Help! Silk purse from a sow's ear!

[Detroitpete]

Alan may I just correct you on one salient point. The five or six buttoned waist coat is worn with the Argyll and four in hand tie for day wear and with the three buttoned waist coat, these days, for evening wear and with a black tie. Don't forget that the black barathea, silver buttoned Argyll is really the most formal of formal of day wear; equivelant to morning dress. However it is being used as evening wear these days, as well, with a three buttoned waist coat. I quite like the look myself.

See this IS the place to get great information--thanks Jock.

[Jock Scot]

Pete, it is your outfit when all said and done, but may I advise caution when deciding to wear a matching tartan bow tie.

[McMurdo]

Pete, it is your outfit when all said and done, but may I advise caution when deciding to wear a matching tartan bow tie.

I'd have to agree with Jock here, black is timeless and will always work, you said you were awaiting a better kilt so getting your bow tie to match an existing kilt may not be the best idea anyway.

[davedove]

I would like to echo the advice to get a black tie. It is the classic and has the extra benefit of coordinating with any tartan.

[MacKay71 Wife]

Good sound advice all around! And, not knowing what's in your closet already, remember that anything you don't already have is usually easily rented!

[JSFMACLJR]

Thanks all--really appreciate the input and really appreciate Xmarks for allowing a guy a place to ask questions like this. You all gave grand advice. I think I have it figured out and will start acquiring what I need. Based on all the ideas and pictures you all helped with I have a plan:

-Semi-dress sporran (white goat hair on black leather w/ metal cantle) No sporran chain however--I have a nice set of sporran hanger chains. I just like the look better, and they don't tear up a kilt.

In all my years of wearing the kilt (45 of them) I have never ahd a problem with sporran chains damaging my kilt.

I am not a fan of sporran hangers. How do you plan on wearing a waistcoat, and use sporran hangers, without a belt? Remember that a belt with a waistcoat usually is not done. Am I missing something about hangers?

[Detroitpete]

I am not a fan of sporran hangers. How do you plan on wearing a waistcoat, and use sporran hangers, without a belt? Remember that a belt with a waistcoat usually is not done. Am I missing something about hangers?

I pretty much planned on wearing a belt--- my weight and waist keeps fluctuating (I typically loose 20 lbs during the summer and don't put it back on until spring) and if my hand made kilt isn't done by the time I need it, I may very well have to forgo the waist coat and wear a belt. Its all up to which kilt I wear--if it truely fits well--then I'll wear the waist coat and yes sadly, a sporan chain--just not a fan of them. If not, then no vest and don the belt.

[Alan H]

Horrors, Jock! A three-button waistcoat with an argyll? What's the world coming to?

What this is a perfect illustration of is that there are differences in personal taste. I'd never wear a three-button waistcoat with an Argyll. It looks terribly "wrong" to me, but there you go. Jock likes it, and he still has the use of his eyesight!

Regarding bow ties, I'd never wear a tartan bow tie, but would happily wear a solid-color one, and of course, black. Just goes to show....

Mate, you're not an idjit. I'm sure that whatever you choose, you will look great,and besides, you'll have your lass on your arm. Who the heck is gonna look at YOU?

[sydnie7]

Regarding the DIY bow tie thread, read it through, the Burda pattern I linked to needs some extending to fit a "real" neck size. Easy enough to do, just be aware!

And whatever you do, HAVE FUN at it!

[Sammac]

If you don't have a PC you could rent one from Highland Fling in Lake Orion. Don't think thats too far from you. The phone # is248-391-5819, Gordon can fix you up.