...or a Question of Influence? I'm thinking it's six of one and half a dozen of the other. I've been reflecting on how my sartorial kilt-sense has grown and changed since I discovered Xmarks. Anyone care to join me in some self-relection?

How would you define your taste in kilt attire?

What is/are your main influence(s)? Have they changed over time?

How has Xmarks contributed to how you approach the kilt?

Before, my main influences were, sadly enough, rental kilt outfits and pipe bands because thats mostly what I saw around me, if and when anyone else was wearing a kilt. Neither really suited me but attempts at mixing in Saxon wear didn't really work out.

Now, I'm enjoying the benefits of the accumulated wisdom on this wonderful forum. The deep knowledge of the traditionalists is priceless but I also enjoy the contributions of modernists and individualists.

And then it hit me. The single biggest influence on my sense of taste is my lass, hence why I sometimes affectionately refer to her as my "official kilt inspector." Her aesthetic is North American and non-Scot but well informed by the available options within Highland attire.

She has patiently learned a ton of terminology about tartans, pleating styles, sporrans, sgians, doublets, jackets, etc. Now she knows quite a bit about Highland attire and has formed some excellent opinions. The other day I asked her to spell it out for me.

In her opinion, the way to go is contemporary-traditional. While she doesn't mind a Sportkilt-and-tshirt look for hiking or puttering around the apartment, she generally thinks the kilt should be reserved for special events. This means she favours smart casual, dressy, semi-formal, and formal looks.

She doesn't like modern kilts (Utilikilts et al.) or scrunched down hose with boots because they are too casual and not traditional enough. On the traditional side, she doesn't like lace jabots, doublets, dirks, PCs, full-mask or horsehair sporrans, hats with toories, too much tartan, too many mixed patterns, and too many colours because they look to either archaic, over-the-top or both.

I then pressed her to specify what she does like. Sgiannan dubh are cool. Hose always up with flashes; solid for daywear, diced/Argyle for formal, and white never. Black leather shoes, sporrans, and belts. Darker, short-fur, metal cantle sporrans are OK for dressing up. Tasteful mixing of patterns can work i.e. a subtle tattersal shirt with a tartan kilt. A button up shirt, tucked in is the minimum, which can then be dressed up with a sweater, vest, and/or Argyll/Crail/Braemar jacket. Tweed or black barathea for the jacket. Four in hand, black bow, or stock tie, depending on the level of formality. Traditionally styled, tartan kilts or Irish solid colours and any type of pleats.

I don't always listen because horsehair sporrans and lots of tartan are just awesome But by-and-large, I defer to her judgement. After all, she's the one who has to be seen in public with me!