Another Noob Question

[Babyvett]

I think I might just take it upon myself, buy him a pretty simple balmoral, remove the torrie and tell him to deal with it.. LOL

I know in this thread http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...-attire-46888/ He liked Jamie's look in pic 3, with the polo shirt.. but did not like the "ball" on the balmoral... which is why he was thinking about going with the military beret.. but, if its acceptable to actually remove the toorie, I might be able to get him to warm up to the idea..

Mookien, in that first thread you posted - he's more to lean towards post #5's look.. hahah

[MNlad]

Actually, I've seen Caubeens in various heights—even without the stay, making it almost beret-like.

This company has several styles http://www.jbyous.com/Headwear2.html

I've got a couple of the "rifle" style and they are about the same height as my Balmoral. You can also easily trim or bend the stay to make it suite your preference.

[TheOfficialBren]

Hmm...I would say go for a plain, fawn-coloured Balmoral with no dicing and no toorie then.

If he isn't comfortable with it then go hatless. US military berets just look, like Tobus mentioned, out of place and like he just made do.

[Babyvett]

I've been trying to sell him on the balmoral - but, I think I MIGHT have the perfect sell for him.. I can find just a basic black, now knowing I can remove the toorie without it being frowned upon, and think it will work.. One of the issues he's going to have is that he has picked out the Black Watch tartan (Campbell modern) but with talking to members of Clan Campbell, most say that they would assume someone wearing the Blackwatch is just wearing a universal tartan.. So, I could probably sell him on the balmoral (minus the toorie) with the fact that if he plans on sticking with the idea of the Blackwatch, he's going to need something he can wear a crest badge on if he wishes to be recognized as Clan Campbell. Plus, I can show him some of the other options (knowing he's going to wrinkle his picky nose at them) and say "well, either this or nothing".. haha Then again, I could always use some womanly charm and smudge the truth a bit and tell him I think the balmoral is sexy.. haha

[MNlad]

Not only is the Balmoral sexy, but it is a proven fact it boosts a man's testosterone level by 20 percent.

[mookien]

I think I might just take it upon myself, buy him a pretty simple balmoral, remove the torrie and tell him to deal with it.. LOL ...

Mookien, in that first thread you posted - he's more to lean towards post #5's look.. hahah

A yowie suit hadn't occurred to me. Excellent idea! It would hide the toorie, the bonnet (no matter what kind), the kilt, and him! If he went out into the back yard, you'd have to send the dogs out to find him.

Have you looked at the Ferguson Britt bonnets at the Scottsh Tartans Museum at ...

http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/fb_bonnets.html

They look "military". He could bag the toorie and he might like the leather band.

[Babyvett]

LOL Yeah, showed him those a while back.. he said it looks like a UFO landed on someone's head.. (told ya he's picky.. lol)..

And I already have to search for him 3/4 of the time in the back yard.. He tends to take his telescope out at night. We have a huge back yard and there's no light back there.. and he's never in the same spot twice.. LOL If he did the gilly suit, I'd definitely have to send a search party out for him.. haha

[TheOfficialBren]

Have you considered the Campbell Ancient tartan? It's nearly identical to the Black Watch tartan but slightly lighter in colour. Most Campbells that I've come across choose this over Black Watch specifically to differentiate from the universal nature of the Black Watch...even though that is a Campbell tartan.

[Babyvett]

He's considering it.. I explained to him a few days ago about the Black Watch being considered more a universal. Even went so far as to ask a few Campbells if they saw him in the Black Watch, would they think he was a Campbell or if they would think its just someone dressed up in a kilt as a costume.. They all said they would consider it a costume unless there was something to establish the wearer was a Campbell (clan badge, ect). He prefers the dark colors of the Black Watch, but has said he is considering the ancient for this reason.

[TheOfficialBren]

If you aren't used to seeing tartan it can take a bit of getting used to.

You can't look at Highland Dress through a Contemporary American lense...it is Scottish. Certain things may look odd at first but once he 'gets it' then it will come naturally.

Case in point...I bought a Black Watch as my first kilt because it was "safe." It wasn't too "out there" or flamboyant (like the Loud MacLeod tartan or the Napier tartan). I made myself a very conservative black day sporran.
Now, I've ordered a Holyrood tartan kilt (much more noticeable tartan) and recently acquired a nice brown day sporran with some braiding and a drop-pin closure.

The thing is that kilts aren't for everyone. Let's be frank about that.

Personally, I wouldn't wear the Loud MacLeod for two reasons:
1) I have no connection to it.
2) I don't like it.

I stick with Universals and will soon be ordering a wool kilt in my family's tartan (Shaw, Modern Colours).

Which is more important for your husband...paying tribute to his ancestors or 'fitting in' with his peers? The kilt is not the most common garment...even in Scotland, though one might offer that more kilts are actually worn daily in America and Canada.

I understand about the machismo and its ilk but the kilt IS a man's garment (though some ladies wear them) and is a symbol of pride and heritage.