot...and given me the impetus to learn how to male my own bloody kilts...

[English Bloke]

Blimey... I'd hang on to her.

So what you are actually telling us is... "Darling? I have to wear my kilt tonight. Hayelp?"

Don't worry about it, my Mrs keeps me straight too and she's Turkish but with excellent taste. It's the refined taste that counts if you're not following the absolutely tradtional directive.

If you see pictures of me dressed immaculately, it's my wife's influence. If you see pictures of me looking like a lemon, it's me.

[robbiethepiper]

Since you asked: Horsehair sporrans, spats, feather bonnets and long plaids label the wearer a wannabe piper/drummer. It's a bit like wearing medals/rank badges you haven't earned. Dirks are for killing people. Wish I got invited to a few more white tie funtions so I could justify the cost of a montrose jacket and jabot. Tartan waistcoats and ties are a good way of demonstrating your heritage/affiliation when you have to wear trousers;They should never be worn with the kilt. In a day or evening formal setting dress according to tradition ( not history! ). In a casual setting almost anything goes except for baseball caps, which should be reserved for your inevitable audience with Satan should you transgress. It is of course your human right to dress as tastelessly as you wish. Now, who will bite?

[English Bloke]

robbiethepiper... Brilliant... Less the horsehair sporran bit... It's a wallet with attitude when all said and done!!

Now wearing medals you're not entitled to? That could grind a stone!

[Jock Scot]

I have a Highland Scot as a wife and should I stray from the kilted straight and narrow, I am soon and unerringly put back on course!

[Creeker]

I try to dress anywhere from casual to semi formal, mainly because I'm still saving for some more formal attire. I like to wear a casual kilt, team polo, Doc boots to soccer matches. I'll use that same outfit with a different shirt to go to the pub. I do like getting as dressed up as I can with a vest, hose and shoes to go out on the town.
I'm not a fan of Ghillie shirts and I was wondering about how people felt about baseball caps, which I don't think I'd wear anyway. I'll stick to the flat cap...yes, I said flat cap.

[Pleater]

I must confess that since adopting the kilt as everyday wear I have been kept busy making a better set of clothing for myself, as many of the things which went with the previous attire simply will not do.

I should also admit to the acquisition of a full length mirror, and clothes brushes, an upgraded iron, sturdy straight hangers (the sort with clips) and various other little things to keep garments in good order.

Anne the Pleater :ootd: