Inspired by Prince Charles

**Scotus** · 13th August 08, 03:42 PM

When I clicked on this thread, I was expecting to see you looking like a dapper 18th century royal, ready to reclaim the throne from the House of Hanover.

Anyway, both looks are very good for you.

**beloitpiper** · 13th August 08, 04:26 PM

Very nice, Arlen! And in that last photo he looks like a bada**!

**Woodsheal** · 13th August 08, 04:36 PM

Originally Posted by Scotus

When I clicked on this thread, I was expecting to see you looking like a dapper 18th century royal, ready to reclaim the throne from the House of Hanover.

Anyway, both looks are very good for you.

Same here! I was expecting something like this:

Anyways, lookin' good, Arlen! HRH is a fine kiltie to emulate....

**jbaker42j** · 13th August 08, 04:55 PM

I think you capture the look very well, especially the vest

**SFCRick** · 13th August 08, 04:56 PM

very nice look

**IrishGodfather** · 13th August 08, 05:29 PM

Lookin' good Billy Ray!

**Hamish** · 13th August 08, 06:20 PM

Originally Posted by Arlen

Thanks for all the compliments. I thought the outfits were pretty classy and I like how they look on my build.
I agree that the Duke of Windsor also had some very nice Kilted outfits. Both men who can inspire a Kiltie almost as much as Hamish.

Now Arlen, that really IS a compliment - thank you.

Having met PC several times (I used to supply his after-shaves and toiletries!), I am afraid I cannot agree with everything you say about him, however I agree he does dress well when kilted. Of course, he does have a small team of valets and dressers close by at all times, even when on holiday, who are experts in all aspects of clothing, uniforms, etc., etc. and so he is advised rather than having to decide for himself what to wear.

Although I do have a couple of them, I am not overly fond of waistcoats - especially on me! However, I have been a fan of the V-neck sweater for as long as I can remember, and have had several stored away 'for a rainy day'! You have now reminded me of how good they work casually with the kilt, and so I shall soon bring them out of the mothballs in readiness for Autumn wear.

I guess the DoW had staff similar to PC especially in his younger years but whether he did or not, he was always extremely well turned out.

**Phil** · 14th August 08, 01:06 AM

I'm not sure Prince Charles is someone I would choose as a role model. Here is a cartoon in today's paper (he is famous for talking to plants)
http://www.independent.co.uk/multime...808_44561d.jpg

**macwilkin** · 14th August 08, 03:24 AM

Originally Posted by Phil

I'm not sure Prince Charles is someone I would choose as a role model. Here is a cartoon in today's paper (he is famous for talking to plants)
http://www.independent.co.uk/multime...808_44561d.jpg

Let's stick to HRH the Duke of Rothseay and Highland attire, please.

Todd

**AtagahiKC** · 14th August 08, 08:50 AM

Those are great looks, Arlen. I like both of the waistcoats that the contemporary Prince Charles wears.

The John Pettie painting of Bonnie Prince Charlie, which Woodsheal posted, is quite interesting.

Note that the three men wear the cuff of their kilt hose lower than we do today. There is more knee/leg showing than the modern standard of 2-3 fingers.

I hadn't seen the 18th Century long waistcoat (mid-1700s style) worn with kilts before either. It changes the look of the kilt outfit entirely. Of course the painting was completed in 1898, about 150 years after Bonnie Prince Charlie's famous final battle, so I'm not sure how much historical accuracy to attribute to the outfit.

His fancy shoulder plaid is curious as to how it goes up under the waistcoat and disappear. Does it tuck into an unseen belt under his waistcoat? The tail of the plaid(s) seems to defy logic as well. If two corners are used to tuck on the shoulders and the other two under the waistcoat, where does the triangular tail come from?

Also, Bonnie Prince Charlie seems to wear his sporran lower than the two men behind him. I suspect that is due to the long waistcoat. I fear it might prove a more painful way to wear the sporran.

Women often tell us that they are slaves to fashion when they put on high heels that hurt. Perhaps we should pull this out to show men used to be the same until we grew weary of wearing a cup with the kilt and raised the sporran to a more sensible height.

Here is an 1891 painting of Bonnie Prince Charlie by George William Joy that shows one plaid with two corners pinned to two shoulders. It doesn't seem to show the two other corners wrapping around the front as in the Pettie painting, nor does it show the long waistcoat. The top of the hose also are shown lower on the leg, similar to Pettie's later painting.

In checking kilt history, it appears that the first known fèileadh beag with sewn-in pleats was dated at 1792. (See "History of the Kilt", Matthew A.C. Newsome, http://www.scottishtartans.org/kilt.html). This post-dates Bonnie Prince Charlie, who died in 1788.

Both paintings use the later-developed tailored kilt, making the styles shown in both paintings much more suspect. It is more likely that the artists used the style of wearing the kilt and plaid used by their contemporaries, rather than being historically accurate.

Perhaps the long waistcoat and tucking of the plaid under the long waistcoat is artistic license on the part of Pettie, as well. It is an interesting look, nevertheless.