solid colour kilting

[CMcG]

I received a SWK heavyweight green shadow tartan kilt for xmas and am looking for advice on putting together outfits with it. I've searched for "solid colour" and "tweed kilt" pictures to help the rabble help me but I'd love to see your pics as well. Many of the ones I've already found come from esteemed members of this forum!

Can anyone elucidate dos and don'ts?

I have some concern for emphasizing that it is a kilt by having appropriate accessories... without tartan, I'd like to make sure it is not mistaken for a skirt! (For those who don't know, shadow tartan is a pattern that can only be seen in certain lights and, even then, it is very subtle.)

There is also the Irish angle that prompted my desire for a solid colour kilt. I am aware of the relatively recent embracing of the Scottish kilt (in solid saffron or green) by Irish nationalist in the late 19th century as a symbol of Gaelic identity. I also know that the kilt has little current usage in Ireland outside of pipe bands. That being said, I have more Irish than Scottish ancestry and in a young country like Canada, the history of the Irish kilt is more than sufficient for me! So I'm interested in suggestions for enhancing the Irishness of the look.

Style #1: matching jacket and kilt.





Style #2: tartan waistcoat.
What about adding other patterns than tartan to liven up the look, such as an Argyle sweater or vest?





Styles #3 #4: simple shirt or sweater



Please advise!

[Paul]

I just got myself a solid green kilt... it's quite light, especially compared to the shadow green you have. I'll mainly be wearing it for a more 'modern' look on kilting, such as with typical post-modern t-shirts that I usually wear with jeans. To top this I'm still looking into getting a contemporary sporran, as I wouldnt wear the kilt without one. I feel if you wear a sporran with a kilt then people are pretty ingorant, or uneducated to think it is a skirt.

If you're going for an Irish look then why not get yourself a Dropkick Murphys t-shirt? I couldn't imagine anything better to enhance a modern, kilted, Irish casual outfit!
Also - you may be a Raptors fan (boo!), but things like the Boston Celtics when supported outside MA would suggest to most people an Irish connection, and also enhance a modern Irish look.

[Farlander]

My first piece of advice is that you are perhaps worrying about things too much. If you like the kilt, then wear it, and do not worry about what others think!

As for how to accessorize the kilt, I think you found your answers in the pictures above. Note that in all cases, they are wearing a sporran, and in most cases a kilt pin and long hose. To my eye, this goes a long way to saying 'kilt', and not 'skirt'.

As for a jacket, a non-matching gray tweed crail, braemar or argyle (which you can make yourself, see the DIY forum) is a fine option. If you want something a little more casual, then a waist coat works, tartan is quite alright as you see in the pictures. If it is cold out, you could wear both. If it is warm enough out, and you want something even more casual, then just a shirt or sweater is fine too.

[Paul]

Oh - just one more opinion from myself. I feel a jacket matching the kilt would look great with a tartan waistcoat (that doesn't clash) underneath. Hose could match the secondary tartan in the waistcoat, which does not correspond to the kilt and a tie that does match the kilt and jacket. Just an idea... I'll try it out if I get the chance!

[seanachie]

I have that same SWK kilt, and by the way I really like it, and I wore it to a very fancy restaurant in celebration of my wife's birthday. It was worn with a black argyll and I received several compliments on it. (including Jerry at SWK) Some of the other suggestion here sound good. If you do find a good match jacket other than an argyll please share the info. BTW, I also have the Saffron from SWK and I ordered a nice hunter green jacket off of E-Bay and that had a local seamstress convert to a kilt jacket. I also have a solid blue kilt but have yet to match with a jacket or waistcoat. I also am saving for it's debut at my niece's First Communion but Donnie at Wyvern Leatherworks has made me a gorgeous Harp sporran. I have worn it just to see how it looks and it really is nice.

[CMcG]

I just got myself a solid green kilt... it's quite light, especially compared to the shadow green you have. I'll mainly be wearing it for a more 'modern' look on kilting, such as with typical post-modern t-shirts that I usually wear with jeans. To top this I'm still looking into getting a contemporary sporran, as I wouldnt wear the kilt without one. I feel if you wear a sporran with a kilt then people are pretty ingorant, or uneducated to think it is a skirt.

If you're going for an Irish look then why not get yourself a Dropkick Murphys t-shirt? I couldn't imagine anything better to enhance a modern, kilted, Irish casual outfit!
Also - you may be a Raptors fan (boo!), but things like the Boston Celtics when supported outside MA would suggest to most people an Irish connection, and also enhance a modern Irish look.

Oh - just one more opinion from myself. I feel a jacket matching the kilt would look great with a tartan waistcoat (that doesn't clash) underneath. Hose could match the secondary tartan in the waistcoat, which does not correspond to the kilt and a tie that does match the kilt and jacket. Just an idea... I'll try it out if I get the chance!

I'd love to see some pics of your modern look as well as the dressed up one you've described. Hopefully you get the chance As for a contemporary sporran, what are you looking at? Something like Sporran Nation?

Of the Raptors, I'm not such a fan I do, however, have a green tee shirt with Father Jack (from the Father Ted tv show)... I'll try it out when I get my kilt back from being hemmed.

[CMcG]

My first piece of advice is that you are perhaps worrying about things too much. If you like the kilt, then wear it, and do not worry about what others think!

As for how to accessorize the kilt, I think you found your answers in the pictures above. Note that in all cases, they are wearing a sporran, and in most cases a kilt pin and long hose. To my eye, this goes a long way to saying 'kilt', and not 'skirt'.

As for a jacket, a non-matching gray tweed crail, braemar or argyle (which you can make yourself, see the DIY forum) is a fine option. If you want something a little more casual, then a waist coat works, tartan is quite alright as you see in the pictures. <snip>

If I was really worried about what people think, I probably wouldn't wear the kilt at all! Although I'm not a total newbie and may have answered some of my questions with the photos, I'm still interested in what other people think. You're probably right that sporran, kilt pin, and long hose (with flashes) makes the kiltiness more clear. And as Paul says, especially the sporran.

Your suggestion to go for a non-matching jacket is good because finding an exact match to my kilt will be tough... I wish I could find some photos of that look though!

I know some people on this forum don't like tartan waistcoats but perhaps that is more in regards to them being worn with a tartan kilt?

[MrShoe]

Personally, I like the look of a tartan waistcoat paired with a solid kilt. Add a contrasting jacket and go for it. As long as the waistcoat tartan colors include the jacket color and the kilt color it should be fine.

[Radge]

So I'm interested in suggestions for enhancing the Irishness of the look.


Carry a Blackthorn stick.

[MrShoe]

Or carry a Shillelagh....

You could get a caubeen

or a cap like this or a walking hat like this


You can add ribbons to the shamrocks like this the Irish Rangers

Add a Irish Sporran
Or just walk around drinkin' a pint o' Guinness