1st Highland Dress I feel proud of...critique?

[CMcG]

I think you look pretty sharp I especially like how everything seems to fit you really well.

There are some nuances to this outfit, however, that could be tweaked if you are going for a really traditional Highland civilian dress (THCD) look. Some are to do with specific items, others have more to do with avoiding being overly colour coordinated aka too "matchy-matchy."

- ditch the flatcap for a Balmoral, or go bareheaded.
- get some solid colour flashes (or garter ties).
- try a shirt with a subtle pattern (i.e. tattersall, stripes, herringbone, etc), rather than stark white
- mix up your colour palette with some hose in a colour other than blue. I would go for a nice lovat green.
- as a former serviceman, it would be ideal if you could have a tie that represents your service, but a school or other association tie could also work. Barring that, you might consider an ABF tie or unaffiliated striped tie.

[David Thorpe]

Nice kilt, jacket, waistcoat, hose, shoes, shirt and tie.
Since you asked...
Patchwork flat cap... meh. As someone else suggested, a Balmoral or even a (gasp) Glengarry would be more traditional.
Silver-cantled sporrans are normally reserved for evening or formal wear. A nice plain brown or brown and black sporran would do nicely with the day-wear outfit.
Not sure how high your garters are positioned, but with that length of cuff overturn, the flashes should extend maybe 2" downward from the cuff. I personally like tartan flashes, but evidently in terms of current Scottish fashion, they are considered passe and say, "hired outfit".
Kilt pin is fine, but is rather high. Maybe down to the dark blue horizontal stripe? I also like to center mine on a vertical stripe.
Very good first effort.
As always, just MHO and YMMV.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

This is the first time I've seen a photo of you in the kilt -- looking good! I like your choice of hose color. Other colors I think would work well are yellow and claret. I'd stay away from a light, lovat blue. There is already a lot of light blue in the kilt and I think hose in that color would just be overkill. But the navy work very well.

I'd also skip the flat cap. I have no objections to wearing them with a kilt, per se. But I think it would look more congruous with the outfit if you were just wearing a polo shirt or something else casual like that. As it is, to my eye it just doesn't seem to go with the rest of the outfit.

But I like the Braemar jacket, the contrasting waistcoat (is that linen?), and I also like the subtle effect of the tartan inlay in the sporran. It's very modern, and a bit different, without spoiling the traditional look of the ensemble or being too much "in your face."

Wear it well!
M

[CMcG]

Silver-cantled sporrans are normally reserved for evening or formal wear. A nice plain brown or brown and black sporran would do nicely with the day-wear outfit.

I agree that a plain brown or black sporran would be more typical, but a silver cantle with leather body isn't beyond the pale. For me, it is the tartan insert that makes the OP's sporran cool, but not traditional. I think a leather bodied sporran with silvery metal cantle could be used for for day or evening wear. A brass cantle, however, might be a more traditional choice for daywear. See the Duke of Rothesay below:

Not sure how high your garters are positioned, but with that length of cuff overturn, the flashes should extend maybe 2" downward from the cuff.

I'd say 2" OR LESS. Don't want them flapping about in the wind, do we? See the pic above.

Kilt pin is fine, but is rather high.

I don't think it is too high, though. That might be more of a "personal flair" issue.

[Jock Scot]

I think we all need to be a bit careful when making our suggestions here, yes there is the more usual and indeed, the more unusual, but not necessarily wrong. Kilt pins were commonly worn at mid thigh height in the not so distant past, certainly in my youth and the same goes for metal topped sporrans worn during the day as standard day attire and yes, the tops were usually of brass, that were a more common sight not so long ago.

[artificer]

Good look!

Since you're asking for feedback, here are my thoughts, they're worth no more than $0.02 ;)

I'm not a flat capper, but if I were, a solid tweed would be the way I'd go.

Love the jacket, what a great fit for off the peg!

I wear my kilt pin at the same height as you do- I don't like it too low.

Your hose could be a bit lower and the flashes a bit shorter (I'm not a tartan flash guy, but lots of people do love theirs).

You might consider a different colour hose, claret immediately jumps to mind. Other colours I'd consider would be a dark buff (putty) or Lovat green.

Love the shoes - great daytime colour.

Nicely done, sir. A very well put together outfit.

ith:

[Tobus]

But I like the Braemar jacket, the contrasting waistcoat (is that linen?)

That was the first thing that jumped out at me in this photo: the jacket/waistcoat colours. I like this combination! There was a discussion a while back (a couple of years ago, as I recall) where we were talking about waistcoats not matching the jacket. And while it seems that it's very rarely ever done in THCD, this would be a great way of doing it. Nicely done!

Oh, and since it's been on my mind lately, I do notice that your jacket has top-stitching on the lapel and edges. I think that's just the kind of very minor detail that people probably don't even notice, but gives the jacket a more traditional effect. The Braemar jacket style sometimes looks a little too "clean" to me, but with the braided epaulets and top-stitching, it has a nice outdoorsy daytime look. Especially with that waistcoat. I like it!

[Domehead]

Good morning and again, thanks for all the feedback. My thoughts...
The cap was not intended to "match" the dress. It is the cap I wear daily and I am skin-bald. The sun wreaks havoc on my scalp.
I have a wonderful all-leather sporran, custom "Goose" inlay from Mr. Haley at Wyvern Leatherworks. However, I use my cantled sporran for "just-a-tick-up" the formality ladder, based on event.
As well, I own a nice pair of Country Shooting hose from House of Cheviot - Brick Red hose with Brick Red & Mustard "chessboard" turnover.
With my Ancient Blue garter ties & my Haggart's Tweed jacket and waistcoat, I wear these for the most formal events I attend.
As for the flashes, I've been having trouble with their length lately. I recently changed how/how far I turn down the cuff, mostly to compensate for a lack of calves. Although I enjoy the tartan flash, I am not satisfied with my elastic flashes either.
Re: the neck tie, I agree. I have been trying locally for a Black & Gold or Red & White Regimental tie...US Army or Cavalry Flag colors. Just havn't located them yet. But, I will.

[Mudge]

Thank you for the kind words - everyone. As for the cap, it is not Harris, but is 100% wool Irish tweed. On recommendation, I purchased it from The Hat Shop in Stephen's Green Shopping Center, Dublin - about 32 Euros and made in Castlebar, County Mayo.

I love the whole look. I tend to wear a flat cap as well, because it looks best on my head and with my faces structure. Keep on kiltin and do it with what makes you feel good.

[thescot]

The only things I would not wear that you do are matters of personal taste, so I won't offer any negative comments at all.

I did want to complement the wasit coat choice. I really like the look--color contrast, etc.--and I want to offer my personal kudos for a very nice appearance. I doubt you'll encounter any negative reactions no matter where you wear it.