Something that Hamish wrote years ago that stuck in my head

[Alan H]

So for examples..... and I want to point out that this is ME (and possibly Hamish, too, but I can't speak for Hamish of course), this is what I PREFER. I'm not saying "this is wrong and that is right?" OK?

So.

I much prefer this:



and yes, I chose a photograph with white socks, because I LIKE white socks, especially in a more formal setting. However, I wouldn't grouse if the socks were, say, black or charcoal gray or a blue tone that's in the kilt.

over this:



combined with this



and this:



with this:



and this:



I'd throw in pictures of fly plaid pins and sgian dubhs and dagger/knife/fork/spoon sets, too, but I'll defer.

OK, again, I'm not saying that wearing all that kit is WRONG... eh? It's just my taste. I'm just saying that if I employ Hamish's principle and Steve's principle of KISS, then simple is good. Let the tartan and the kilt be what it is and don't drown it in a bazillion bits and bobs.

[KiltFitz]

Yeah, I think a bit of discerning taste is a good thing but some things can seem too far, even for me. For instance I love that Montrose doublet but I hate lace cuffs and jabot. That said, I'd have the doublet in green velvet, thanks.

To explain what I mean, I think that in 20 years time this:



Will be a more striking and better picture than this:



Is one better than the other? Personal choice I suppose but:

In the first one, the chap looks like he put a bit of thought into a really good outfit with colours working well. That will be a great outfit for years.

In the second picture, if you like very closely, blur your eyes out of focus slightly as if you are trying to see beyond the landscape....you will notice that there are some men in the photo too.

[kiltedtom]

Steve,

I like your basic point that simplicity is usually in best taste too. But, to be honest, I do wear socks to match my trousers. I only have three colors in everything: blue, black, brown. LOL. So socks and trousers both are worn in the same colors. I am not good at mixing and matching color schemes. I am a single guy with no one around to give me advice. And I avoid mirrors. (Maybe that is why I am single ) I only have one pair of hose, blue to match the blue in my kilt. Sorry. Does that get me kicked out of the Rabble? LOL.

In the meantime, have a great holiday season.

Tom

[davidlpope]

So for examples..... and I want to point out that this is ME (and possibly Hamish, too, but I can't speak for Hamish of course), this is what I PREFER. I'm not saying "this is wrong and that is right?" OK?

So.

I much prefer this:

Sartorial tastes differ from person to person. What looks "right" to one person's eyes may seem unattractive to another person. I can't help but think, though, that a preference for the look above is strongly influenced (perhaps even subconsciously) by the ubiquity of such kilt-hire outfits.

If this is the way that one prefers to dress, de gustibus, etc. If one desires to consciously emulate the traditions of the Highlands of Scotland, though, one has to be a bit bolder...

[bwat]

If you're genuinely at peace with yourself then you can wear pretty much anything and make critical observers question their own judgement instead of yours.

[Stitchwiz]

If you're genuinely at peace with yourself then you can wear pretty much anything and make critical observers question their own judgement instead of yours.

Oh so true, but I too prefer the KISS principal - Keep It Simple Simple.

[ThistleDown]

Sartorial tastes differ from person to person. What looks "right" to one person's eyes may seem unattractive to another person. I can't help but think, though, that a preference for the look above is strongly influenced (perhaps even subconsciously) by the ubiquity of such kilt-hire outfits.

If this is the way that one prefers to dress, de gustibus, etc. If one desires to consciously emulate the traditions of the Highlands of Scotland, though, one has to be a bit bolder...

Just my personal opinion and statement, of course, but to me the earlier example Alan posted is an advert for a kilt-hire costume as worn by an anonymous wedding attendant, right down to the bleachable sockies. This pic, on the other hand, is a personal statement by Burgess, a confident -- and quite accustomed-to-it -- kilt wearer. In KiltFitz' two examples, the first is of a kilt-wearer and the second of a band of costumed people. The women are unlikely to wear those dresses again, and the men definitely will return their uniforms to the shop the next day.

[Alan H]

You folks say "Kilt-Hire" like it's a BAD thing. And yet I bet most folks here would tell a young lad who didn't have much money, but needed to dress up for a special occasion, to patronize that exact same kilt-hire outfit. So either the kilt-hire places are bad-bad places, or they're not. Folks gotta make up their minds.

As an aside, if folks think that I look like I rented my kilt I don't really care. But that's just me. Other folks might be bothered by that.

BTW, I happen to think that the fellow ..is his name "Burgess"? ... Looks absolutely horrible in that outfit. It's an eyesore. There's too much tartan and the socks don't even vaguely go with the tartan. The sporran is completely outrageous and over-the-top. But that's just my opinion. I also think....who cares? If the man wants to wear that outfit, then he should go right ahead and wear it. He's not hurting me or anybody else by wearing it. If he likes it, more power to him. I'd buy him a beer.

[pbutts]

BTW, I happen to think that the fellow ..is his name "Burgess"? ... Looks absolutely horrible in that outfit. It's an eyesore. There's too much tartan and the socks don't even vaguely go with the tartan. The sporran is completely outrageous and over-the-top. But that's just my opinion. I also think....who cares? If the man wants to wear that outfit, then he should go right ahead and wear it. He's not hurting me or anybody else by wearing it. If he likes it, more power to him. I'd buy him a beer.

And damn could he play the pipes! He can dress any way he wants to!

[Alan H]

I would like to point out something in this picture.


1. It contains Hamish. Hamish. THE Hamish. Hamish the Kilted. Hamish the Kilt Collector, Hamish the sponsor of more kilted creations than any other single person. Hamish who knows all and is the ultimate authority of kilted style. Hamish, who does all that he can to assemble the most correct and most appropriate kilted "ensemble" for every situation. Hamish, who owns more kilts than anybody else in the world, and with it, more associated kit....pins, sporrans, jackets and so on...and who CERTAINLY owns a myriad assortment of kilt hose.

2. It contains two other fine gentlemen in kilts. One is a piper. Assuredly, none of the gentlemen in this photograph underwent the ultimate indignity of actually RENTING their kilt. They own the stuff.

-> And they're all wearing white socks.

So, go ahead, write it. Write it down, right here.... that Hamish.. THE HAMISH is a victim of "Kilt-Rental-Shop" mentality.....or worse, that THE HAMISH is a boring, style-less kilt-wearer. Tell us all how THE HAMISH is a cookie-cutter, bleached-socks poser who has been duped, though his own massive ignorance, into wearing a bland assortment of kilt-rental-castoff pseudo-finery.