new kilt

[celticpride]

i was curious what everyone thought of my new 8yard 16oz scotland national kilt? i have been taking bagpipes classes since last year and wanted to put together a outfit for when i decide to try competitions, nothing to fancy but something that reflects my style. opinions welcome...

[jeremy j starche]

Imageshack won't let you embed the image in your post, you have to provide the URL to the actual page like this:

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/838/jeff3.jpg/ -- a larger image, properly rotated would help, but I'm turning my head sideways to see:

The outfit looks pretty good, but I'd toss out a couple of ideas for your consideration..

1. Most Games take place on hot days in sunny fields. Unless you *know* you are going to be playing an an indoor venue, choose a lighter colored shirt. If you are baking and miserable, your playing will be affected.
2. Go with different colored flashes. Not only don't they have to match, traditional Scottish fashion isn't about matching, it is about finding a look that works. I'd be looking at red flashes with outfit I think.
3. (Feel free to ignore this one if it doesn't apply) Make sure that you do a few dress rehearsals on the full pipes with the outfit you choose. Sometimes wearing more formal or restrictive clothing can change how your body moves and how things fit. If your shoulders or elbows bind and you are not used to it, it can affect your playing.

[dutchy kilted]

I agree with Jeremy. You don't say where you live, but if you are playing outside an 8-yard kilt could get real hot in a hurry, especially with the exertion of playing the pipes.

Otherwise the kilt looks great - congratulations!

[biblemonkey]

Sweet!

[Calico]

Just in case anyone wants to see his pic vertically...

[tripleblessed]

Waaaaaaaay too much black. Black hose are almost never a good idea, though many will say differently, and I did say almost. With a black shirt and a black vest, a black tie is superfluous. Until I got the picture upright and larger, I couldn't even see that there WAS a vest and tie.

You obviously understand well the pieces of the puzzle, and how to assemble. Looks a good start. Seriously. I'd substitute a leather strap for the sporran chain to avoid kilt damage, and maybe a tad higher positioning. With a vest and that picture angle, and only one pic, little tough to judge. We like lots of pictures, especially newer guys and new outfits.

Consider that by strapping on a kilt you are seriously altering your personal style, and if you can survive that, a little more color is doable. Congratulations on expanding horizons, learning pipes is a big deal.

[Lyle1]

I like your outfit.

The overall look is a bit dark, but it works. I don't mind a monochromatic look, but you don't have to wear it the same way all of the time. For an easy second look, try something as simple as wearing a different tie. A black and white striped tie, would work with the shirt and vest, but it would break up all of the black and not be as severe. Even a tie with some red in it and red flashes or garters would be good with that outfit. A solid red tie might be too much contrast with he black shirt and vest, but a black and red, or red and green tie might also work, as would a green and white tie.

Looking at other photos on this forum, I have noticed that using a flash of color somewhere on the upper body seems to actually draw attention to the kilt rather than away from it. I think it is because the sense of contrast between the top and bottom makes you notice both more. Experiment with different color shirts, hose, and flashes or garters, depending on your mood and the occasion.

[celticpride]

first off i wana thank calico for fixing my picture and posting it correctly, thank you i am new to this. also wanted to thank everyone for their input.

i actually live in the northwest and did my research from other kilt wearers i know in the area and they agreed a 8 yard 16oz would be suitable for this weather. of course there is those couple of months of summer were a 16oz and a black shirt would be a overkill, so for those hotter months i would find more sun friendly colors and attire. i am very partial to the all black myself and it is jus a personal choice. i am looking into getting some hunter green hose and different colored flashes i just been using the ones i got with the kilt (scotweb balmoral). i realize this isnt a complete look but i am looking into the little details like the handmade sgian dubh and kilt pin i am making with some other colored accessories. i will say wearing a kilt for the first time is definetly an experience also taking pipe lessons for the last 10 months is alot of work but i am trying to make sure my new son grows up appreciating his scotch/irish american heritage. once again thanks for the opinions i was glad to see that they were more constructive than bashing.

[tripleblessed]

i was glad to see that they were more constructive than bashing.

For clarity, I hope you did not receive my comments as bashing. On rereading,I should have opened with the part about your knowing the pieces. It's a well-put-together outfit, and I think most here would be happy to stand next to you in that outfit. You asked for opinions, and here they'll vary widely and wildly, with many happy to explain to you mine are about as wildly as they come.

Working with designers of all kinds to stage and present plays, dance, fashion shows, and commercial theater (tradeshows, conventions, corporate meetings) I heard more than I usually wanted to about these matters. As you stated, it suits YOUR style, and your opinion is the one that counts. That's not what I would wear, but I wouldn't ask you to wear what I would. I would suggest to you, since you mentioned competitions, that the judges will be seeing you with eyes that are not yours, and that will affect their perception. Perhaps not fair, but the way of the world. Our suggestions are just that. I would never presume tell you you can't go out like this or that. Not my job, not anybody's job.

[OC Richard]

Many pipers and pipe bands, many of the best in the world, have switched from white hose to black hose. (Throughout the 90's and well into the 00's nearly every higher-level pipe band on earth wore white hose. Now the reaction has set in, with most bands switching to anything other than white, but especially to black.)

And, there's a pipe band (I forget which) that wears black waiscoats with black shirts.

The all-black "look" is popular now with pipers. In solo piping competitions I've seen pipers wearing ALL black: a plain black kilt, and everything else black. Also pipers wearing the "Black Isle" tartan which is all black with very subtle patterning to it, with everything else black.

I think you look great and will look quite stylish "on the day" (competition day).