My thoughts on THCD

[imbrius]

I've been thinking a lot about the norms of traditional Highland dress, especially based on this thread. I've specifically been thinking of how I can apply it to my kilt-wearing in 21st century America, on my budget, with my body shape.

Kilt: Five yards of Lochcarron Riever-weight, pleated to the sett.
Deviations: None, other than it being a low-yardage kilt.

Sporran: Brown leather with tassels on brown strap for daywear. Chrome-cantled black leather with rabbit fur front and tassels for evening.
Deviations: I also wear a black fur-fronted leather day sporran with chromed tassels ("semi-dress") for times when a dark suit is called for.

Hose: I own two pair of HoC hose.
Deviations: I wear mostly knee-length cotton diamond weave socks from Sock Dreams, rolled over in the style of kilt hose. They're cooler in the summer and less expensive. I plan to phase them out as I acquire more actual kilt hose.

Garters/Flashes: I tend to wear the self-coloured flashes that my lovely wife makes for me (so far in modern green, red, and black). I would like to augment these with garter ties eventually.
Deviations: I wear the tartan flashes that came with my kilt with the matching Argyle-topped hose for black tie; it gives a similar overall impression to full tartan hose.

Footwear: Black Oxfords for dressy but not black tie situations. Mirror gloss US Air Force dress uniform shoes for black tie.
Deviations: I wear polished brown Derbys for daywear because I like the rich brown with my usual daywear sporran and colour set.

Sgian dubh: For evening wear, a chrome prop blade with a dark-stained carved wood handle, finished with a silver nut.
Deviations: For daywear, I wear a knife with a slightly longer-than-traditional blade and a handle made out of a found small mammal femur. I got it at an oddities show. I think it looks quite nice and still fits the daywear role.

Shirts: For a while, I wore Gingham, check, pseudo-tattersall, etc. and my wife (and others) never really liked the look on me. I've since switched to wearing mostly solid colours, especially darker ones like navy, burgundy, dark grey, etc. and those around me highly approve of that. I wear almost exclusively white for dressier events. Always crisp, white, starched shirts with French cuffs and laydown collar for black tie.

Neckwear: Same story as the shirts. I had some lovely fairly conservative striped ties but everyone around me said they clashed with everything. I've since switched to all solid-colour ties, even for Saxon dress. Black bowtie for black tie.

Jackets: None for most daywear. If outdoors and it's cold-ish, a tweed for daywear or a black Barathea Argyll with silver buttons for dressier events. I tend to take the jacket off fairly quickly indoors as I overheat easily. PC for black tie, indoors or out.

Waistcoat: Sometimes, depending on weather, etc. Always with black tie. I have a matching jacket/waistcoat set in lovat green tweed, a five button black Barathea waistcoat for the BBSBA, and the a three button black Barathea waistcoat for the PC.

Headwear: Usually none, unless I'm going to be outdoors for an extended period. Then I'll choose either the fawn Balmoral or a wide-brimmed canvas hat I found. I like the look of the brown canvas hat for outdoor daywear, especially for hiking. I think it complements my beard colour.

Plaid: None.

Belt: I will wear a brown or black belt to match shoes and/or sporran, unless I'm wearing a waistcoat.
Deviations: I find I need a belt for my body shape to look less overstuffed.

Kilt pin:
Deviations: I have two, both made by my lovely wife. One is a brass clock hand with a red rhinestone glued over the center hole. It evokes the classic shape of a kilt pin but a bit more whimsical. The other is an angular, heart-shaped piece of bismuth crystal. I prefer the clock hand.

Outdoors:
Deviations: I wear a black canvas long coat for winter weather.

In general, I think I cut pretty close to THCD most times but I've adapted things to suit my circumstances. Overall, I feel like I'm learning a lot about myself and how what I wear (and how and where I wear it) affects how others see me.