Got my first kilt: accessories, buying advice and building a package

[ThistleDown]

Nicely done, Tobus. And, welcome, RecQuery. I live just south of Inverness at Tomatin, and for a good part of the year in British Columbia overlooking the Salish Sea (glorious sunset tonight).

Tobus has given you good advice. I suggest you leave the ghillie shirt in the armoire (makes the kilt a bit of a throghback 'costume' rather than national dress) and the black and the cream hose you are already concerned about in the dresser drawer. Tobus suggests hand-knit hose and I second that, if you find a source. If not, look at the range available from https://www.houseofcheviot.com/highland-hose -- excellent product, and don't worry if the pair you choose is not matchy-matchy with your kilt. If you like them, most others will, too.

I like knitted flashes/garters, and you can source these at pretty well any country-wear shop or, if you are buying directly from HofC, they have an excellent selection in both their Highland and country lines. If you are going south in the next while, there's a place in Dornoch (name escapes me), Chisholm on Castle Street in Inverness, House of Bruar, Haggarts in Aberfeldy, and Hoggs in Angus -- off the top of my head.

ABF is a good tie, but know much about it before you buy it and put it on. Don't be concerned with your tie matching anything else you are wearing -- it becomes your personal statement if your Davidson isn't enough for you .

Tattersall shirts for most day and into mid-evening events; for more formality stick with white. I understand your selecting a black shirt; if you wear it that becomes your statement and be cautious about adding a 'second statement'. Black will work for you in the evening, with discrete silver 'bling'.

Many wear pocket watches with Highland dress (I do, when I've no need to check the time every few minutes). No wrist watch with a pocket watch, of course!

For footwear depend on comfort. I DO wear ghillie brogues on occasion because my ankles seem to like their flexibility on the ground. But I generally wear well-broken-in laced brogues (and I wish I could wear my grandfather's, but they are far to large and stored for some future generation). It's a personal thing, but I stay away from ankle boots, but do slosh about in high- and cut-down wellies often enough. And, I've some hiking boots I very fond of in the field.

No head gear if you can avoid it. If you can't, try to avoid anything that is 'costumey" and stick with a simple Balmoral with a (here's that word, again) discrete belted clan crest (you have two to select from but, because some crass folk will ask, make sure you understand the significance of both the stag and the cat.)

A big smiley here 'cousin': I wear the same Lochcarron Davidson as you do, and a 35 yo super weathered version (I'll try to attach a pic), a reproduction Davidson by Dalgleish (pic of that, too), a Strome Tulloch, a couple of Mackintoshes and the pride of them all, a Clanchattan by Jamie Scarlett.

Wonderful to meet you.

Rex