Need Help With My Outfit.

[McCowboy]

I am extremely new in this world of kilts, and have a few questions as to what I can get away with and without. What I mean is, what is the minimal presentable dress? I have a very limited cash supply and want to save what little I do get, so a good beginner kilt that's not made too far from home and what else I need to get to look professional but not under dressed.


Thanks.

[McElmurry]

A sporran. You can scrunch socks with workboots and wear just about any shirt but you are going to look a bit undressed to most without a sporran.

[Tobus]

I agree on the sporran. But to answer your questions, it really depends on the setting and context in which you plan to wear your kilt. Can you give us an idea on when and where you want to fit in? Also, what did you have in mind when you used the term "professional"?

A kilt can fit in with everything from a night at the pub to a state dinner with a monarch, so obviously the level of dress you anticipate needing will be important.

[McCowboy]

[QUOTE=Tobus;1114906]I agree on the sporran. But to answer your questions, it really depends on the setting and context in which you plan to wear your kilt. Can you give us an idea on when and where you want to fit in? Also, what did you have in mind when you used the term "professional"?


I am mostly interested in bagpiping at funerals, weddings, etc, so i'd likely be the only feller in a kilt at all.

[Tobus]

I am mostly interested in bagpiping at funerals, weddings, etc, so i'd likely be the only feller in a kilt at all.

Hmm. Weddings and funerals will require a more 'dressy' approach. Honestly, I don't think you're going to be able to pull together a presentable outfit for these types of events without a significant investment. You don't necessarily have to go with top-quality items, but you will need to look respectable and professional. In my opinion, you'll need the following as a minimum for weddings and funerals:

Black dress shoes, polished
Decent quality kilt hose with flashes or garters
Kilt of 6+ yards material (casual kilts really aren't appropriate for this)
Sporran & sporran belt (it's probably best to stay away from 'Jacobite' style sporrans for this)
Kilt jacket (with matching waistcoat would be ideal) - probably a black Argyll jacket is best for weddings and funerals, though a charcoal tweed might work
Dress shirt and tie

There are other items you can add or swap out for, which would make your outfit more presentable, depending on the level of dressiness of the event, such as a nice dress sgian dubh, a kilt belt with waistplate, etc. Some weddings might request that you dress to a higher level, and that can get complicated, so I won't necessarily go there just yet.

OC Richard has some wonderful pictorial examples of what he wears for piping which would serve as an excellent guide.

[Mike_Oettle]

Hi, McCowboy –
as a piper you will probably do best wearing fairly formal outfits, at least to start with.
As your piping earns you payment, you may be able to branch out and kit yourself with a variety of outfits.
You may find inspiration from a man I know who goes by the handle Piperjames. His name is James MacGowan, and he now lives in Cape Town, where he plays the pipes for whoever will hire him, including the local kilted regiment, the Cape Town Highlanders. You will find him on Facebook.
He started his piping career with the Irish Guards (having been a fighting Guardsman to begin with), and naturally played the pipes in a range of uniforms, from undress to levee dress.
He has some very formal outfits that he wears on appropriate occasions.
But he also has a lot of fun with informal outfits – much to the chagrin of the Scottish outfitter in Cape Town, who is also with the Cape Town Highlanders.
For the Soccer World Cup in 2010 he played up the popularity of the vuvuzela by inventing a gadget he called the duduzela – bagpipes with vuvuzelas for drones.
(Bear in mind that the Afrikaans word for bagpipes is doedelsak.)
For the Rugby World Cup last year he devised what he called the doodlebokkie – the bag incorporates the head and body of the Springbok rugby mascot, Bokkie.
His wife also devised the Springbok Rugby tartan, and I believe he wore it when playing the doodlebokkie. He certainly wore Springbok Rugby T-shirts on those occasions.
When playing formal gigs he wears his “tanks” – eight-yard, 16oz kilts in clan or regimental tartans.
But he is not shy to wear four-yarders in 13oz PV or wool.
One of his favourite gigs is at a Christmas parade in Cape Town, at which he usually wears his Mighty Men kilt (he and I own the first two Mighty Men kilts in 13oz PV). Bear in mind that in South Africa, Christmas is in midsummer.
Earlier this year he undertook a long-distance walk across South Africa wearing his Mighty Men kilt, sandals and a variety of shirts and T-shirts.
He made many friends along the way, and used every opportunity he found to share the Gospel with the people he met.
With his “tanks” he naturally also wears formal headgear (a glengarry or something like it), but for his informal gigs he wears much more informal headgear. For his cross-country stint, he wore a Mighty Men tammie.
Even if you choose not to go very informal, you may well find that there is a demand for a cowboy piper – be prepared to turn out in a broad-brimmed hat and a cowboy shirt!
Regards,
Mike

[Downunder Kilt]

For a kilt, I would suggest a Wool Black Watch economy from jerry at Stillwater Kilts
http://stores.channeladvisor.com/Sti...-100%25%20Wool! $87.0 plus S&H

They are 24" length but you can get someone to take it up if it's too long

And for a sporran "What price Glory" and includes the sporran belt for $25.00 plus P&H
http://onlinemilitaria.com/shopexd.asp?id=1980&bc=no

Okay they are not top of the range but for $112 plus P&H, you get a wool kilt and a very servicable sporran

There was a photo yesterday of members of the Black Watch at Moy in Scotland in very causal attire. I will see if I can find it

Here it is. http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...tch-moy-75322/

[flyrod6057]

Kilt: check.

Sporran: check.

You'll need a belt. 2 1/4" or so. You might want to match the sporran...

Beyond that, it's every kiltie for himself. You can range from tshirt and sandals (my summer attire) to full dress, depending on your situation. To start: kilt, belt, sporran.

[knotty]

I think hose should be on the list too.

I started with a kilt. Then added sporran & belt. That worked till for summer. Then I added hose.


Craig

[MacGumerait]

For a kilt, I would suggest a Wool Black Watch economy from jerry at Stillwater Kilts
http://stores.channeladvisor.com/Sti...-100%25%20Wool! $87.0 plus S&H

They are 24" length but you can get someone to take it up if it's too long

And for a sporran "What price Glory" and includes the sporran belt for $25.00 plus P&H
http://onlinemilitaria.com/shopexd.asp?id=1980&bc=no

Okay they are not top of the range but for $112 plus P&H, you get a wool kilt and a very servicable sporran

There was a photo yesterday of members of the Black Watch at Moy in Scotland in very causal attire. I will see if I can find it

Here it is. http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...tch-moy-75322/

McCowboy ,

Very good advice from Downunder Kilt , I was going to suggest almost the same thing , especially SWK kilt in the economy wool . SWK has the economy kilt in a PV , but they also have a limited supply of the economy kilt in wool in various waist sizes ( not all waist sizes but a decent variety ) . Here is the link
http://stores.channeladvisor.com/Sti...-100%25%20Wool!

Sorry , it's kind of a long link , but it takes you directly to the kilt ( just click on it ) it's only available in Black Watch tartan but it's a great way to get started in kilting at economical price , as Downunder pointed out .

Also , here is a review of that kilt by another member : http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...-review-73426/

As others have stated , a sporran would be your next item and perhaps a belt , all of which can be purchased at a reasonable price . These can be purchased at SWK or other vendors . There are many great vendors here .

I think we can all appreciate the pocketbook issues , you are not alone on that one !