The matching of Kilts and accessories.

[Tobus]

I don't necessarily see anything terribly wrong with wearing a PC coatee, as I use to own one myself; however, with so many people wearing them and the fact that there are numerous alternatives available in regards to Highland evening attire, I don't see a reason why this would prevent someone from "branching out."

Cheers,

Here it comes, Kyle. You ready for it?

***!

I find it oddly humorous, and not a little ironic, that guys who wear kilts would intentionally want to look like everyone else. Highland attire, unlike Saxon attire, offers wonderful opportunities for individualism while still fitting in with the conventions or dress codes. Wearing a particular style of jacket solely for the purpose of looking like everyone else seems to be an attempt to inject Saxon dress mentality into an area where it doesn't belong.

If I had the choice between wearing a PC to match the other 98% of guests, or wearing a black Argyll and still meeting the expected level of dress, guess which one I'd choose.

[David Thorpe]

Double *** - Kyle and Tobus

I don't own a PC and don't foresee one in the near future. My black Argyle covers my formal needs nicely.

[Phil]

If I had the choice between wearing a PC to match the other 98% of guests, or wearing a black Argyll and still meeting the expected level of dress, guess which one I'd choose.

But sadly you would not be meeting the expected level of dress. Turning up to an event where a tuxedo is required in an Argyll is tantamount to arriving in a lounge suit. Whatever you have been led to believe, an Argyll jacket is daywear only. It is fine for daytime weddings or funerals and is the highlandwear dress of choice for church elders at Holy Communion. Arriving at a formal evening event in an Argyll marks the wearer out as a 'hayseed' as I believe your compatriots would say. It simply is inappropriate for the occasion and should not be worn. Doublets are a moveable feast and can be worn from formal with a bow tie to uber formal with lace jabot and cuffs. The exception might be the military or montrose doublet which, by historical association, is quite acceptable and is only worn with lace jabot.
How one dresses is, of course, a matter of personal choice. In a society unacustomed to kilt wearing I can quite imagine that 'anything goes' so carry on regardless. Elsewhere, however, you may find that different standards prevail.

[JohntheBiker]

But sadly you would not be meeting the expected level of dress. Turning up to an event where a tuxedo is required in an Argyll is tantamount to arriving in a lounge suit. Whatever you have been led to believe, an Argyll jacket is daywear only. It is fine for daytime weddings or funerals and is the highlandwear dress of choice for church elders at Holy Communion. Arriving at a formal evening event in an Argyll marks the wearer out as a 'hayseed' as I believe your compatriots would say. It simply is inappropriate for the occasion and should not be worn. Doublets are a moveable feast and can be worn from formal with a bow tie to uber formal with lace jabot and cuffs. The exception might be the military or montrose doublet which, by historical association, is quite acceptable and is only worn with lace jabot.
How one dresses is, of course, a matter of personal choice. In a society unacustomed to kilt wearing I can quite imagine that 'anything goes' so carry on regardless. Elsewhere, however, you may find that different standards prevail.

***

[creagdhubh]

Here it comes, Kyle. You ready for it?

***!

I find it oddly humorous, and not a little ironic, that guys who wear kilts would intentionally want to look like everyone else. Highland attire, unlike Saxon attire, offers wonderful opportunities for individualism while still fitting in with the conventions or dress codes. Wearing a particular style of jacket solely for the purpose of looking like everyone else seems to be an attempt to inject Saxon dress mentality into an area where it doesn't belong.

If I had the choice between wearing a PC to match the other 98% of guests, or wearing a black Argyll and still meeting the expected level of dress, guess which one I'd choose.

Hahaha, cheers Tobus! I know, I know...I tend to "***" quite a bit, but hey, why not? Especially if I agree with a person's statement (I still can't believe there was actually a thread on here not too long ago in regards to the whole *** topic). On a side-note, this is why my in-laws adore me so much...because I am so agreeable! LOL!

Yours aye,

[sadkingbilly]

I would never buy a PC, for the same reasons I don't own a tux - I'll never need it. I cannot imagine where I would wear it. Perhaps on a formal dinner on a cruise but then again, a cruise costs as much as a year of my mortgage. Not a chance of me coughing up that much money!

Of course I can imagine that someone with actual scottish blood might be more prone to wearing a formal evening outfit. I own two suits, a black one (very formal) and a grey one (formal) and one casual jacket (sand/yellow). Covered anything I ever happened upon until now

[OC Richard]

I tend to think of it (the wearing of black shoes with brown sporran) more along the lines of a Scottish Regimental tradition that carried over to civilian Highland dress, as is the case with so many other aspects of Highland attire.

Hmmm... let's look at that.

The theory I suppose would be that Highlanders were wearing deerskin sporrans and the traditional deerskin moccasinlike shoes, which BTW still survive in the traditional dress of the Aran isles and are called in Gaelic pamputai



but when the Black Watch was formed the Highlanders were forced into standard Army shoes which were black



resulting in the mismatch of leathers.

However, our earliest clear depictions of Highland Dress show black shoes, well prior to the forming of The Black Watch.

1660



1700



and 1714



Usually in Highland Dress things travelled the other way, that is, from civilian dress to the Army. The uniform of the Black Watch was merely sticking a red coat on the entire preexisting Highland costume, Glengarries had a long civilian provenance before their adoption by The Cameron Highlanders, and so on.

[OC Richard]

But sadly you would not be meeting the expected level of dress. Turning up to an event where a tuxedo is required in an Argyll is tantamount to arriving in a lounge suit. Whatever you have been led to believe, an Argyll jacket is daywear only. It is fine for daytime weddings or funerals

Perhaps interesting in this regard is what the Anderson 1936 catalogue has to say

[creagdhubh]

Richard,

You added a statement (in parenthesis) that was not mentioned in my original post in which you quoted. That's a bit unfair mate, but no worries! Thank you for your most recent contribution in regards to the wearing of brogues in various forms, colours, and styles in the Scottish Regimental and civilian tradition through the centuries. I suppose I should have been more clear and/or detailed in my post you quoted.

I was implying that the tradition of wearing black leather brogues with the kilt (thus creating a mismatch of leathers) and no other colour, to include shades of brown or tan, may be attributed to a more recent tradition in which many Scottish Regiments adhere to and that carried over to civilian dress. This process has unfolded quite naturally I'm sure, since the tendency for Scottish Regimental veterans to follow similar "dress codes" whilst in civilian Highland dress seems to be rather prominent. I certainly could be incorrect in saying so, as I claim to be no expert on the matter, just a casual observer, but it is still an educated guess nonetheless.

Cheers,

[Mike_Oettle]

Sadkingbilly wrote: “I own two suits, a black one (very formal) and a grey one (formal) and one casual jacket (sand/yellow).”

Well, rather than buy a special coatee/jacket for kilt wear, you could do what I am right now: having a suit jacket (charcoal) modified for kilt wear.
The main thing is to shorten it a bit, and to make sure the roundings in front at the bottom are adequate to allow room for the sporran. (I used a dinner plate to get the correct shape.)
Pictures will hopefully be ready next week.
In addition I am having some green cloth (left over from the making of my tam o’shanter) added to the collar and lapels, and to the cuffs, but this is an extra you need not worry about.
Regards,
Mike