One kilt, several looks. A canny Scot's take.

[Nathan]

Nicely veiled. Almost.

'Nay' button needed.

On the contrary, my friend. Nothing was veiled. I am very much appreciative of Calgacus for showing us how he does it. Silly me, I thought the thread was meant to prompt discussion. Most of his choices are perfectly aligned with what I would choose. Thankfully, there is still room for all of us to express our individuality a little bit around here. I thought his choice of hose was daring and I'm still deciding what I think of the risk. I was hoping my comment would prompt some others to weigh in and that I might learn about an option I hadn't considered. Perhaps I should have just quietly wondered where the lines are regarding patterned hose and formal wear.

I complimented his choice of shirt and lamented my inability to find one in my city.

On the Glengarry, Calgacus acknowledged that it was the less typical (although perfectly acceptable) choice while stating that he seldom wears a bonnet but that he feels this type looks better on him. My question was an honest one. I don't live in Scotland. I had a reason for asking as a good friend of mine prefers the Glengarry also and I'm sure one who wears it in Scotland would notice when others do. I also own a Glengarry and the responses might just prompt me to take it out of the drawer once in a while.

My question on the sporran was also an honest one. I have the same outfit and the same sporran choices and given the fact that so many commented less than favourably about my semi-dress sporran (so much that I bartered it for a day sporran) I am now puzzled about which sporran works better with the black Argyll and long tie and, if both do; how do I know which to choose when?

I don't know about you MacKenzie, but I'm here to learn and share what I've learned. I ask questions and provide input. If you thought what I wrote was a veiled insult, I'm afraid you are seeing an esoteric subtext that simply isn't there.

[Calgacus]

Thanks for sharing. Very sharp indeed.

A few observations:

Those diamond patterned hose are quite unique! Not diced and not tartan. Not really picking up colours from the tartan either. They certainly stand out!

The fly front, lay down collar, french cuff tuxedo shirt is almost impossible to find here. Wing collar pleated front tuxedo shirts with studs are by far the most common for sale here followed by lay down pleated front shirts with studs. I do like the concealed placket and the overall look of this shirt. Perhaps they will become more available here in time.

How much more rare would you say a Glengarry bonnet is as compared to a Balmoral aside from among soldiers and pipers?

Final question: Many on this forum have expressed the view that the semi-dress sporran which is sold specifically to be worn with the Black Argyll (morning dress) is neither fish nor fowl and therefore undesirable. I notice you have chosen an evening sporran with this look while I've also seen a simple (usually black) day sporran pressed into service for this level of dress.

I wonder whether there a difference regarding when one would choose one over the other given the context of the occasion or if it's a simple coin toss that goes to personal taste.

Again, thank you for sharing your pics and your comments.

Hi Nathan, thanks for the compliment! I extend that thanks to all those others who have done likewise.

The hose were in an end-of-line sale at my kilt maker's shop. There were only two pairs and both were the same bottle green & cream. They were heavily reduced so I bought both pairs. I know they don't match anything but I do think they work. I'd love a pair of diced or tartan hose, but they are rather expensive, so the compromise was made!

The shirt is my preferred style and came from Slaters, a UK wide chain store. It is of moderate quality but does the job. I'm surprised that it's hard to find elsewhere. I'm not keen on frills, pleats, or even studs, so that is the style I chose.

The Glengarry is indeed a rare beast. Bonnets in general are rare here, as indeed are most forms of headgear, though I see a slight trend for more hats being worn than in years gone by. Kilted gentlemen in Scotland are rare enough, those wearing something on their head rarer still, and those in a Glengarry even more so! You could say that the sample size is too small to draw any statistical conclusions. You are quite right to say that the Glen is nowadays almost uniquely the preserve of pipers and the military. I do play smallpipes (badly) so I suppose I have that in my favour, but I prefer a diced bonnet and some observers might assume I have a military background, which I do not. It's a bit of a tricky one really, I know it has been discussed here how the diced Glengarry originated as civilian attire, but it's not always viewed that way. Maybe that's why I shy away from wearing it. Maybe I should become a one-man campaign to restore the diced Glen to its rightful place on the civilian pate?

I am not a fan of the semi-dress sporran. It screams 'rental!' as it is primarily marketed by kilt hire shops as a 'Jack of all trades' when it is of course a master of none. Looking at it objectively, it could be considered an appropriate choice, a sort of less ostentatious dress sporran just right for formal daywear, however the unfortunate association with the 'rental look' rules it out for me in much the same way as cream hose and ruche ties. A plain black leather sporran would not be out of place, but I don't happen to own one!

The black barathea Argyll & five button waistcoat combination is, if playing by the rules, formal daywear but the occasions that demand that are few and far between. I know it is contentious, but I personally think that it works as a suitable level of dress when black tie is too much, but tweed is not quite enough. Sort of the equivalent of the saxon 'dark suit'. Now I'm going to shoot down my own argument and suggest that possibly a charcoal tweed Argyll is the ideal choice here, though that would logically suggest a plain leather sporran. I'd like to hear others' opinions.

Anyway, I tend not to play entirely by the rules. Sometimes I lean more towards the Pirates' Code

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6kgS_AwuH0

*Edit* I think that's what I'm (hopefully) doing with the hose & Glengarry. Bending the rules, but not too much, just gently. If that is what I'm doing, it is subconscious.

[Leonhardt]

Looking sharp

[gazbot]

Brilliant thread. My kind of style. Interesting point regarding bottom button on waistcoats I have always left mine open. Nice to know that the option is up for opinion when in highland dress. If The Duke of Rothesay can change his mind then its good enough for me.

Looking good folks.

[Tim Little]

Nicely done; thanks for sharing!

[Richrail]

Very sharp, nice work.

[OC Richard]

I believe in quality over quantity and that in general more is less

Hear, hear!

Your post should be a sticky! (Did you also post this on the thread for multiple 'looks'?)

Very nice kits there. Excellent examples for us Yanks.

In my case, being that we don't have such wonderful shops around here, and being that I'm cheap (I could say 'canny' but let's face it, I'm cheap) I've come to rely on high quality ex-hire things from shops in Scotland being sold on Ebay, and vintage things. I have a tweed Argyll, a black Argyll, and a black Prince Charlie all got cheaply on Ebay, either vintage or ex-hire. I pretty much wear the same sporran all the time (sorry Jock!), a goathair thing with a 100 year old cantle, but hey, I'm a piper, and as such I can get away with being a bit over the top.

I have a very nice big vintage brass belt buckle and your post is inspiring me to finally have a belt made for it.

Here's a Yank's take on this. Less is more; I usually don't do belts, or waistcoats, or kilt pins, or any other do-dads. My usual go-to kit for piping gigs



Out piping at a golf course, same kit, different jacket



And sorry, with a different kilt and hose and all... but that same darn sporran

[Calgacus]

Hear, hear! Your post should be a sticky! (Did you also post this on the thread for multiple 'looks'?)

Hi Richard,Thank you and all those others who have suggested this thread become sticky.
I have not posted it elsewhere, though I would be happy to duplicate it on the 'One kilt ten looks' thread if that is considered appropriate.
In fact, I think I should leave it up to the moderators to make it sticky, duplicate it, or leave it as it stands as they see fit.

[MacGumerait]

And sorry, with a different kilt and hose and all... but that same darn sporran

I've said it before and I'll say it again ... I love that " same darn sporran " .