Critique my outfit, please

[dfmacliam]

I will echo the sentiments of all... you look fine.. and yes, a good polish on the shoes wil make a difference.. keep it simple and you will dress to impress..

[YoungMan]

I'm voting for #1. You can never go wrong with a white shirt and tie when it comes to work. This is one occasion where I'll have to admit that the tartan flashes look good.

[thescot]

Surely no one would complain about those outfits. They all look good. But for work, just to be sure, I'd go with the white shirt and tie.

Josh is right, as usual, shine the shoes.

[MacRobert's Reply]

And yet another vote for option one - faultless, apart for the polishing. Have a great kilted St Andrew's day!

[Panache]

Tobus,

I am in accord with the others and think the first outfit is best and looks good. In fact, I think I have that exact waistcoat from Target and think it can work well with a kilt unaltered.



There are a couple things I would advise but they are just nitpicking. You look great. If you are interested in what I would do see my list below.



(1) Unbutton the last button on the waistcoat

(2) Lower you sporran by about an inch and a half

(Both of these things will make the waistcoat fit in with highland attire better)

(3) Move your flashes back a bit, they seem to far forward. You seem to have them at 11:00 and 1:00, I wear mine far more forward than most and go for 10:00 and 2:00

(4) Lose the sgian dubh (It is a workplace situation and this could be an easy out for the manager to not allow further kilted outfits to work because of you bringing a "weapon" into the workplace).

(5) Shoes, listen to MoR and Jock Scot

(6) Target sells Coleman pocket watches with a chain for $20. Think about picking one up to wear with the waistcoat. A watch chain in one's waistcoat is a very nice accent.

(7) As others have noted SMILE! (You look great and should be happy)

Cheers

Jamie :ootd:

[Scotus]

Move your flashes back a bit, they seem to far forward.

I'm in agreement with most; your first outfit is the best. You look very proper. Well done!

As Jamies wears his (10 and 2) is good, but I think yours look right as well, as flashes should be more forward than a lot of people wear them. But that's just the opinion of someone who wears his kilt A LOT less than Jamie.

[OC Richard]

Unbutton the last button on the waistcoat

Move your flashes back a bit, they seem to far forward.

I guess these things are matters of opinion like most things... I've always disliked the look of unbuttoning the bottom button. I've a large collection of images of people in Highland dress and the bottom button is nearly always buttoned.

I think the position of your flashes is perfect! I really dislike it when people wear them to the side at 9 and 3 O'clock. Pipers, at least, and the military, usually wear them like you have them there. Now... some regiments wear them even further forward, with the front edge of the front flash at the midline of the front of the calf. This looks too far forward to me.

I don't like, however, the way that your waistcoat is overlapping your sporran. I like the old-fashioned waistcoats which were straight across the bottom, which are widely available at Western Wear places and 19th century clothing places, for wear with the kilt.

Otherwise you should get a shorter vest I think. You can get Scottish waistcoats in various lengths at Higgins.

And check out the thread about tartan flashes... I personally dont' like them because they are a recent innovation and don't reflect the norm in Highland dress.

All in all you look great! And yes, smile!

[EagleJCS]

IMHO, I think either outfit 1 or 3 would work fine as pictured. I think the black leather accoutrements look a little dressier. Your choice would depend on how formal your office environment is.

(Minor) nitpicks:
Wear either the tartan flashes or the red ones - every outfit needs a spot of color, and the red flashes will help bring out the red stripe in the tartan. I think the position of your flashes is just fine. The guideline I use is to line up the leading edge with the front midline of the shin. That should put the trailing edge about the side midline.

Definitely polish the shoes and give the sporran a light buffing (it doesn't need to shine, but be sure it's not scuffed).

I agree with Panache that you should lose the sgian dubh.

[Tobus]

I don't mind the nitpicking; I asked for it specifically!

I will unbutton the bottom button on the waistcoat. I didn't know which was proper. I actually did that in one of my pictures on purpose, for variation.

Lowering the sporran, good idea. This waistcoat is a tad long for my tastes in the front, as it tangles up with the sporran. I didn't want to wear it too low and look foolish, but if you think it would look better a little lower, I'll listen to the experts.

On placement of the flashes, I seem to have a hard time with that. I've read that they should be at the 'front quarter' of the leg so they can be seen from in front, but I can never seem to get them in the exact same place each time. I've been kind of using the method EagleJCS mentioned, where I put the leading edge of the flashes at the centerline of my shin. I'll move them back a smidge, though, if that seems correct. My legs are so narrow, though, that a little movement seems like a lot.

The sgian dubh shouldn't be a problem in the office, as most guys carry large knives here anyway. I usually carry a much larger knife than that in my pocket. But I suppose it couldn't hurt to lose the sgian dubh just for presentation purposes, since undoubtedly someone will want me to show them the blade. And I don't want the attention to be on weaponry (which they'll undoubtedly see it as). Good point there.

I actually have several pocket watches at home. I just need to dig them out. It's not exactly a traditional Scottish item, but my finest looking pocket watch is a commemorative WWII Russian pocket watch. It's not functional at the moment, but that's OK. I'll give it a whirl.

EagleJCS, unfortunately, my sporran will not shine. It's made from a type of leather that has a felt-ish look. It's meant to be non-shiny. It was the only black leather I had laying around when I built it. So it'll just have to look dull like that until I get something better.

[Scotus]

On placement of the flashes, I seem to have a hard time with that. I've read that they should be at the 'front quarter' of the leg so they can be seen from in front, but I can never seem to get them in the exact same place each time.

Don't worry too much about these. I think they way they are in the picture is great. I was thrilled to see you wearing them more where they are supposed to be, since I'm used to seeing them at the nine and three position all too often. It's certainly nothing to be too fussy about.