All right.....Brutal honesty requested!

**MacLowlife** · 23rd October 09, 05:36 PM

I think you could easily stick a red bandanna in your pocket and grin. I prefer coordinating, not matching accessories. And I think a solid tie can be a sign of either great sophistication or mild lack of confidence. I like the one you have, or one that is striped red and yellow and blue. Like this Punjab Frontier one from Ben Silver ( actually a blue- green, but acceptable, I'd bet: http://www.bensilver.com/fs_storefro...3&display=1169 BUt remember who to blame if this advice goes wrong...

MacLowlife

**Macleod91** · 23rd October 09, 06:02 PM

Looking very smart KB, I like how the red flashes compliment the red line of the tartan.

**Ozman1944** · 23rd October 09, 06:42 PM

Looks great! I'd have the Kilt Pin down lower; 2" from the bottom.

**Nerts** · 24th October 09, 04:09 AM

Lookin' sharp!

I'm not that far along with my kit yet, but one day...

E.

**Jock719** · 29th October 09, 10:41 AM

Spot on!

**Lachlan09** · 9th November 09, 06:18 AM

Very smart sir, very smart !!

**Highlander31** · 9th November 09, 01:37 PM

Congratulations, a job well done.

I like the tie for many of the same reasons Rex stated. I would keep it. Changing a tie will change the look. On business trips, I would carry several ties to tailor the look of my suits to fit the audience or client as needed.

If I might also add,...don't skimp on your ties. A cheap tie can make an expensive suit look run of the mill, while a well made silk tie in the correct color, will improve the look of an average suit tremendously. I had a small swatch of material from all of my suits that I would take with me when going to purchase ties. This would allow me to quickly see how the ties would work with each of my suits. When I found a tie I liked, I bought two. That way I always had the tie I needed, even if one was in the cleaners.

**ccga3359** · 10th November 09, 07:11 PM

Bottom button of the waistcoat is done up absolutly ruins the look! 'Cept I'm kinda foggy on these rules. So if I'm incorrect you look fantastic. Ticked all the boxes as they say.

**CMcG** · 10th November 09, 08:02 PM

Originally Posted by Ozman1944

Looks great! I'd have the Kilt Pin down lower; 2" from the bottom.

I second Ozman1944's suggestion to move the kilt pin down a bit. Show it off!

Originally Posted by ccga3359

Bottom button of the waistcoat is done up absolutly ruins the look! 'Cept I'm kinda foggy on these rules.

I've also heard some say the bottom button of the waistcoat should be left undone but perhaps someone might refresh my equally foggy memory on the subject?

Originally Posted by KD Burke

Finally, the waitcoat is a trifle snug at the bottom.

ccga3359's suggestion to leave the last button of the waistcoat undone might alleviate some of that tightness.

All in all, it's a very well put together outfit and even the most brutal honesty needs must bring approval.

**OC Richard** · 12th November 09, 05:42 AM

Very smart kit!!!

I've been wearing kilts for 35 years now and I'm in the pipe band/solo piping and drumming/Highland Games scene (take that as a disclaimer perhaps) and I've noticed a recent trend away from white shirts.

A sharply-dessed soloist wearing that tartan and that jacket nowadays might- and this will sound odd- wear a red shirt with a sky blue tie. A lot of pipers/drummers/pipe bands are going to grey shirts also (to go with the grey kilt hose which are becoming more popular). Popular too is wearing black hose and black shirts, with the flashes and necktie alone doing the work of bringing colour into the kit. (Indeed many pipers are going with nearly black, or entirely black, kilts as well!)

Hmmm... I can't find any photos of a friend wearing the burgundy shirt she often wears with Highland dress for solo competition... but anyhow here's a couple photos of me showing the rather muted look common today amongst pipers:

Different kilts and ties each time. The tie in the top photo, by the way, matches the red in the kilt very well but for some reason the sun caught it in such a way to make it look pinkish.

Oh... about having a bit of shirt sleeve showing, not for me!! I HATE playing pipes in long sleeves, especially when wearing a jacket. I, and the majority of pipe bands, wear short sleeves all the time: alone, with vest/waistcoat, and with jacket. (The look of wearing short sleeves with a vest/waistcoat strikes many as "wrong" but in the pipe band world it's very common, and accepted.)