Irish "Pimp My Kilt!"

[Chaser90EK]

Ok, I am looking to properly accessorize my kilt as an Irish-American. I have see plenty of people wear a kilt with just a T-shirt which is fine, but I'm of the persuasion that if you wear a kilt, you go big! You can kind of tell in my avatar I have my high socks, Guillie shirt (black and white), Celtic sporran, a very low quality sgian dubh, and a tam (like 30 of them >.>). I also have Guillie brogues which are not pictured because I'm wearing my bowling shoes (Side note: Is there some trick to keeping the laces from falling down your leg? I've tried front and side knots and they still slip.) I'm currently working on getting a nice kilt pin. I figured I'd ask the experts for tips on how improve my casual kilt wear. For formal occasions I'm saving for my Brian Boru jacket.

[Madadh]

Rocky of USA Kilts has a great T-shirt that has an Irish Harp in the center. I also have a shamrock kilt pin I wear. You can also get a sgain brew (also known as a bottle garrote) so that no one complains of the little knife.

[Jock Scot]

The best way to solve the ghillie brogue lace problem is find the nearest bin and ditch them(laces and shoes). I kid you not! Black, or brown, well polished oxfords, or better still, brogues work perfectly. Can I advise taking the time to read the information contained within this website before you purchace anything more. You may find that what you think you need now will not be what you actually need once you have gained the information from here. Just saying.

[Chaser90EK]

I'm working on it...I love the look of the Ghillie brogues and they look so good at formal occasions. However when I walk 3 miles in them around a festival issues arise... or rather descend... And thanks for the tip Madadh. I'd seen to a few of those around and wanted to make sure it wasn't tacky to have one... after a quick search I see they can be quick fancy.

[Tarheel]

Based on the brief info I have gathered from your posts, I can see you have a flare that needs expressing. Consider a bowler hat with a hunter or even Kelly green hat band with a small Celtic knot pin in the fold. Wear it when you're inclined to shout, "I am who I am!" The "topper" will be unique to you without damaging the entire kilt look. But, what do I know, I don't drink Scotch or Whiskey.

[cessna152towser]

I agree with Jock. In my opinion Ghillie brogues just look silly and mark you out as an American dressed up in pretendy Scottish/Irish costume. Depending on the occasion, ordinary daywear brogue style shoes with a kilt for a more formal event, or boots for casual wear.

[Chaser90EK]

^ Tarheel gets me

[CMcG]

Ok, I am looking to properly accessorize my kilt as an Irish-American...

People's opinions will vary on what is proper or not. Personally, I understand the origins of the Irish kilt to be an adaptation of the Scottish kilt during Ireland's Gaelic Revival in the late nineteenth/early twentieth century. As such, I would recommend looking at traditional Highland attire for guidance.

Admittedly, I'm not Irish-American, but my Scottish paternal line had a lot of Irish women marry into it and I'm Canadian. As an example of how I do a more Irish look, here's what I wore to the pub just last night. Note that I'm not into the costumey elements like Ghillie shirts/brogues. I'm wearing an Irish tartan, claddagh ring, and a shamrock penannular kilt pin. Apart from those Hibernian details—and in the blink of an eye at 20 paces—this is basically casual-but-traditional Highland civilian attire.


If I were headed to a St. Pat's parade, however, I might want to jazz it up a bit with a nice loud green Celtics jacket

[MacGumerait]

Colin , I certainly prefer your cap toe oxfords over Ghillie brogues . Nice footwear !

[Chaser90EK]

Thank you much! I like the oxfords and they definitely look like a nice substitute for the brogues. I also like the sweater look with the kilt...I think I will be stealing that look for this winter.