Newbie Here

[NordicWookie]

Hello all,

First off, Thank you for hosting this amazing community! I’m excited to be apart of it. I’m from Minnesota, USA and have been searching for the proper kilt outfit for a piper. My grandmother was a Clark and the only Scottish decent I have. Most of my other family members are of Scandinavian decent. My Father was in the navy and my Grandfather the Army, if that matters (show of respect). I’ve been playing bagpipes a short while now and was hoping to look the part when I’m ready to go out and play in front of others. I’d like to eventually play for funerals, in our local parade and of course for general enjoyment. There is no pipe and drum band here in my small town so I’m not sure how to go about this.
I didn’t want to make any rookie errors by Not researching enough. Maybe ordering the wrong set up. Finally, I’m of course wanting to find the proper Tartan to show respect for my grandmothers ancestry.

I wasn’t sure if a piper could get away with not having to order the giant H1 uniform or just a kilt will do? But rather finding the proper kilt, sporran, socks and tops? I have found the blue Tartan from Scot Web for the Clark name. I’ve messed around with looking at the differing pleats and such. I just didn’t know if there were any guidelines or rules to follow. It’s a bit overwhelming when I don’t have any local sources.

I look forward to learning as much as I can as well finally pulling the trigger on a quality outfit that I can both perform in as well show up at the pub and play a few tunes for the patrons.

Thank you again!

[VegasKilted]

A warm Las Vegas welcome.

[Jock Scot]

Welcome, from Inverness-shire.

[Kiltedjohn]

Welcome from a Scotsman living in the English midlands.
I have Clarks (from Perthshire) in my tree, but then it's a very common name!!

[kilted2000]

Welcome from a very snowy Home of the Blues!

[Father Bill]

Welcome to the “Great Rabble”!

Cheap advice: Wait. Read lots here. Then read more. Wait until you’re fairly confident that you’re buying the right stuiff, then buy the kilt, hose, sporran, all good quality then stop and wait.

Take a look at OC Richard’s kit in his own pictures here (not his historical stuff, what he wear himself.) He does a lot of what you’re trying to do, and does it well. Take a look at Steve Ashton’s outfit too. They’re both simple. Then find the “One kilt, ten looks” thread too.

You don’t need to go thousands of dollars. Simple is best. I’m a sporran collector, but you really only need one or maybe two fairly simple sporrans. (Stay away from what they call ‘semi formal - they’re neither fish nor fowl although some guys like them.)

Stick with a few quality pieces. You can build later if you wish, but if you buy a whole lot at bargain prices, you’ll just end up buying quality later and wasting a lot of money in the process.

Welcome then, and good luck. Just read a lot before you spend a lot.

[NordicWookie]

Welcome from a Scotsman living in the English midlands.
I have Clarks (from Perthshire) in my tree, but then it's a very common name!!

Thank you John! I don't know much about the Clark side other than a few names. My first kilt I purchased was in 9th grade. I hadn't really thought about any ancestry because I didn't think I had any. Do you thin it's still ok to wear a tartan of that clan if I"m not sure?

Also, I found a way to create your own Tartan and have been fiddling around. I noticed there was a Norwegian - Scottish Association! I thought that was very cool!

Thanks for the hello and have a wonderful day!

[Kiltedjohn]

Do you thin it's still ok to wear a tartan of that clan if I"m not sure?

I reckon you're absolutely OK to wear that tartan, especially if you have people of that name in your tree. You'll find in this forum people are often accused of "over-thinking" on such matters.
Thanks for your reply, and happy kilting!

[OC Richard]

I have been searching for the proper kilt outfit for a piper. I’ve been playing bagpipes a short while now and was hoping to look the part when I’m ready to go out and play in front of others.

First, welcome!



About piping attire, most pipers play in bands and follow the standard modern Pipe Band dress.

This outfit evolved in the 1980s and has changed a bit over the years since then.

Now the standard uniform worn by serious competition Pipe Bands all over the world is:

-black Glengarry
-black Barathea waistcoat (recently tweeds, in charcoal grey and deep blue, have also become popular)
-white or light blue shirt
-long necktie
-traditional 8-yard all-wool kilt
-black leather Hunting sporran with chrome cantle
-black, dark blue, or charcoal grey kilt-hose
-black Ghillie brogues.

Here's a couple Grade One bands:



This one is wearing sealskin Evening sporrans, also popular:



Back 20 years ago the bands all looked like this, with Argyll jackets and white hose:



Back 50 or 60 years ago the bands all looked like this, in semi-military-style Full Dress:



I wear modern Pipe Band kit when playing in the band, but for solo gigs I prefer wearing modern traditional Highland Dress: