John D. Burgess

[blackbeard]

Sorry, been corrected. Still, They don't clash with the tartan.

[McMurdo]

I think that if you look closely you'll see that Mr. Burgess is wearing a belt because he is also wearing a dirk.

Spot on, and he looks smashing. This really is a wonderful example of how it should be done depending on the venue of course.

[csbdr]

Everyone's monitor renders colors in slightly different shades so it may be hard to see, but there's no blue in his tartan- just light(yellowish) and dark green, red, and black. The tartan is Hunting Ross in the modern color scheme. Although his hose look nice and complement the colors of the tartan, they really don't match it and appear to be more of a teal blue instead of a true green. Just another example of how everything doesn't have to match to look sharp.

Cordially,

David

http://www.lochcarron.com/tartanstro...s_hunting.html

looks blue, but I;ve never seen it in person...

[davidlpope]

http://www.lochcarron.com/tartanstro...s_hunting.html

looks blue, but I;ve never seen it in person...

From the Ross Clan Association website:



Cordially,

David

[Fougasse]

His shoes appear to be ghillie brogues with silver buckles added.

[JSFMACLJR]

From my designer view point, let's look at why Mr. Burgess makes it work.

The red laces tie in with the red stripe in the tartan.

Only two tones in the hose. Again the blue ties in with the blue in the tartan.

The plain white sporran. There is enough going on why bring tassels into the picture. The eye also has a chance to rest.

The kilt is the correct length.

The coatee is impeccably tailored. Correct waist length and correct sleeve length.

The belt and buckle break up the bias of the waistcoat and the straight grain of the kilt. Creating a space for the eye to rest.

I am assuming that the bow tie fabric ties in with the trim and lapels on the coatee.

Good observations all, but perhaps you are reading too much into what and how PM Burgess is dressed. A number of us on XMTS keeps insisting that there is no need to be so meticulous about matching colours. In Burgess's case, I really doubt that he put red laces in his shoes to match up with the red stripe in his kilt! Silly!!! He wore red shoe laces becauses that was traditional with highland evening dress if one wore laced shoes. I have seen photos of him wearing pretty colourful hose, too, that had very little to do with the tartan being worn. And sporrans with tassels.

My point is, please don't put too much emphasis on the coordinating bit when wearing the kilt. The best dressed gentlemen are the ones that don't try very hard!

[JSFMACLJR]

His shoes appear to be ghillie brogues with silver buckles added.

Yes, a quite correct alternative to the buckle and strap shoes.

[Zardoz]

Yes, red shoe laces were usually worn with evening dress, sometimes with gold tassels at the ends!

Yes, a quite correct alternative to the buckle and strap shoes.

In spite of extensive research on the subject of formal Highlandwear, I learn something new today?

I have never noticed these details on anyone before. Love to see some precedence.

[JSFMACLJR]

In spite of extensive research on the subject of formal Highlandwear, I learn something new today?

I have never noticed these details on anyone before. Love to see some precedence.

Sometimes these sorts of little details are hard to find written in a book. Still, though, MacKinnon of Dunakin wrote, in Tartans and Highland Dress, "For evening wear there are two main styles (of shoes). The first is the ghillie style, in black patent leather, with thin soles, sometimes worn with an ornamental buckle, and usually with red hose."

I have seen several contemporary paintings of men with red and sometimes gold laces. The one that comes immediately to mind is that of Malcolm of Poltalloch. Perhaps Mael Coluim took a picture of the painting on his recent visit to Duntrune Castle, but here it is in black and white ( you can tell that the laces are not black!):

[beloitpiper]

He's dressed well, but am I the only one who doesn't care for this outfit? I dunno, it just seems too busy...like there's too many interesting pieces to be appreciated as a whole.