Buying a Kilt :D

[Hothir Ethelnor]

Ooh yes, a patterned tweed would be wonderful for a jacket and waistcoat.

[Colin MacBean]

Thanks once again guys all very helpful

@xman for the sporran though would it not make more sense to go for one that is either formal or casual rather than trying to bridge the gap and failing at both I could easily buy a casual sporran later if I land up wearing the kilt more often for casual and day wear uses. That being said could a black hunting sporran with silver/pewter cantle count as formal?

@downunder That sgian dubh actually looks quite stylish
That tweed looks very nice, I don't know if I'd have the swagger to pull something like that off (jk)

[xman]

@xman for the sporran though would it not make more sense to go for one that is either formal or casual rather than trying to bridge the gap and failing at both I could easily buy a casual sporran later if I land up wearing the kilt more often for casual and day wear uses. That being said could a black hunting sporran with silver/pewter cantle count as formal?

I say you're right on all counts there.

[Colin MacBean]

Well that just about covers everything Thanks again for all your help guys

I have one stupid question to end with though..
I've been looking at board-swords and back-swords and I have a couple of questions.
1. Would it even be remotely plausible to wear it with the items I have so far and not be considered a complete noob?

2. Would one with rounded tip and a very dull blade that fits with reenactment standards be legal to walk around in public-ish areas?

3. Anything else I am missing

[xman]

I've been looking at board-swords and back-swords and I have a couple of questions.
1. Would it even be remotely plausible to wear it with the items I have so far and not be considered a complete noob?

Nope, total nerd. Swords are at best reenactment and ceremonial items, not generally suitable for regular civilian wear.

2. Would one with rounded tip and a very dull blade that fits with reenactment standards be legal to walk around in public-ish areas?

You must check with the laws in our area, but I strongly suspect that you'd be opening yourself up to a world of confrontation with law enforcement. Stick to a sgian dubh and leave your sword at home when you're not LARPing.

[Drum Major]

Colin, anumber of things to note.
1. Kilts are pleated 2 ways. Military kilts and pipeband kilts are pleated 'on the line' ie all the pleats have the same section of the tartan to the crease so that you do not see the tartan at the rear of the kilt. A kilt made for an individual who is not in either of the above organisations is best to have a kilt made 'on the sett' ie when the pleats lay flat they form the tartan the same as the fron panels.
2. If you get a barathea argyle jacket you can wear it for day wear and evening wear if you get it in black. get a matching waistcoat with it. For evening wear a black bow tie with the jacket and waistcoat is acceptable for black tie affairs. During the day you may dispense with the waistcoat and wear a belt. A tweed jacket and waistcoat is daywear only. Lovat green, Lovat blue or a rust colour is acceptable.
3. A black sgian dhu can be worn with day or eveningwear whreas a staghorn handle is only for daywear.
4. A black glengarry (without dicing) goes well with the black barathea. A balmoral matching the green or blue tweed is best, while a navy blue/black balmoral goes with the rust colour jacket. Dicing came from the House of Hanover worn by lowland regiments and should only be worn by military personel or pipeband drummers. Pipers do not wear dicing. The tails of a glengarry hang while those of a balmoral are tied in neat bow and sewn to the back of the balmoral.
Best of luck in your choices.

[wildrover]

If he says it in a bar... well, it depends on how you play your cards.

I'll tell you a story, believe me it's true, a tale you'd best hope...never happens to you! hambeast on yer six, wave off, wave off!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo3D4OCqPXc

1. Kilts are pleated 2 ways. Military kilts and pipeband kilts are pleated 'on the line' ie all the pleats have the same section of the tartan to the crease so that you do not see the tartan at the rear of the kilt. A kilt made for an individual who is not in either of the above organisations is best to have a kilt made 'on the sett' ie when the pleats lay flat they form the tartan the same as the fron panels.

We do take a lot of our kilted cues from military conventions...although IMHO the sett vs stripe choice isn't really so cast in stone. Your kiltmaker should be able to provide a few photographs during the process, of potential pleating schemes, so you can make an informed decision. Some tartans may show the eye-catching effect of one color when the pleats are flat, but show another color when the pleats swing...other tartans may have a very good sett, but lose the beauty of it when pleated to a line.

Dicing came from the House of Hanover worn by lowland regiments and should only be worn by military personel or pipeband...

I'd agree with that 100%.

Back to sgian dubhs...and horn vs other...if you have a handle formed from part of an antler tine, yeah...it'll look less dressy. But...carved, inlaid, or scrimshaw horn or bone would be another matter entirely. I'd like to get a "sgian dubh" (not really a traditional sgian dubh) from Edge Alaska or D'Holder...one of these days when I have the $$$$...for example...


-Sean

[Colin MacBean]

Thanks for all the extra help A lot of that stuff I had failed to research. There are some problems that have been arising... My Dad already has a very mishap of an outfit. Balmoral with dicing and no bow tie... Argyle tweed in lovat blue... silver sgian dubh... So at some level do we try to match to a certain extent or just forget about everything? We are set on the argyles over the barathea but there are still differences that can arise. All your comments though are duly noted and greatly appreciated

[xman]

Your dad's outfit sounds just fine to me. I would go without any dicing on a highland bonnet, but that's just my choice.

We are set on the argyles over the barathea ...

'Argyle' is a style or cut of jacket whereas 'barathea' is a type of wool cloth used to make various garments including jackets. I assume you mean that you are preferring coloured tweeds over black barathea for your argyll jacket and unless you plan on attending more formal function than otherwise I'd say you have made a wise choice.

I wouldn't worry about matching your family up. Since the tartan and cut of your jackets will all be similar if not identical, why not express your individuality in the finer details like which colour and type of tweed your jacket will be and which kilt pin you will use.

[Colin MacBean]

Lol at myself... Yes of course I meant tweed