Dressing formally kilted, noob

**Dale Seago** · 6th February 13, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by Tony

I decided my day sporran was far too day-ish, and so a L&M dress badger should be being held up by US Customs any minute now. Fingers crossed it makes it in time!

Congrats on what will undoubtedly be a splendid acquisition -- I look forward to pics of the beastie!

(Just don't wear it if you visit certain parts of California, you may get lynched.

)

**Tony** · 6th February 13, 04:42 PM

Thanks Dale.
I felt like continuing the expenditure of the jacket after acquiring a little cash from my late father's insurance.
A proper family tartan kilt will be procured after a bit of waist wastage. Ok, a lot of waist wastage. ......

**Tony** · 11th February 13, 08:22 AM

Progress so far:
Got shirt with studs.
Got silk bow tie - practicing each night. Got to the point where I can make a passble attempt around the knee, but a dog's breakfast around the neck.
Failed miserably to find a pair of Oxfords that fit, so going with thr ghillie brogues with as high a polish as I can muster.
Bottle green hose with blue flashes.
Sporran arrived today

20130211_094104.jpg

**Llama** · 11th February 13, 08:27 AM

What size shoe do you wear? I have a pair of Florsheim brogued oxfords that don't fit me.

**Tony** · 11th February 13, 09:21 AM

I'm an 11.5 to 12.5 depending. Unfortunately both pairs of Florsheims I've owned cut my feet to shreds

**Mikilt** · 11th February 13, 07:41 PM

Originally Posted by Tony

And drat....

Forgot I'll have to learn how to knot a bow tie. I better get practicing.

Good call. Self tied ties look so much better than pre-tied.

There are a number of good tutorials on youtube. Scan a few and see what works for you.

**Tobus** · 12th February 13, 06:36 AM

Originally Posted by Mikilt

Good call. Self tied ties look so much better than pre-tied.

There are a number of good tutorials on youtube. Scan a few and see what works for you.

I absolutely agree - a self-tied bow tie not only looks better, it offers much more in the way of personalisation than a pre-tied one. Due to the way a bow tie is tied, it won't always sit exactly straight and level. Having it just ever so slightly askew is a nice personal touch.

I'm not sure why so many people are intimidated by tying a bow tie. It's really not hard at all. Especially with internet sources available to show how it's done. Once you understand the basics of how to tie it, it's pretty easy to do. And the cool thing is that it's a very forgiving knot. Once you have it loosely tied, it's just a matter of snugging it up, adjusting the ends, and repeating that process several times until it's just like you want it. Compare that to a long necktie, where if you don't get the length right on the first go, you have to undo the whole thing and start over. A bow tie is just so much easier to get right, as long as you've got the length adjusted to your neck size.

**cck** · 12th February 13, 06:45 AM

Beautifully said, Tobus. You explained it all. I find them easier to wear than a long tie.

**Tobus** · 12th February 13, 09:02 AM

Originally Posted by cck

Beautifully said, Tobus. You explained it all. I find them easier to wear than a long tie.

And you wear them well! I actually took some inspiration from seeing your wearing of bow ties in person. I ordered several more bow ties last week from The Tie Bar to add to my available neckwear, and even some matching pocket squares. In fact, I'm wearing one of them today.

Though, sadly, not with a kilt.

Not to hijack the thread, but I'm really starting to enjoy wearing bow ties just as often as long ties. My initial intimidation factor on wearing them was just plain silly, and I always get compliments when I wear one. Wearing a bow tie on a regular basis makes it much easier to transition into formal wear mode with ease. I'm now firmly in the pro bow tie camp, thanks in no small part to you.

I could probably fiddle with it to get it "perfectly" tied - especially if dressing up for black tie - but I like a bit of dishevelment in nonformal neckwear.
bowtie-ys.jpg

**JSFMACLJR** · 12th February 13, 09:13 AM

Originally Posted by Tobus

And you wear them well! I actually took some inspiration from seeing your wearing of bow ties in person. I ordered several more bow ties last week from The Tie Bar to add to my available neckwear, and even some matching pocket squares. In fact, I'm wearing one of them today.

Though, sadly, not with a kilt.

Not to hijack the thread, but I'm really starting to enjoy wearing bow ties just as often as long ties. My initial intimidation factor on wearing them was just plain silly, and I always get compliments when I wear one. Wearing a bow tie on a regular basis makes it much easier to transition into formal wear mode with ease. I'm now firmly in the pro bow tie camp, thanks in no small part to you.

I could probably fiddle with it to get it "perfectly" tied - especially if dressing up for black tie - but I like a bit of dishevelment in nonformal neckwear.
bowtie-ys.jpg

I wear bow ties very frequently. Glad you've come over to our side!