Arranging for a firk trade

[Piobair]

All the good puns are taken, so I'm stuck with advice. Oh well.

As most have said, a dirk these days usually belongs on the hip of drum major. I've seen plenty of pipers and bands sporting them, and almost 99% of them look a little goonie. If I see someone wearing a dirk with daywear, I usually assume that they're a beginner piper or with a parade band - the latter invariably in spats and short-sleeve shirts, ugh. If they're not a piper, I assume they're crazy and try not to bother them while they stare at the sheep trials.

That said, if not in Number 1 dress or Patrol (in the military piping context), I think it works with black tie, but only if you're at some sort of Highland society event - not your brother's wedding where everyone else is in a dinner jacket or tux. Also, I think if you're not wearing argyle hose or buckled brogues, you shouldn't be wearing a dirk. People disagree about the Prince Charlie and a dirk, but I refer doubters to the old pictures of Bob Hardie that accompanied his ads - I think he was wearing a PC with a dirk, fly plaid, buckled brogues, AND a balmoral and he looked awesome. Of course, that was in the 60s, he was a Scot, and one of the greatest pipers of the age. So take it for what it's worth.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

In very real terms you are unlikely to ever wear a dirk with Highland attire, reenactors, pipe majors' uniforms and renn faire costumes aside. When the dirk is worn with Highland attire it is only worn with white tie-- never black tie, and certainly not with day wear.

[AFS1970]

Way back when, when I joined my local St. Andrew's Society, dirks were the rule and not the exception at most formal events, and they were all black tie, although a mix of jackets up to and including the Montrose were worn.

I have two, one with the fake plastic jewel and one without, and I have not worn wither of them in years, mostly because after not renewing my society membership, I suddenly found myself without any formal Scottish events to attend.

As for ren faires, they are usually depicting a time long before what we think of as traditional highland dress came into being, so most dirks I have seen, including my own, would be way out of place there. However, you will not get many poor comments because the average ren faire is anything but historical, as evidenced by the sheer number of elves and fairies wandering around.

[Taygrd]

Gentlemen, A Firk is a traditional Scottish untensil used for eating haggis. See picture below:


Sorry could not resist

[tkdog]

Oh yeah - you win.

[Baldybrown]

I think the firk should ALWAYS match ones garters.

[Harold Cannon]

In very real terms you are unlikely to ever wear a dirk with Highland attire, reenactors, pipe majors' uniforms and renn faire costumes aside. When the dirk is worn with Highland attire it is only worn with white tie-- never black tie, and certainly not with day wear.

While this is true of most people and occasions, Stuart Morris of Balgonie and his father Laid Balgonie seem to pull the look off quite well.



A dirk also makes a handy place to hang your bonnet while you have tea and cakes.

[Harold Cannon]

I really do like the style of jacket that they wear!

[Geoff Withnell]

While this is true of most people and occasions, Stuart Morris of Balgonie and his father Laid Balgonie seem to pull the look off quite well.



A dirk also makes a handy place to hang your bonnet while you have tea and cakes.

Interesting. The last but one picture is obviously day. The laird is wearing full size medals, pined to his plaid. The gentleman in the center is wearing an order or decoration I can't quite make out around his neck. I wonder what sort of affair this was?

[Mike_Oettle]

Yes, Stuart and his dad are very traditional yet very stylish dressers.
Incidentally, in case anyone was looking, the furry face between the sporrans is not another sporran, but one of their Scottish deerhounds (probably Finn, the dog).
Regards,
Mike