To button or not...?

[Nighthawk]

Could ave got another one in there!

If one buttons one's jacket, one cannot display the lovely buttons on ones's waistcoat, now, can one?

Makes sense to leave unbuttoned if sitting down but I would button it up again when standing for any length of time.

My grandpa would scowl at you...

[SlackerDrummer]

The Duke of Rothesay buttons the bottom button on his waistcoats when donning Highland attire. I'm just sayin'.

[Dale Seago]

The Duke of Rothesay buttons the bottom button on his waistcoats when donning Highland attire. I'm just sayin'.

I've noticed that to be true in all the pics of him I've seen, and there are a lot posted here.

But he's probably just imitating all those drawings/paintings/photos of 19th- and early 20th-century Scots in Highland attire.

[Calico]

I've always been practical about this with vests. Unbuttoned when sitting, as it is uncomfortable otherwise. Buttoned when standing/dancing - if I think about it at all and if the vest fits. Sometimes after dinner some of mine have to stay unbuttoned!

However, with the kilt I just don't see other fashion rules pertaining. It looks best with all buttons buttoned to me (the waistcoat, that is... the jacket I think looks best unbuttoned).

My vote, jacket unbuttoned. Vest use all buttons (3 or 5, most often).

Oh, one more thing to complicate the issue. I've seen PC jackets closed with a short silver chain (kind of a cuff link arrangement). I kind of like that look. I've never tried it.

[creagdhubh]

Unbuttoned, with the waistcoat's bottom most button left unbuttoned as well.

[Irish Jack O'Brian]

"6. THOU SHALT NEVER FASTEN THE LOWEST BUTTON ON THY WESKIT.
Look, we don't make the rules, we simply try to keep them going. This one dates back to Edward VII, sufficient reason in itself to observe it."

I believe we had some problem with the fellows from The Chap once before, but they are most adamant about this point in their Manifesto.

[Downunder Kilt]

I follow custom of leaving ones bottom button undone if the waistcoat has pointed ends and leaving it done up if it is square cut. I cannot recall seeing a photo of a gentleman having a bottom button undone if the he is wearing a square cut waistcoat

[SlackerDrummer]

"6. THOU SHALT NEVER FASTEN THE LOWEST BUTTON ON THY WESKIT.
Look, we don't make the rules, we simply try to keep them going. This one dates back to Edward VII, sufficient reason in itself to observe it."

I believe we had some problem with the fellows from The Chap once before, but they are most adamant about this point in their Manifesto.

Do you mean like in this picture, where Edward VII is wearing a kilt and has his bottom button buttoned?



I think "rules" for Saxon attire do not necessarily correspond to Highland attire. Nice cap, too, don't you think?

[davedove]

"6. THOU SHALT NEVER FASTEN THE LOWEST BUTTON ON THY WESKIT.
Look, we don't make the rules, we simply try to keep them going. This one dates back to Edward VII, sufficient reason in itself to observe it."

But again, WHY EVEN HAVE THE BUTTON IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO USE IT???

[auld argonian]

But again, WHY EVEN HAVE THE BUTTON IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO USE IT???

I'm beginning to think that there may be some kind of connection between the unbuttoned bottom button and the third tassel on the sporran:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...-tassel-64763/

....hmmmmm.....I don't know about you but I'm beginning to notice a pattern emerging...it's sort of DaVinci-code-ish, eh?

Best

AA