Show us your "Great Kilt" (belted plaid) pictures

[M. A. C. Newsome]

It's interesting to note that in the early decades of the tailored "little kilt" it was considered a working garment. It was indeed "fatigue" dress in the highland regiments. The belted plaid was the more formal, "dressier" item of highland garb.
Now it's been largely relegated to costume status, though it certainly can still work quite well for formal occasions, as Mr. Killman's photo shows. I believe Matt Newsome also has some pics showing the belted plaid looking great in a "modern" context....

Yes, I do, from a Burns Supper in 2007.

I think that a belted plaid can work in a modern, formal context. But it can be done poorly, as well. Keep in mind that you are taking a garment that really hasn't been part of the contemporary dress for a couple of hundred years and you are trying to incorporate it into modern clothing. Attempts to blend the two can look very elegant, or ridiculous!

Here was my attempt a couple of years ago (taken in my living room before leaving for the Burns Supper):




I was satisfied with how the outfit turned out, but not ideally so. What would I have done different? Ideally, I would rather have paired the great kilt with a more formal doublet, such as a Sheriffmuir or a Montrose. But a black Argyle was what I had, so that's what I wore. I also would have rather worn a more historically themed cravat or jabot (as apporpriate with the doublet), than the modern neck tie you see me wearing. Lastly, I think buckle brogues would have looked better here than ghillies.

Since that time I have acquired some of those things -- buckle brogues, a nice silk cravat, etc. Still don't have a Sheriffmuir -- yet!

But I have also since that time turned that belted plaid into a nice tailored kilt! :-)

(You can see the buckle brogues and cravat in this picture).

I do also have a "half belted-plaid" that I can wear with my Carolina kilt to give the impression of a great kilt. My Carolina kilt is a tailored, four yard, box pleated kilt. But when worn with the half plaid it does really look rather like a great kilt. (See my blog post for more background and pics).

Here I am wearing it to a Burns Supper in Atlanta last year (with my lovely wife).


On my blog posting you can see it being worn in a less formal context. I think it looks fine, if a bit theatrical. I certainly don't wear it every day! But if you want a plaid that mimics the look of the older great kilt, this is the way to go.

[JamieKerr]

Matt,

What are the dimensions on the upper (separate, I assume) piece of Carolina Tartan?

[Ryan Ross]

Heck of a plaid that is, Matt.

...oh, and it's 54" by two yards, kerr. Check out the blog post.

[Jack Daw]

I like that, David. Is that the 'Rob Roy (movie)' tartan? If so, where'd you get it?

[David White]

Yes indeed Steve, from Tartan Web. It to has become a tailored kilt.

Made by Matt.

[Panache]

Its only one piece, I used a small bodkin to pin it to my waistcoat.

These have been refered to on XMTS before.

Would you happen to have a picture of what one looks like?

Cheers

Jamie

[David White]

These have been refered to on XMTS before.

Would you happen to have a picture of what one looks like?

Cheers

Jamie

Sorry Jamie I don't. Its simply a long pin that is placed through the plaide and your jacket or waistcoat to hold the plaide in place, over the shoulder.
They are easy to make., just heat one end until red hot and twist and shape, keep it flat so it lays flat on you. Sharpen the other end. I don't use a very big diameter wire or piece of metal, just as long as it doesn't bend to easily.

[Woodsheal]

Here's a bone bodkin I use, which you can just see in use in the 2nd pic;



Old time hat pins work well, too. You can often find simple brass-headed ones. Look in junk shops, antique stores, vintage clothing shops, and Granny's old hat box!

The little picks used for cleaning the vents on flintlocks also make nice bodkins:
http://www.trackofthewolf.com/(S(3ft...um=PICK-VENT-3


Finally, some folks have had good luck using these hair pins as bodkins:
http://www.craftycelts.com/hair/lightpins.html

[Panache]

Sorry Jamie I don't. Its simply a long pin that is placed through the plaide and your jacket or waistcoat to hold the plaide in place, over the shoulder.
They are easy to make., just heat one end until red hot and twist and shape, keep it flat so it lays flat on you. Sharpen the other end. I don't use a very big diameter wire or piece of metal, just as long as it doesn't bend to easily.

Here's a bone bodkin I use, which you can just see in use in the 2nd pic... Old time hat pins work well, too. You can often find simple brass-headed ones. Look in junk shops, antique stores, vintage clothing shops, and Granny's old hat box!

David and Brian,

How about this?



Cheers

Jamie :ootd:

[Woodsheal]

Jamie, that would be perfect!

I was also going to add that stout thorns, such as hawthorns, were used....