X Marks Tartan . . . thinking ahead about accessories

[mkmound]

In eager anticipation of the upcoming second run of the X Marks tartan and the kilt, I have been thinking about accessories . . .

1. Leather -- Both Ron's and Hamish's pictures at imff show black leather (belt / sporran / shoes), and that seems like a good choice. Are the blues in the tartan pretty cool blues, or do they have enough underlying warm tones to work with brown also? (Of course, I'd be "forced" to acquire brown leather goods if the answer's yes . . . :rolleyes: )
2. Hose, shirt -- Hamish looks smashing in his stone-colored (is that the correct color that I'm seeing on my monitor?) shirt and hose. Ron looks great in the white shirt, which makes sense since there's white in the tartan. Ron -- are your hose lovat blue? Other suggestions?
3. Jacket -- Ron has a black jacket which looks good. I have a black leather jacket and black Argyll jacket. For a dress outfit, the Argyll should work . . . suggestions on shirt / tie / hose to balance that out? I'm also considering eventually getting a lovat blue tweed jacket . . . would that work with the tartan?

That should be enough to stir the pot for now!

Regards,
Mark

[Hamish]

In eager anticipation of the upcoming second run of the X Marks tartan and the kilt, I have been thinking about accessories . . .

1. Leather -- Both Ron's and Hamish's pictures at imff show black leather (belt / sporran / shoes), and that seems like a good choice. Are the blues in the tartan pretty cool blues, or do they have enough underlying warm tones to work with brown also? (Of course, I'd be "forced" to acquire brown leather goods if the answer's yes . . . :rolleyes: )
2. Hose, shirt -- Hamish looks smashing in his stone-colored (is that the correct color that I'm seeing on my monitor?) shirt and hose. Ron looks great in the white shirt, which makes sense since there's white in the tartan. Ron -- are your hose lovat blue? Other suggestions?
3. Jacket -- Ron has a black jacket which looks good. I have a black leather jacket and black Argyll jacket. For a dress outfit, the Argyll should work . . . suggestions on shirt / tie / hose to balance that out? I'm also considering eventually getting a lovat blue tweed jacket . . . would that work with the tartan?

That should be enough to stir the pot for now!

Regards,
Mark

Mark,

Sorry I missed this thread from the start - as did everyone else apparently!

My advice is: wait until you have the tartan, or the kilt, before trying to select the accessories. The base blue colour is very atractive, but is a devil to match! It's what I'd call a greyish blue. In my eyes, Lovat Blue does not work with it and I have yet to find a blue tweed (no-one can say I haven't been trying) to have made up as an Argyll jacket.

I have been lucky enough to find a couple of blue shirts that I can wear with the kilt, but the effect is really 'too much blue', so I opt for beige or stone as a rule. White, as Ron knows, also works, but the white stripe in the tartan is not pure white except where the lines cross!

For hose, again I stick with beige or stone. Again, I was lucky to find a pair of blue hose with yellow dicing in the turn over, which perfectly accentuates the richer blue and the yellow in the tartan. They came from The Sock Company here in the UK ( www.sock-co-country.co.uk ), but you have to order from a paper catalogue!

Leather accessories? Black works well and is best suited to the tartan, but I do wear all brown leather occasionally for a more casual look. There are those who will tell you never to wear brown with dark blue, but it can and does work - if you are careful.

Finally: be patient, and wait till you have the real thing in your hands!

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

I saw a sample of the XMarks tartan at the Gatlinburg Games this past weekend, Matt brought some along. I think it would be fine with (darker) brown accessories. Also, stone hose and similar colored shirt would work good. I also think that you could make a nice ensemble by finding a shirt that matches the yellow stripe, navy hose, and a pair of yellow flashes.

No clue about a jacket, but then again the only jacket I own is a black Argyll, so you know what I will wear with it, if necessary!

[mkmound]

Hmmm . . . would it work with a navy blue jacket?

[Hamish]

Hmmm . . . would it work with a navy blue jacket?

I have looked at navy blue tweeds but cannot find one suitable. As I said, the base blue of the tartan is not an easy one to tie in with. Please wait until you have the fabric, or the kilt, to take around the shops so that you don't make an expensive mistake in your purchases!

PS: I'll wear my 'X Marks....' kilt when we meet in London later today, and you'll see what I mean!