Dress codes and changing trends

[O'Callaghan]

Maybe I'm a pragmatist but unless I'm going to be able to get several uses out of a garment per year I won't bother purchasing one. I'll hire one.

Then again, due to the climate in my region, black tie events are usually reserved for winter. White tie events are literally non-existent, even among the upper class (middle class to the folks across the pond).

Darn it, though, those satin shawl lapels are fabulous! Now THAT is an Argyl jacket!

The folks across the pond include many who describe themselves as middle class who are really upper middle class, but they aren't upper class, which is different again. It's true that the American definition of middle class is so wide that it includes almost everyone, but your take on the definition of middle class on the other side of the pond is too simplistic.

[OC Richard]

what's of greatest interest to me is the way he has arranged his plaid so that the front shows the tartan on the bias, or at a diagonal.

One sees that fairly often in vintage photos. I don't know how they did it! I'll poke around in the old photos and see if I can find more.

Here ya go, found it in a couple minutes. Note the elaborate stitching on the crossbelt



And more

[creagdhubh]

One sees that fairly often in vintage photos. I don't know how they did it! I'll poke around in the old photos and see if I can find more.

Here ya go, found it in a couple minutes. Note the elaborate stitching on the crossbelt

I want his sporran! More than likely this wee beauty is tucked away in some elusive chest somewhere in Scotland as we speak.

[TheOfficialBren]

The folks across the pond include many who describe themselves as middle class who are really upper middle class, but they aren't upper class, which is different again. It's true that the American definition of middle class is so wide that it includes almost everyone, but your take on the definition of middle class on the other side of the pond is too simplistic.

I know that it was overly simplistic but any further exposition might violate a forum rule, hence the overly-simplistic wording. Intentionally teading softly.

[Taskr]

Being in an Hon appointment position where we are careful about such things as order-of-dress, I find these post threads quite helpful to lining up highland wear to the occasions. Along with our own dress, we are often consulted by others as to what is correct.

[James Hood]

Despite the population, breadth of cultures, vast geography of this planet...

...it strikes this writer as perhaps a simultaneous flavour of amusing and queer, with a dash of perhaps-imagined revelation...

...that this e-forum may well be the only "place" on earth where this subject is being discussed with such earnestness, pensiveness, intellect, passion, tolerance, speculation and research.

[WVHighlander]

I'm going to tread lightly here and say that there are far more rules about what not what to wear with a kilt than what you should wear. Less is certainly more, although I think there are a few categories worth considering for the newer kilt wearer:

1. Fit: This really should be the first consideration. Tartan, color, weight - it doesn't matter if it looks like you're wearing a sack.

2. Less is More: the simplest pair of hose and plainest sporran look fine when worn correctly. Problems come when people try to throw in something that doesn't fit with the rest of the outfit, like a pair of spats with a PC (I've seen it!). The thing I've seen a lot more of these days is the inclusion of Pakistani horsehair sporrans with various looks. Yes, I know many people on these boards have beautiful hair sporrans that look great and are historically appropriate. But a) they know what they're doing and b) those sporrans weren't made in Sailkot.

3. The Kilt Isn't a Pair of Jeans: This is where people will disagree with me, but I feel like if you need to wear a pair of combat boots and wallet chain and a t-shirt with your kilt to make it look cooler, you're missing the point of wearing the kilt. Can you get away with a polo or a sweater rather than a jacket and shirt? Of course - people can and do -but to my eye it looks more like a cry for attention. When I see guys in ill-fitting kilts and converse shuffling through the games, they are invariably buying turkey legs and browsing the claymores. Do you want to be that guy? If everything fits, you'll never go wrong with a white shirt, belt, plain sporran, hose, and appropriate footwear (which for today's highlander is probably a pair of muck boots, but I digress).

Not an exhaustive list, but probably longer than it needs to be. Simplicity in all things should be how you approach wearing a kilt if you're shooting for a relatively trad look. I'd say go to the Games and observe to get ideas, but you'll see all sorts of sartorial (since it's Scots, can we say "saltirial"?) horrors there. Keep reading these boards - there are tons of experienced kilt wearers with great ideas. Also take a look at pics from major piping contests, too (like Glenfiddich, Northern Meeting, Bratach Gorm) - pipers mostly get it right (albeit in a very specific ensemble), and the organizers will usually be kitted out pretty well, too.

Of course, if you have the money and inclination, you could always ask WWJD (What Would John (Burgess) Do?

Well said, except I disagree with point 3. I think a nice sweater, for day wear, can look very smart. I don't think I am the only one with this thought on either side of the pond....

[Cyd]

Very interesting thread! I started a new thread regarding the apparent different standards for when a fly plaid is appropriate when, if I read a little further I could have just asked here!

Just my observation as someone who has spent a considerable time on both sides of the pond. When in doubt, Scots tend to err to the side of dressing down whilst Americans tend to err towards dressing up. Use of the fly plaid is one example, the prince charlie jacket is another.

I am not making any judgement calls here, just making the point that when you are choosing an outfit for an event consider where you are when wearing it. Turning up at someone else's wedding wearing a pc or a fly plaid might be ok in America, but if you did that in Scotland it would be the height of poor taste.

[Laurence]

Aye, yes, yeah and Amen! Quite a thoughtful offering, and I find myself in enough agreement with you to express it so! Onward with progressive traditionalism!

[MacThomas]

I am pretty sure I know the picture that you refer to. I will see if I can find it. We need to be careful here. The invitation was for "morning dress OR(my italics) lounge suits", so the gentleman wearing the tweed argyll was perfectly attired in lounge suit equivalent. Pictures should carry health warnings as it is so easy to draw the wrong conclusions from them, without details of context.

Found it!Is this the one JB?

This pic is for me the ideal for highland dress