Kilt attire add-ons. Are they necessary?

[CBH]

...will be sewing pockets into my kilts as I resize them...

I have one kilt with no pockets, and I will not buy another without them. With our warm weather, jackets are rare, and sporrans are far too annoying.

[PiperPadre]

About Tomo's list I will say that as a piper-for-hire I'm expected to look smart so a jacket, tie, and bonnet are required.

Around 15 years ago Pipe Bands suddenly all stopped wearing jackets and went with just waistcoats, and most pipers wear their band kit when doing weddings and funerals, but to me that looks underdressed for those occasions.

I like wearing a jacket but sometimes in competition, the accumulation of cloth between arm and bag can make for some bag slippage. Although i really don't like the look of just a waistcoat (makes you look like a bartender), it's practical for those moments.

[Tomo]

Only quibble I'd have would be the flashes - I wear self-tied garters because I don't like socks sliding down my legs..

Whilst I have occasionally worn my socks rolled down (with boots) it's not a look I favour and even at the rugby I am more likely wear my socks up with a pair of brogues. If I don't want to wear flashes, rather than fiddle about taking them of the garters, I tend to use a pair of boot laces - which I used to use as ties to keep my socks up when I was playing rugby - more comfortable than the elastic garters as well...

[OC Richard]

I really don't like the look of just a waistcoat (makes you look like a bartender)

Like this?

[PiperPadre]

Like this?

Like that.

[SF Jeff]

I like wearing a jacket but sometimes in competition, the accumulation of cloth between arm and bag can make for some bag slippage. Although i really don't like the look of just a waistcoat (makes you look like a bartender), it's practical for those moments.

Have you ever tried the so-called "piper's" jackets? They have some kind of flexible fabric on the back and some kind of articulated sleeve to help with arm movement and holding the bag. I can't help but wonder if it's just a marketing gimmick, though they are no more expensive than regular kilt jackets.

Sticking to the original topic, I usually only kilt up for special occasions, like highland games and Burns suppers, so I tend to go all out. But do we have some games here in CA and NV that can be very hot and then I dress down if needed for comfort. I do always wear a kilt pin though.

[PiperPadre]

Have you ever tried the so-called "piper's" jackets? They have some kind of flexible fabric on the back and some kind of articulated sleeve to help with arm movement and holding the bag. I can't help but wonder if it's just a marketing gimmick, though they are no more expensive than regular kilt jackets.

Sticking to the original topic, I usually only kilt up for special occasions, like highland games and Burns suppers, so I tend to go all out. But do we have some games here in CA and NV that can be very hot and then I dress down if needed for comfort. I do always wear a kilt pin though.

No, I haven't tried one of those. I believe they call it "Piper's Flex" or something in that neighborhood. I believe the cut of those jackets addresses the "kilt jacket askew" aspect, but not the multiple layers of cloth betwixt arm and bag, which is what accounts for a looser grip on the bag.

[OC Richard]

I've never felt an issue playing pipes with a jacket, but there's no doubt that you have a more direct feel for the bag without a jacket.

There are different sorts of "piper jackets", there's the black Argyll where some of the body panels are made from a stretchable fabric.

In truth these help Tenor Drummers and Drum Majors, who need a full range of arm movement, more than pipers.

But from Gaelic Themes you can get "piper cut" Argyll in tweed that's all normal fabric but it's cut baggy around the arms.

Thing is, the traditional cut of Scottish military jackets had smaller, round, arm-holes, the fabric of the body coming further up the sides right up to the armpit. Thus you could put your arms straight out, or raise them over your head. The downside is that when your arms are down at your sides there are folds due to the fabric in the armpits.



With modern mens suit-jackets the arm-holes are long ovals, the fabric of the body coming a few inches less far up the sides. This makes jacket lay nice and flat when the arms are down at the sides, but distorts the jacket badly when you try to raise your arms.

[OC Richard]

Back to the topic of accessories, I just found a photo of a piper also wearing the full range of them.

So here's a civilian Evening Dress outfit and a civilian piper outfit with, I believe, every possible traditional accessory.

Add to that, the piper is wearing the largest shoe-buckles I've ever seen.

[Jock Scot]

Back to the topic of accessories, I just found a photo of a piper also wearing the full range of them.

So here's a civilian Evening Dress outfit and a civilian piper outfit with, I believe, every possible traditional accessory.

Add to that, the piper is wearing the largest shoe-buckles I've ever seen.

Well, thank goodness we don't have to dress like that these days, with our evening dress civilian attire!

A modest request. Please can we leave the band attire discussions to another thread.