Soon to get my first ever Kilt, suggestions on how to mix up the looks?

**J Ross** · 9th March 14, 12:03 AM

I've got an IOS coming in tomorrow which I ordered spur of the moment from USAKilts. I don't have any hose to match it, but I really like the look that the green hose offers. Especially in your "most informal" look. I have a few shirts of that tone that I could make pop with a nice tie.

Thanks for posting, OC Richard.

**unixken** · 9th March 14, 06:11 AM

Originally Posted by albagubrath89

That being said, I'm in my twenties and my generation (age 20s) of Kilt wearers are very much part of the "Kilt Hire" culture and the "matchy matchy" look is certainly "in", however with my Kilt I aim to Stand out as a Highlander, Which Is one of the Reasons I'm sorting my day look out first. When the time comes for the formal jacket choice I'm planning on the Sherriffmuir, over the more commonly worn Prince Charlie and Argyll jackets.

Then I would definitely suggest a good pull-over/jumper/sweater for the cooler days...

Lamb with Sweater.jpg

And some simple, comfortable golf or polo shirts for warmer days...

Mid Summers Eve.jpg

**OC Richard** · 9th March 14, 03:10 PM

Originally Posted by J Ross

I've got an IOS coming in tomorrow which I ordered spur of the moment from USAKilts. I don't have any hose to match it...

Actually the hose that I think look best with IOS are Royal Blue, and Claret. I think what makes these hose look good with IOS is the fact that those colours don't appear in the tartan.

The hose I want to get next, to wear with my IOS, are some Claret shooting socks with yellow check tops, neither claret nor yellow appearing in the tartan.

Like this!

In other words I like to have things contrast rather than match.

**J Ross** · 9th March 14, 05:48 PM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

In other words I like to have things contrast rather than match.

It's definitely a personality things for me. And by personality I mean OCD. I like matching colors.

I look forward to testing your suggestions though.

**Mikilt** · 10th March 14, 06:37 AM

Originally Posted by J Ross

It's definitely a personality things for me. And by personality I mean OCD. I like matching colors.

I look forward to testing your suggestions though.

I am the same way. I like to match and complement. Here is a pic of some flashes that I knit for my R'lyeh tartan

IMAG0099.jpg

**J Ross** · 10th March 14, 11:39 PM

I just got an OTR, Casual, IOS kilt today. I was surprised how much I enjoyed the red tie with the tartan.

I'll be posting a few pictures in the 'Show Me' section in a few.

**OC Richard** · 12th March 14, 07:03 AM

Originally Posted by J Ross

I was surprised how much I enjoyed the red tie with the (Isle of Skye) tartan.

yes yes YES! Come to the dark side!

Not only do I like claret hose with IOS, I also like wearing a scarlet tie at the same time... just the reverse of the way I thought about things back in the 1980s when I wanted everything to match.

Here's a thread about me going from matchy-matchy to the idea of co-ordination and juxtaposition... my evolution only took around 30 years!

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...0-years-77108/

One of the things that's struck my eye over and over is how the beauty of a tartan can be diminished by wearing hose and/or jacket of a colour the same as one of the main ground-colours of the kilt. This tends to suck the given colour right out of the tartan. On the other hand wearing a colour that's shifted from one of the kilt's main ground-colours, especially if more saturated, can amplify that colour in the kilt and make the tartan 'zing' even more.

With IOS, claret functions as a more saturated version of the tartan's brown, strong royal blue functions as a more saturated (or at least shifted) version of the tartan's purple. Anyhow I think that's the optical thing going on.

The other extreme, perhaps, is wearing mid-grey hose with certain tartans, the grey functioning as a far less saturated version of one or more of the tartan's colours, dulling, muting, and washing out the tartan.

**J Ross** · 12th March 14, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

One of the things that's struck my eye over and over is how the beauty of a tartan can be diminished by wearing hose and/or jacket of a colour the same as one of the main ground-colours of the kilt. This tends to suck the given colour right out of the tartan. On the other hand wearing a colour that's shifted from one of the kilt's main ground-colours, especially if more saturated, can amplify that colour in the kilt and make the tartan 'zing' even more.

I used your POV to explain this to my wife as I modeled for her the other night (now that was a role reversed!). She thinks like me: everything should coordinate, etc, etc. But I can see now that it's all about wear the viewer's eye focuses. If, for instance, you wearing the IOS the eye will be drawn to the rich purples. If you're wearing a purple tie (as I was) it gets drowned and the focus is spread from the neck to the ankles. With a contrasting color it does give it that 'zing' as you say.