Too Traditional?

[David Thorpe]

I must admit I did not have that in mind. As we over here are quite used to wearing hand-me-downs and exact fitting goes un-noticed more often than not!

So,and------------?

No more visible to my untrained and inexperienced eye. I freely admit that I didn't notice that particular gent until you set him in focus. Also, I am trying to learn here -- not to criticize another man's choices -- but rather to see THCD through your eyes and be better equipped to do it right myself as a result. (End disclaimer)

[David Thorpe]

Oh, my! Tartan flashes are faux pas? I've been pretty proud of the half dozen sets I've made in the last couple of months.

[creagdhubh]

You should not wear a dirk with an Argyll, the jacket gets all crunkled up, as in this pic here, the lengths are just all wrong. The purplish bunnet really stands out too, and it's not that common in my circles to see tartan flashes either.

Agreed. Yes, Robert Mackie offers bonnets in the maroon/burgundy/claret colour, though I don't think they are too common, as I have only seen maybe one or two in actual use. Kinloch-Anderson sent me a pair of tartan flashes with kilt(s) I ordered from them years ago. Without getting too off topic, I explain below what I did with them.

First, I took the stitching out; cut them all into a perfect rectangle; and affixed them into a rectangular opening on each cover of several nice, black and brown leather photo albums I had. The rectangular opening was originally designed for a photo to be inserted, but I thought the tartan flashes - reused and redesigned - would look splendid there. Especially since the photo albums only contain pictures of Clan Macpherson gatherings, rallies, ceilidhs, the Highlands and other Scottish-related photos I have taken over the years.

Cheers,

[creagdhubh]

Oh, my! Tartan flashes are faux pas? I've been pretty proud of the half dozen sets I've made in the last couple of months.

Wear them with pride if you enjoy them, mate! However, when speaking in a traditional sense, they are not by any means 'the norm,' despite the fact that you still see many chaps wearing them - especially with white hose. Plain red, green, or blue flashes made of wool or grosgrain are typically what come to mind when thinking in a more traditional sense. Though, I am rather fond of traditional garter ties too.

Cheers,

[Jock Scot]

Well alright you all have been looking for about half an hour for things that I see in a blink of an eye. My perceptions, impressions and assumptions could all be deemed as unfair and may well be just plain wrong, and to my eyes "White Hose Man" shouts "American" and is too traditional. Or to put it another way, trying too hard. I think I should add, we are using this gentleman for educational purposes not for any criticism of him personally.

So What am I seeing?

Well, I think the white hose caught my eye first of all, then I think the unusual bonnet colour(remember we are in the Scots Highlands). Then the black jacket, then THAT DIRK, then a short stick, and finally the length of the kilt. Oh and the tartan flashes don't help either.

He is when all said and done turned out very smartly and white hose, black jacket and long kilt would probably have got him into the traditional bracket. The dirk,short stick and maroon bonnet put him in the trying too hard bracket.

So it is the overall impression that counts and individual pieces of attire are not so critical. Apart from the dirk.

A word on bonnet colours. We have retired Paras, we have retired Royal Marines, for example and as a uniform they wear maroon or green berets, but as civilians most (nearly all that I have met choose not to wear those colours with their civilian balmoral). It is something that I have noticed retired American service personal seem to do.

[MacLowlife]

I quite like the burgundy Balmoral- for country day wear. But I would probably not wear a burgundy fedora in similar circumstances.

Jock, after I posted, I saw that you commented on the dark red headgear. My reply was not in direct response to yours, but my effort at guessing what caught your eye. I probably wouldn't purchase such a bonnet, but I might wear it if it was given to me. I go weeks, even months without putting on any hat at all.

My own theory, which agrees with your "list method" above, is that one has a certain budget of individual flair. You can attempt to spend it a little here and there, or you can blow the entire bundle on one big transgression. I think, however, that too many things- even very small things- will eventually add up to too much for most of us to carry off.

One more thing about the cromach, certain bonnets, and even dirks: They can all be removed at the last minute and left in the car. I think we can agree that even an outre sporran is likely better than none at all- and the same is surely true ( as Jock told us before) of socks in a less than felicitous color or pattern. And I'd rather have on the wrong jacket than be freezing.

Now, as we are discussing context, I think it is useful to note that for those members in the US, the kilt itself is a pretty big item on your Budget of Attention Calling Attire. That is, a guy in a kilt is going to attract attention most places, whether he is wearing a fly plaid or not. I think it is meet, right, and our bounden duty to wear the kilt in a way that makes sense, but we may as well remember, nine times out of ten, the casual observer is educated to the point of noticing we are kilted, not to the point of knowing whether we have dressed for the occasion or not.

[David Thorpe]

I got the word about white hose early on, but had no idea about the tartan flashes.

These are of my clan tartan, to match the tank Bonnie is building for me.


And I did these to give a nod to garter ties.


I may have to play the "personal flair" card here. I have made several sets of plain wool flashes, but have no interest in doing tied garters, at least for the present.

[Jock Scot]

I got the word about white hose early on, but had no idea about the tartan flashes.

These are of my clan tartan, to match the tank Bonnie is building for me.


And I did these to give a nod to garter ties.


I may have to play the "personal flair" card here. I have made several sets of plain wool flashes, but have no interest in doing tied garters, at least for the present.

If you like them, then wear them!

[MacSpadger]

Oh, my! Tartan flashes are faux pas? I've been pretty proud of the half dozen sets I've made in the last couple of months.

No, they are not faux pas, at all, they are a matter of personal choice. I was just saying in my personal crowd I don't see them too often. They were more popular in the 80's I recall, but seemed to wane in favour of solid colour flashes and "guards style" flashes with stripes, which remain popular.

[creagdhubh]

A word on bonnet colours. We have retired Paras, we have retired Royal Marines, for example and as a uniform they wear maroon or green berets, but as civilians most (nearly all that I have met choose not to wear those colours with their civilian balmoral). It is something that I have noticed retired American service personal seem to do.

This makes complete sense to me, Jock. Below are Balmoral colours that I generally stick with:

Navy
Black
Lovat Green
Lovat Blue
Fawn (my favourite!)



Cheers,