Ewan McGregor Investiture Wear

[Jock Scot]

Well Ok, this is my personal take of ghillie brogues, diced hose and Sir Sean. For the first two don't bother, there are better options and with Sir Sean I beg to differ with your conclusion.

Ok thats my opinion. So why? Plain, well polished thin soled Oxfords will do the job better and are more versitile. A pair of bottle green, or burgundy hose will do quite nicely and well, Sir Sean's poor choice of attire speaks for itself.

[Sir Didymous]

The choice of Charcoal over black is one that I think is okay. It is morning suit equivalent. I would have opted for an Argyle personally, but that is a choice just like the sgian dubh. (Section removed for adherence to Rule 11) Again it's an option. The belt with waist coat thing is something I have done before, and found that it looks odd. That's more of a fashion thing, just like the white hose. It is considered to be a no-no by those in the know, but white is one of the biggest selling colors of kilt hose world over. As for the shoes, I would have went with a nice pair of polished Oxfords, but I think his brogues are just fine. His sporran should have been a fur semi-dress though. He sort of looks like he was dressed by a kilt hire clerk.

[Elizabeth]

Being a woman I can say this... he can wear anything he wants (or not).

[Nathan]

Fair questions.

To the first question. Its the white hose, ghillies and belt with waist coat(the belt buckle is hardly tweed day wear either) that let the look down as far as genuine day wear goes . I know, I know, I know! Some will be aghast at this, but for goodness sake let us at least know what is required, particularly when one really needs to know, as in this case perhaps, what is needed and then adapt as you wish afterwards, again, as has been done in this case. The question is, is the gentleman attired through knowledge or not? Not, in my judgement. Is the earth going to stop spnning because of it? No!

OK but these statements seem to be critiquing his taste regarding accessories rather than his order of dress. For example, there is no order of dress I think it is fair to say, with which you would recommend ecru hose and ghillie brogues. You say they are dreadful, but is the choice of ghillie brogues so out of bounds as to render the outfit not a lounge suit equivalent? Surely someone could make choices with their lounge suit attire that we wouldn't approve of while still being dressed in a lounge suit. Suspenders and a belt worn simultaneously, white socks, a tie and pocket square cut from the same cloth etc... but the individual making these fashion choices would still be attired in a suit I think it's safe to say. Are Mr. MacGregor's very popular choice of below the knee attire enough to render his outfit not a suit equivalent or do you simply not like his choice of suit?

I'm not a fan of belt and waistcoat at the same time although the look is showing up more and more frequently on the websites of Highland outfitters etc...

Frankly I regard barathea argylls in any colour other than black with suspicion particularly when they don't have silver buttons. I don't think the cloth in isolation adds or subtracts to a jackets formality, but the jacket that you describe falls between generally accepted definitions and not something that might be worn in any circumstance that might be considered as formal.

So this garment, like the ecru hose, semi-dress sporran and ghillie brogues enters the realm of wasted money in your estimation? Something that the owner can never find the appropriate occasion to wear? Ever?

[freddie]

I'd either loose the belt or vest (and undo the jacket) and everything else is perfect. A great ambassador for Scotland!

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

So this garment, like the ecru hose, semi-dress sporran and ghillie brogues enters the realm of wasted money in your estimation? Something that the owner can never find the appropriate occasion to wear? Ever?

I don't know what Jock's opinion might be, but I'm sure that there are occasions when portions of Mr. McGregor's attire could be most appropriate to wear. Take for example his hose; it's my opinion that they wouldn't be in the least out of place if one was engaged in the pastime of dipping sheep.

[Jock Scot]

...



So this garment, like the ecru hose, semi-dress sporran and ghillie brogues enters the realm of wasted money in your estimation? Something that the owner can never find the appropriate occasion to wear? Ever?

I am sorry Nathan, I have only just spotted your question.

Its a free world, well your bit and my bit is anyway, and how and what we choose to wear is a privilege that we both have. So If you want to wear those things then do so, however if you want to wear your kilt and attire to best advantage then, if I were you I would choose rather more carefully.

I said it in another thread, I think yesterday, that the Scots have a "home" advantage over the rest of the world with kilt attire and speaking generally here, we have no need to look in shop windows, internet, catalogs to see how kilt attire and colours and what is worn where and how by using our eyes and seeing the kilt live and for real and experienced know how is often at hand too. I accept that some choices that some Scots make do defy this observation-----spectacularly on occasion! So those new to the kilt do not wear what so many kilt attire shop owners, kilt hire companies and web-shops think that we ought to wear! This is where much of the divergance of trans-Atlantic kilt attire opinion comes from that causes so much angst between us and it shows so obviously on websites such as this one.

[Nathan]

I am sorry Nathan, I have only just spotted your question.

Its a free world, well your bit and my bit is anyway, and how and what we choose to wear is a privilege that we both have. So If you want to wear those things then do so, however if you want to wear your kilt and attire to best advantage then, if I were you I would choose rather more carefully.

I said it in another thread, I think yesterday, that the Scots have a "home" advantage over the rest of the world with kilt attire and speaking generally here, we have no need to look in shop windows, internet, catalogs to see how kilt attire and colours and what is worn where and how by using our eyes and seeing the kilt live and for real and experienced know how is often at hand too. I accept that some choices that some Scots make do defy this observation-----spectacularly on occasion! So those new to the kilt do not wear what so many kilt attire shop owners, kilt hire companies and web-shops think that we ought to wear! This is where much of the divergance of trans-Atlantic kilt attire opinion comes from that causes so much angst between us and it shows so obviously on websites such as this one.

Fine, but you didn't answer my question. I know you aren't a fan of some of today's popular accessories and to be honest neither am I in some cases. Since the man were talking about is a Scot, I think we can lay aside the home advantage point as irrelevant to this example and get back to the point. Does the fact that he is wearing ghillie brogues and white hose actually make this outfit "not a lounge suit equivalent or rather is he wearing a lounge suit equivalent of which some Highland gents may not be fond?


It's not like he is wearing diced hose, patent pumps and an evening sporran...

[Tobus]

My guess is that he was outfitted by a hire shop for the occasion. The white hose, kilt worn at mid-knee, ghillie brogues, ubiquitous sword-style kilt pin, shiny waistplate, and choice of jacket and tie all look exactly like an advertising photo for the modern kilt look being pushed by most vendors. I'm not really seeing anything in his outfit that speaks to his being an old-school kilt-wearer by family tradition. It all looks very modern and new, and executed by the standards of a typical High Street outfitter. Especially with the kilt at mid-knee and the sporran being a hand-width below the belt buckle. Not to mention the way his tie is knotted rather loosely, though neatly. And the black buttons on the jacket just scream "modern semi-formal", a style that's being pushed hard by these vendors.

That said, though, he does look quite dashing even if I wouldn't have chosen certain elements of that particular outfit. His shoes are well-shined and properly tied, his hose are worn at a good height, and his kilt and jacket seem to be a good fit. He looks quite comfortable and at ease in a kilt. I do note that his shirt has French cuffs, and I give him props on that. Aside from the wearing of a belt with a waistcoat and buttoning his jacket, I don't see any major faux pas in his execution. I'd bet he just followed the advice of the person who sold/rented him the outfit, and did it rather well. I would doubt that he knew all the "rules" of formality, and just followed their advice.

He is certainly leaps and bounds above some of his fellow Scots who have embarrassed themselves with poorly-worn and ill-fitting kilt outfits.

[creagdhubh]

My guess is that he was outfitted by a hire shop for the occasion. The white hose, kilt worn at mid-knee, ghillie brogues, ubiquitous sword-style kilt pin, shiny waistplate, and choice of jacket and tie all look exactly like an advertising photo for the modern kilt look being pushed by most vendors. I'm not really seeing anything in his outfit that speaks to his being an old-school kilt-wearer by family tradition. It all looks very modern and new, and executed by the standards of a typical High Street outfitter. Especially with the kilt at mid-knee and the sporran being a hand-width below the belt buckle. Not to mention the way his tie is knotted rather loosely, though neatly. And the black buttons on the jacket just scream "modern semi-formal", a style that's being pushed hard by these vendors.

That said, though, he does look quite dashing even if I wouldn't have chosen certain elements of that particular outfit. His shoes are well-shined and properly tied, his hose are worn at a good height, and his kilt and jacket seem to be a good fit. He looks quite comfortable and at ease in a kilt. I do note that his shirt has French cuffs, and I give him props on that. Aside from the wearing of a belt with a waistcoat and buttoning his jacket, I don't see any major faux pas in his execution. I'd bet he just followed the advice of the person who sold/rented him the outfit, and did it rather well. I would doubt that he knew all the "rules" of formality, and just followed their advice.

He is certainly leaps and bounds above some of his fellow Scots who have embarrassed themselves with poorly-worn and ill-fitting kilt outfits.

Well said, Tobus.