Need help coordinating shirt/hose/tie/flashes

**Shaun S.** · 15th August 11, 02:36 PM

Simply put, my sense of stlye is severly lacking. The only evidence contrary to this assertion is my choice to wear a kilt. Being both color blind and analytical certainly doesn't make things any easier. I have searched and read a number of threads, but I still don't get the big picture.

So, I'd like to get some input, mostly on selecting hose and shirts. Let's start with some occasions that would require a suit. In this case I am thinking of two events. The first is a "Captain's Dinner" on a cruise I will be taking in a couple of months. Second would be at church on those occasions where I would be wearing a suit (or kilt equivalent to a suit). For more casual combinations I'm not so worried, but this is "getting dressed up" for me. I'd like to look, as my wife says, "put together."

The Nitty Gritty...

As we discuss this, Rocky is making me a semi-traditional kilt in Stewart Hunting pleated to the yellow stripe. As soon as it arrives I have a black jacket that I will have converted to a kilt jacket. Along with this I also have a black vest. In addition I have cream hose.

My first thought was to get a cream shirt to match the cream hose. Then add a red tie and flashes (or garter ties) to go with the red stripe in the tartan. The second idea was to get black hose and a white shirt; also with the red tie and flashes.

Would either, or both, work? Is one more dressy than the other? What other ideas to you have?

Thanks for your input.

**TheBrus** · 15th August 11, 02:48 PM

Both sound like excellent options; however, be warned there is a certain prejudice for white/cream colored hosiery. Other choices are tartan green, navy, or red hose for solid colors. If you want to invest more money, go with a diced, argyle or tartan hose. Stewart Hunting is an extremely versatile tartan--have a look at episodes of Monarch of the Glen featuring Duncan!

**CMcG** · 15th August 11, 02:53 PM

I have been told that traditionally not much thought is given, nor importance assigned, to matching colours. It's not terrible to be "well put together," rather it is perhaps more a question of not over doing it or trying too hard.

From the same school of style, neither white nor cream hose are a good choice unless they are required as part of a uniform. They are often the sign of rental kilts or inexperienced kilt wearers. Lovat blue, lovat green, charcoal grey, or even claret hose seem to work with just about anything.

For a more dressy occasion, a regular white dress shirt is a good choice or perhaps a very light solid colour. For a more casual one, a tattersal (or other small pattern) shirt could be worn instead.

A striped regimental or school tie is traditional choice but, solid colours are also good. If you don't have an affiliation, you could get an ABF tie:
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f98/abf-ties-61771/

Here is a thread I made the other day with various examples of kilt wear at different levels of formality:
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...xamples-68377/

**creagdhubh** · 15th August 11, 03:25 PM

Originally Posted by CMcG

I have been told that traditionally not much thought is given, nor importance assigned, to matching colours. It's not terrible to be "well put together," rather it is perhaps more a question of not over doing it or trying too hard.

From the same school of style, neither white nor cream hose are a good choice unless they are required as part of a uniform. They are often the sign of rental kilts or inexperienced kilt wearers. Lovat blue, lovat green, charcoal grey, or even claret hose seem to work with just about anything.

For a more dressy occasion, a regular white dress shirt is a good choice or perhaps a very light solid colour. For a more casual one, a tattersal (or other small pattern) shirt could be worn instead.

A striped regimental or school tie is traditional choice but, solid colours are also good. If you don't have an affiliation, you could get an ABF tie:
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f98/abf-ties-61771/

Here is a thread I made the other day with various examples of kilt wear at different levels of formality:
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...xamples-68377/

Please, NO WHITE/CREAM/ECRU HOSE - you can do far better than that!!! I agree with your comments, Colin, well stated mate. Don't worry about matching completely, it's superfluous with Highland attire, unless it is Highland evening (formal) attire, then traditionally speaking, most people tend to match such things as Argyll style hose with the tartan of the kilt, metals all being the same kind/colour, the tartan of the waistcoat and the tartan of the kilt, etc.

With Highland day attire, contrasting one area with another, such as mustard coloured hose with a predominately green tartan kilt, tends to work very well. The photos below may give you a wee bit of inspiration/guidance. I encourage you to utilize the "search" option on this forum - you'll find a wealth of information in regards to your questions.

Me in Grandville Island, Vancouver, British Columbia.

My friend, Sandy MacLean.

Kind regards,

**Shaun S.** · 15th August 11, 04:59 PM

More great info from everyone, thanks.

Originally Posted by creagdhubh

I encourage you to utilize the "search" option on this forum - you'll find a wealth of information in regards to your questions.

Kind regards,

Funny thing, hours of searching and browsing created more questions. Make one post and get more direct answers while you're off to the grocery store.

But I will continue to search before posting questions. Other than my introductory thread, this is my first. Using the search function (and browsing), I have found information on converting jackets, making flashes and garter ties, vests, and of course enough information to generate more questions than answers.

**creagdhubh** · 16th August 11, 08:51 AM

Originally Posted by Shaun S.

More great info from everyone, thanks.

Funny thing, hours of searching and browsing created more questions. Make one post and get more direct answers while you're off to the grocery store.

But I will continue to search before posting questions. Other than my introductory thread, this is my first. Using the search function (and browsing), I have found information on converting jackets, making flashes and garter ties, vests, and of course enough information to generate more questions than answers.

Wonderful!

**azwildcat96** · 15th August 11, 02:58 PM

Wear what you like, but rest assured that people will be staring at you because of the kilt and not because of the color of the hose flashes, shirt, etc.

For what it's worth, my personal preference is not to wear white, cream, natural, ecru, etc hose, but rather to go with a colored hose.

**Shaun S.** · 15th August 11, 03:17 PM

Guess I was wrong about the white vs. off-white (cream, ecru, etc.). I thought anything but white included these off-white colors. Now I know better; but I might still wear the one's I have when around folks who really don't know better.

And nother thread to read over.

I had found the thread with 1 kilt 10 looks. That prompted me to ask these questions, generating more than it answered.

**CMcG** · 15th August 11, 03:22 PM

I forget to mention flashes... when in doubt, I wear red because I think they look jaunty

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 15th August 11, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by Shaun S.

Simply put, my sense of stlye is severly lacking. The only evidence contrary to this assertion is my choice to wear a kilt. Being both color blind and analytical certainly doesn't make things any easier. I have searched and read a number of threads, but I still don't get the big picture.

So, I'd like to get some input, mostly on selecting hose and shirts. Let's start with some occasions that would require a suit. In this case I am thinking of two events. The first is a "Captain's Dinner" on a cruise I will be taking in a couple of months. Second would be at church on those occasions where I would be wearing a suit (or kilt equivalent to a suit). For more casual combinations I'm not so worried, but this is "getting dressed up" for me. I'd like to look, as my wife says, "put together."

The Nitty Gritty...

As we discuss this, Rocky is making me a semi-traditional kilt in Stewart Hunting pleated to the yellow stripe. As soon as it arrives I have a black jacket that I will have converted to a kilt jacket. Along with this I also have a black vest. In addition I have cream hose.

My first thought was to get a cream shirt to match the cream hose. Then add a red tie and flashes (or garter ties) to go with the red stripe in the tartan. The second idea was to get black hose and a white shirt; also with the red tie and flashes.

Would either, or both, work? Is one more dressy than the other? What other ideas to you have?

Thanks for your input.

You can't go wrong with a white shirt, no matter what tartan your kilt may be. As for a tie-- allow me to suggest a green and gold striped tie (google "striped neckties", you'll find a ton of suppliers). I'd go with Lovat green hose for day wear, and dark green or burgundy hose for evening wear.

Your Captain's Dinner will probably be a black tie affair-- stick with the white shirt (you can buy a tux shirt from Penny's) and a black bow tie (avoid the wing collar shirts unless you can tie your own bow tie).

Well polished black shoes are the other requirement, and you might want to re-think the white/cream/ecru hose as these tend to have a "rented for the event" look.

Above all, enjoy the cruise!