advice on accessories please

[Mickey]

It was hard, but I finally fell into the Scottish fashion of just putting on whatever is clean at the moment and putting on my maroon balmoral with no regard to whether it was color coordinated to anything else I was wearing.

It's hard. Very hard. But it seems to work.

[unixken]

It was hard, but I finally fell into the Scottish fashion of just putting on whatever is clean at the moment and putting on my maroon balmoral with no regard to whether it was color coordinated to anything else I was wearing.

I once described my non-kilting sense of fashion, to my brother, as: "Do these pants fit? Is this shirt clean? Alrighty then!"

[MacMillans son]

I think this takes us back to the "Too Traditional" thread of a couple of weeks ago Phil. What I learned there was that "traditional" has a very wide definition that allows for much personal interpretation or flair. If you are more comfortable in your region of the world, or by personal preference, with colors that are somewhat related to each other in an outfit then, by all means, follow your comfort level. The extreme in either direction would be that nothing is related at all relative to color and or pattern, and the other is that everything matches. I prefer that colors are somewhere in the same family relative to warm or cold colors or shades, and/or component colors (yellow goes with blue and green tartans because it is mixed with the blue to get green). After a few short years of kilt wearing this now comes pretty naturally to me, so I don't spend much time looking at what I wear, but I do spend some time, and I'm OK with that. I am confident that I am not too far in my comfort zone to be considered non-traditional.

Early on, it was suggested to me that HRH Prince Charles, was a great example of how to wear the kilt,, and that we would be wise to use him as an example of "how it is done". I have tried to follow that advise. I have not seen any photos of him wearing a plethora of colors and patterns that are not somewhat related. His kilt wear is clearly not an example of the hodge podge throw on what ever falls out of the closet approach. For what it's worth, it is my understanding that the"nothing matches" look is one born of economic necessity of a somewhat impoverished people who did not have too many options to choose from. Fortunately, I/we are not in that position.

Sorry, that was a bit more than you asked. To your question, I think a light yellow shirt and claret hose (a minor color stripe in that tartan), or yellow hose for my previous stated reason (though not paired with the yellow shirt) or blue/green hose of a shade not in the kilt would look great!

[SlackerDrummer]

When you put on a ball cap, do you coordinate your outfit with it? Nope. With few exceptions, a hat is a hat is a hat.

[MacMillans son]

When you put on a ball cap, do you coordinate your outfit with it? Nope. With few exceptions, a hat is a hat is a hat.

I would agree, a hat is an accessory not a central part of an outfit. I guess I was referring to the kilt and the concept of coordinating vs. not coordinating. However, if I had more than one hat I would definitely choose one that was somewhat coordinated with the outfit I was wearing vs. one that was not. Or, if I knew I were to have only one hat I would purchase one that was a pretty neutral color so that coordination was less of an issue. Again, just a matter of personal preference and style.

[SlackerDrummer]

I would agree, a hat is an accessory not a central part of an outfit. I guess I was referring to the kilt and the concept of coordinating vs. not coordinating. However, if I had more than one hat I would definitely choose one that was somewhat coordinated with the outfit I was wearing vs. one that was not. Or, if I knew I were to have only one hat I would purchase one that was a pretty neutral color so that coordination was less of an issue. Again, just a matter of personal preference and style.

You are absolutely right in that, especially when it comes to choosing one of several to wear or which one to buy. I'm just not sure I'd build an outfit around a hat.

[Jock Scot]

-------------For what it's worth, it is my understanding that the"nothing matches" look is one born of economic necessity of a somewhat impoverished people who did not have too many options to choose from.-----------

Whilst what you have said does have a certain element of truth, I don't think that it is a major part of how/why the Scots choose their kilt attire as they do. Certainly for normal day wear there is also an element of duel purpose too. Shooting socks/kilt hose, tattersall shirt for country wear/kilt wear, brogues with country attire/kilt attire, ties with all styles of attire.

Mostly though, I think we have worked out that not bothering, too much,(some choices do not work, EVER, but we soon work out what works!) about matching things does give us huge variety options that are acceptable to all. Simple really.

[Nighthawk]

Whilst what you have said does have a certain element of truth, I don't think that it is a major part of how/why the Scots choose their kilt attire as they do. Certainly for normal day wear there is also an element of duel purpose too. Shooting socks/kilt hose, tattersall shirt for country wear/kilt wear, brogues with country attire/kilt attire, ties with all styles of attire.

Mostly though, I think we have worked out that not bothering, too much,(some choices do not work, EVER, but we soon work out what works!) about matching things does give us huge variety options that are acceptable to all. Simple really.

As Yoda would have put it were he to wear kilts, "Listen to Jock you must. Wise he is." Personally, I like the idea of practicality. While I don't wear a shirt and tie with all attire, like Jock suggests, I do always wear whatever is most practical (and in the Colorado desert, the layers required for daily shirt and tie wear are just not practical.) Right now, practicality includes a nice green t shirt in good repair and a black leather vest. My vest has 4 pockets- two outside and two inside- and isn't especially insulating. The shirt/vest combination makes me look like I put a little effort and thought into the way I dressed this morning. But to give a more specific answer, I personally would mix hot colored hose with your hat/tartan combination- maybe a mustard or tartan red pair of hose. Shirt... Well, I find that I like black or white for my shirts. Those two colors match everything, and meet most levels of formality, from casual daywear to black tie- one of those two colors will go everywhere and anywhere! But when in doubt... KISS!! Keep It Simple, Stupid! (Not to say that anyone in this thread is stupid- that's just the acronym.)