My first time wearing my Scottish clothes and accessories.....

[CollinMacD]

Hello everybody. This is my first time putting on Scottish clothing and all the accessories, so I have enclosed a photograph, and wanted to ask the more experiences folks, did I put on everything correctly? I certainly do not want to misrepresent my Scottish heritage, and want to make sure everything is being worn correctly. Thank you for looking... FYI... my clan is MacDonald of Clanranald. I have done my Geneology all the way back to 1650, and my family comes from Knoydart, and Inverness. Yes, they were Jacobites, and were in the Scottish Clearances, thus ended up in Nova Scotia. My grandfather came from St. Andrews, Antigonish, NS to the U.S. in 1912, became a U.S. citizen in 1934. My grandfather was a MacDonald (MacBride). My grandmother came from South River, Antigonish, NS, and was a Chisholm (MacIntosh), from Archibald (Ban) Chisholm, both arrive on the Brigantine "Nora" in 1790, from Fort Williams, near Inverness Shire, Scotland.



I served in the US Coast Guard, and according to CG Instructions, authorized to wear my award medal in miniature. Thank you for looking, hope to hear your feedback, good or bad....

[ctbuchanan]

That is a great family history and a very nice and very formal attire.
Others have a much better eye on these things but from what I see I think your kilt is a bit low.
This is because, like many of us, your first instinct is to have the belt at what would be belt height for a pair of trousers. In a more traditional kilt it should be worn higher which will bring it up the knee a bit as well.
Perhaps others will comment with more detail.
Wear it with pride.
Enjoy.

CTBuchanan

[Tarheel]

I like your choice of sporran and hose color. Many will lift the kilt (I am included) to show more knee. From the angle of the photo, I can't tell if your hose are too high or not. This is not an issue with me if comfort and warmth are the counter-point. Thank you for your military service as well, the medals seem right at home on your chest. Good turn out in my eyes.

[McMurdo]

All in all a great first effort, .As has been said already lifting the kilt will help the overall appearance. As a final critique I will say I do not favour the fly plaid and think your outfit would be wonderful without it. I've never worn one but understand from those who have that they are unruly things that tend to get in the way your experience may be different of course and if you like the look then go ahead and wear it.

[CollinMacD]

That is a great family history and a very nice and very formal attire.
Others have a much better eye on these things but from what I see I think your kilt is a bit low.
This is because, like many of us, your first instinct is to have the belt at what would be belt height for a pair of trousers. In a more traditional kilt it should be worn higher which will bring it up the knee a bit as well.
Perhaps others will comment with more detail.
Wear it with pride.
Enjoy.

CTBuchanan

Thank you for your comments. Catholic school boy so hem is low... Thanks know see what I can do to make it better

[Father Bill]

Looks fabulous. The jabot and fly plaid are both very formal, so wear accordingly.

Yes, hike up the kilt and show some knee. Also, do you have both a vest and a dirk belt? We normally only wear one at a time.

Still, you're doing well!

[Panache]

CMD,

A belt and waist plate is worn with the Montrose doublet, but not the Sheriffmuir (unless it is a belt for your dirk)

I agree with the comments about hiking up your kilt.

While a fly plaid can look dashing, I think having both the medals and the fly plaid detract each from the other. I think the medals would be ornamentation enough

All in all a grand first try

Cheers

Jamie

[Jock Scot]

Well alright as you are asking and through my traditional Scots eyes you are doing pretty well for a first time.

However, are you intending to dress that formally? The outfit, including the shoes do imply "white tie" attire to a great extent, is that what you intended? If it is then fair enough, but the whole outfit is too much for a plain "black tie" event.

As already mentioned, the kilt is far too low and the hose are far too high. The tartan flashes are not everyone's idea of a good choice and there is too much showing, about an inch is better.

The plaid is tending to overdo the whole attire, as is the bonnet and unless decorations are specifically asked for, then they are best left at home .

Depending on the event,it does change ones formal attire requirements somewhat but generally speaking for the far far more common "black tie" events then the phrase " less is more" is well worth considering.

I hope these comments help in your thinking and you can spend many a happy hour fine tuning your attire to suit the event that you choose to venture to. Good luck and have fun!

[ctbuchanan]

You seem an easy going chap so I do hope you take the critiques in good humor.

The thing is, when you get to the level of formality you are showing there is less wiggle room to get it right. The lads on the forum have all made valid points.

I think we would all be interested in knowing what event you have planned for your first?

The kilt is nicely done and because a well made kilt is the most versatile garment in the world you can look forward to creating any number of outfits for any number of settings. Full out casual (which here in the States is OK) to your well thought out formal attire.

Cheers

[CollinMacD]

You seem an easy going chap so I do hope you take the critiques in good humor.

The thing is, when you get to the level of formality you are showing there is less wiggle room to get it right. The lads on the forum have all made valid points.

I think we would all be interested in knowing what event you have planned for your first?

The kilt is nicely done and because a well made kilt is the most versatile garment in the world you can look forward to creating any number of outfits for any number of settings. Full out casual (which here in the States is OK) to your well thought out formal attire.

Cheers

I am a MacDonald, so how easy going can you be? My point was to get as formal as I could to start off with, then down dress it as needed. I love all your comments, and take nothing personally, I want to learn to do things right, as I said, I have stayed away from gimmicky items, and focused on the nicer things. I agree with lesser is better. I have two big events that mean a lot to me in the next two months, one is the Donald Formal Dinner in Alexandria, Va, the evening of the Scottish Walk, that is a formal sitting. The next is being piped into the St. Andrews Society of Washington DC, which I am waiting to hear when, most likely January. Also in January is the Robert Burns Night Out which is a formal affair. Latter on there are several others events all formal that I would like to attend.

Everything I bought came from very reputable Scottish dealers from the golden mile in Edinburgh, Scotland. I spent thousands to get this right, as it is so important to me to have fine clothing not cheap clothing. You get what you pay for and I wanted to make sure I had quality, not quantity. One other thing I would like to express. I am a Viet Nam veteran, and was diagnosed several years ago with a rare cancer, caused by Agent Orange, I was in the brown water when over there on small boats. I weighted over 350 lbs. when I was on the chemo, and took it every day for almost 5 years. I have been cured, and no cancer at all, however because of the chemo they had to perform a gastro bypass because it mess up my digestive system. I have lost over 145 lbs. When I embarked on this, I made myself a promise, if I survive, and loss the weight, I will get myself the best Scottish outfit possible, as this was on my bucket list. So that is another reason. May sound stupid to some, but for me, being of a military background, it was the goal I need to take that hill, or beat that cancer, and I did, and know I have what I set to have....

There are formal balls, and other affairs run by the St. Andrews Society I will attend (if I can afford to pay for them, as they are very expensive), but when I do go I want to make sure I do not fall into that category of a make believe Scotsman, as my name indicates, I am the real thing, not a wanna be..... Not being egotistical, being proud of my heritage.

So, when doing this, I started with the most formal, and certain can dress down. The Jacobite Collar is white tie formal I know this, but what would you wear for black tie formal, a wing collar shirt with black tie, would a matching tartan tie be appropriate, or a red Cravat?

The fly I probably will not wear at the first affair, I agree its a pain. However, I am very proud of my service in the US Coast Guard, and wish to display my awards. I served in combat, Viet Nam, and won those awards. I guess I am a little stubborn on that.

I understand about the belt, and that was confusing to me, because I saw many people wearing the belt, and did not understand why, not holding anything up, what was the use other than decoration. So I can loose the belt.

Hose I agree, pulled up too high, but I thing the camera angle was bad, as I had them just below the knee. I will check that. Kilt I will pull it up so it sits higher on the waist. I agree with that too.

The flashes I understand and will expose just the tips.

All of your comments are so helpful to me, and I am glad you are honest enough to teach me how to dress correctly. This is very important to me, as I feel I am representing my families honor, our heritage as MacDonald Clanranald, and most of all I am proud to come from such linage of a highly regarded clan.

Thanks for all you comments, and I will repost a photo next week.... I see so many who do not dress properly, I just wanted make sure I did not fall into that class.

Kindest regards,
Allan Collin MacDonald