Kilt Debut: Christmas & Anniversary

[SlackerDrummer]

I've been offline for a bit and just noticed this thread. You look splendid, Weebs. Guid on ye. And happy anniversary.

[davidg]

No nits evident from what I see. Well done

To begin with I didn't wear a sgian dubh either for the same reason. Then I read a story about a 19th century Church of Scotland minister attending his church in Scotland complete with dirk, sgian dubh and servant. I realised then that the clergy being unarmed was probably never really completely true

[FatherWilliam57]

Your simple black sporran, well fitted argyll, matching hose, tie, and pocket square nicely frame without detracting from the tartan. Your outfit has an understated elegance to it and you should be very pleased with your appearance. I especially like the one with the claret accents.

If I were to offer one small suggestion, it would be that as a new kilt wearer you should note that sometimes the fabric of the front apron can ride up or pucker behind the sporran and strap/chain. This is easily fixed with a quick adjustment of the sporran or sporran strap.

May I also offer my congratulations to you and your lovely wife on so many wonderful years together.

Cheers

Jamie

Thank you, Jamie, most kind. In adjusting the sporran, is this a matter of wearing it higher or lower, or simply a matter of loosening or tightening the strap?

[FatherWilliam57]

OK, especially for a first time kilt wearer, you look spectacular. I do have one small nit to pick, and this is purely on the basis of personal bias. I would personally have worn at least a semidress sporran. To my eyes, the sporran looks a touch out of place with the rest of the outfit. Again, I restate that this is purely my own personal bias.

So now- onto more important matters: Congratulations on the anniversary!

Thanks for the comments, Nighthawk. It is my hope to have a custom-made sporran and kilt belt made in the near future. I do prefer things a bit "subdued" (I'll let the kilt hose "do the talking"!). Said sporran will, hopefully, be a "one size fits all occasions," simple black with my coat-of-arms to dress it up.

As for our anniversary, my wife was kind enough to pick up my option for another 30 years! The girl is an absolute saint!

[FatherWilliam57]

Looks good to me. The sporran is appropriate to the level of formality and everything seems to fit well. Nit-picking is a specialty on this forum though, and I applaud your willingness to subject yourself to it.

I agree with Panache that going without garters/flashes or a sgian dubh is just fine... sometimes. That sort of simplicity might work better, however, if you were also wearing a less ornate jacket; a crail with fewer buttons and plain cuffs. The no garters/sgian look could also work nicely with just a shirt and sweater.

The claret hose are really nice but I don't prefer them with the matching tie and pocket square. The second look with charcoal hose and grey tie/pocket square looks better because it has more of the studied carelessness that is such a part of THCD. The best look, to me, would be the claret hose with the grey tie/pocket square or the charcoal hose with the claret tie/pocket square, because these mix up the colour scheme and balance it out.

Good luck with the new garter ties, which I think would set these outfits off to advantage. The charcoal hose would especially benefit from some garters ties to break up the darkness. I think there are some videos around on how to tie them...

Thanks very much for the insights. I do hope to purchase a sgian at some point, but I will have to save my pennies for that (I refuse to wear an "el cheapo." I especially appreciated your comment concerning the claret hose and grey tie. I hope to "mix it up a bit" as I get more comfortable with the kilt.

I was really disappointed in not wearing the yellow garter ties. They just seemed too "stiff" to tie correctly and they didn't seem to lay properly once tied. I am currently hand-washing them (several times) to see if I can soften them up a bit. Is this usual with new garter ties?

[FatherWilliam57]

I think you look splendid.

I'd raise the kilt pin up about 4 inches and a little closer to the apron end, but that's just a suggestion.

Thank you, Carlton! The placement of the pin was due in part to the fact that I am "a symetrical kind of person." I simply went for the closest "square" to the edege that was "boxed in" by a complete set of white and yellows stripes. (First time, gotta start somewhere!) I do like the way Robert wears his pins high up on the kilt, but kinda decided to "split the difference."

[FatherWilliam57]

I've been offline for a bit and just noticed this thread. You look splendid, Weebs. Guid on ye. And happy anniversary.

Thanks, Kenneth! And thanks for helping me procure the sporran!

[FatherWilliam57]

To begin with I didn't wear a sgian dubh either for the same reason. Then I read a story about a 19th century Church of Scotland minister attending his church in Scotland complete with dirk, sgian dubh and servant. I realised then that the clergy being unarmed was probably never really completely true

Sorry for making all these posts in a row, but I didn't have time during the holidays to address them one at a time.

Not sure what I'm going to do about the sgian dubh at church, David. I have no great aversion to wearing one when out and about. (Having served in the Navy, I can hardly claim to be a pacifist.) However, there have been congregation Council meetings and Congregational Meetings where I might have been tempted to wear one...

[CMcG]

Thanks very much for the insights. I do hope to purchase a sgian at some point, but I will have to save my pennies for that (I refuse to wear an "el cheapo." I especially appreciated your comment concerning the claret hose and grey tie. I hope to "mix it up a bit" as I get more comfortable with the kilt.

I was really disappointed in not wearing the yellow garter ties. They just seemed too "stiff" to tie correctly and they didn't seem to lay properly once tied. I am currently hand-washing them (several times) to see if I can soften them up a bit. Is this usual with new garter ties?

I'm not one for dull bladed, plastic handled sgians either but that doesn't mean you have to spend a lot of money... Colt makes a sharp, full-tang, burlwood sgian that can be had very cheaply and works well for daywear. Second hand dress sgians pop up on eBay too, if you keep your eyes peeled.

As for the garter ties, I have no idea if they are usually stiff at first because I usually wear flashes. Soon I will be able to comment because I found a good deal on a pair from eBay... in the pictures that I've seen, they don't really lay flat, but rather see to add a bit of bulk under the hose cuff.

[Panache]

Thank you, Jamie, most kind. In adjusting the sporran, is this a matter of wearing it higher or lower, or simply a matter of loosening or tightening the strap?

It is simply a matter of as you move (stand up, sit down, walk, etc) that the material of the fron apron can bunch behind the sporran. A quick small lift of the sporran (or the ends of the sporran strap where they meet the sporran) allow the fabric to fall back into place. You will also find as you wear your kilt more frequently that it and /or a kilt belt can slide down a bit or turn on your hips a little. A quick adjustment to pull them up or center them will guarantee you will look your best.

Something that I note about infrequent or very new kilt wearers is that once they put on their kilt they don't really adjust it during the course of the wearing. So by the end of an event they wind up with sagging or twisted kilts and belts. This looks rather unkempt and is easily avoided.

Perhaps the best analogy (if you are a Star Trek fan anyway ) is the "Picard Maneuver" when the character would stand a always give a quick tug to his uniform tunic to ensure it was straight.

In truth given a choice between a fellow wearing all the finest handmade highland attire in the world in a really sloppy and careless manner and another gentleman wearing inexpensive kilt and kit neatly. The second gentleman is going to look better.

Sometimes it's just the way that you use it

Cheers

Jamie