Opinions Please

**Macman** · 19th February 08, 07:40 PM

I like the look and agree with what most have said. The only thing I would change is the hose; I usually like cream hose, but I don't think it goes with the white jacket. I think white hose would go well, but I wouldn't rule out red either.

**Nighthawk** · 19th February 08, 07:46 PM

Let's see... My take- lose the shoulder braid or the plaid. Get yourself a formal sporran. The semiformal one doesn't look bad, just a little out of place. The sporran is a touch too low for my taste. It wouldn't be easy to use there. I use mine- a lot, so I need it to be utilitarian. Do you have a sgain dubh on? I can't tell. If not, you need one. And with that level of formality, you could certainly pull off a dirk. And one more thing- white socks are a modern invention as I recall, and part of the rental industry. They started out a cheap thing for the rental shops, so to my eyes, white socks look cheap. I personally think it would look better with forest green or navy, but that's purely personal preference.

So now- onto what's right in that outfit- The kilt looks killer- absolutely killer!!- with that jacket. I personally can't pull off white, and you can with much grace and style. I like the shoes, but was surprised to not see brogues. The broach looks nice, the plaid is placed well. Overall, you look excellent. With a little tweeking, you'll look like royalty.

And on a side note, I have a hand made custom semiformal sporran that I would wear with a similar outfit, simply for the sake of pride in it. It's a work of art, and deserves to be in any outfit, so there are exceptions I think to the sporran rule, just as there can be to belt rule.

Oh yeah!! And one more small thing- I think you should get a stag horn sgain dubh to go with that. Historically, only nobility had ready access to stag antlers, and they say nobility and class. I wouldn't think of attending anything formal with anything less than a stag horn sticking out of my sock.

**Nighthawk** · 19th February 08, 07:59 PM

So now, having read the other posts, I didn't even notice the gold buttons and chrome buckle! I hate chrome buckles! I wear mine for work and grocery shopping. Check this thing out:

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p...stagbuckle.jpg

I can't see the image tags for some reason- apologies for the direct link.

I have one, and I LOVE it. You can get them from USA Kilts. It would look less gaudy. So there you go! More bad advice?

**ccga3359** · 19th February 08, 08:07 PM

Originally Posted by Nighthawk

I can't see the image tags for some reason- apologies for the direct link.

Just in edit mode retype the [url] tags as [img] tags.

I do like the buckle but the question was the gold button on the white jacket and possibly switching them to silver. I would personally leave the button as is because the gold is a warm colour offsetting the cool white. It would be better getting a gold one buckle or at the very least silver with gold accents.

**Nighthawk** · 19th February 08, 08:23 PM

Originally Posted by ccga3359

Just in edit mode retype the [url] tags as [img] tags.

I do like the buckle but the question was the gold button on the white jacket and possibly switching them to silver. I would personally leave the button as is because the gold is a warm colour offsetting the cool white. It would be better getting a gold one buckle or at the very least silver with gold accents.

Ah!! I see. Thanks. I thought the question was the chrome buckle going with the gold buttons. I thought a more toned down, muted puter look would be a good alternative. I must have misunderstood that part of the discussion.

**Warlock** · 19th February 08, 08:41 PM

Sir, I think that it's a damn smart outfit! But the hose need to be white or red, or some other matching colour.

**cavscout** · 19th February 08, 08:49 PM

I'm a huge fan of white jackets like this. I think an awesome look would be a black kilt with the white jacket (very Humphrey Bogart 'ish) you could even add on a black plaid if you wanted to.

Speaking of the plaid, I like plaids, but I'm not fond of the way they look when they hang down so far in front. I know a lot of places say that's how they should be worn but it just looks too busy in front with the buttons, buckle, sporran and then a "bib" hanging there covering almost 1/4 of the outfit. I'd adjust the front so that only about 4" to 6" is visible over the shoulder (adjust the remainder in the back to fall where it needs to).

Loose the off white hose, if you go with white, get a nice thick pair of pipers hose or cable knit kilt hose. The "standard" white are just too thin with a formal out fit like this.

Swap the buttons for nickel. Is that jacket button holed (many military jackets are so you can remove the anodized button for dry cleaning). If not, consider having a tailor button hole it for you and you can interchange the brass and nickel at will.

This is just a wild thought, what about swapping your chain strap for a white sporran strap? Some of the Regiments used white straps and looked very sharp.

All in all, Good on ya!

**Streetcar** · 19th February 08, 08:59 PM

First, you look fine AS IS!

Given that, everything else is just some tweaking. I agree the metal should match. It would probably be easier to get silver (or nickle) buttons than change the rest of the outfit.

You've put together a non-traditional formal look. I like the sporran you have for it.

I do echo the Wizard about the hose, though. Cream just doesn't quite fit. Maroon or White I think would be your best bets with that jacket.

Oh, and a waistcoat would be too much (in my opinion)

Congrats on a great look!

**GMan** · 19th February 08, 09:25 PM

For the most part I like it, however I am a simple guy and probably wouldn't go that "fancy"

**Riverkilt** · 19th February 08, 10:17 PM

Good Lord Men! He lives in Fort Worth!! (No insult intended, I was conceived there...it just "is" Fort Worth) I think the turnout is quite dazzling. You wear the kilt well sir and its a beautiful tartan.

Us "experts" might notice a few things and suggest some minor tweaking of this and that but dang - you'd blow away most any gathering as you is. And, as is, you've certainly out spiffed most folks at any highland games or Scottish function.

Dazzling sir, dazzling. You make me proud to have originated (at a cellular level) in Fort Worth.

And hey, love the mess jacket. Do you think the folks that sell them would sell to a hellbound Pagan??

Ron