Glengarry and Argyll/Argyle

[Bryan]

Ok, this is kind of a stupid question, but would you wear a glengarry with formal (either PC or Argyll) attire or is it more casual/semi-formal?

Here's a sub-question, is the official spelling of the jacket Argyll or Argyle? I tend to see both and always use the Argyll spelling.

[george7]

Certainly!
A balmoral with prince charlie and me in a glengarry with sweater. IMHO, I think you can wear a glengarry as long as you have a collared shirt.

[slohairt]

For as many people who say you shouldn't, there will probably be as many who say you should! I think a black glengarry with or without dicing would look fine. I recall seeing some older pictures of some clan chiefs wearing glengarries with Regulation Doublets which are rather close to Prince Charlie coatees.

As for Argyll/Argyle? The place name and jacket is Argyll and the hose pattern is usually referred to as Argyle.

[McMurdo]

I would say outside is OK, however once inside please loose the covering. The other has been answered, I personally do not wear a Glengarry at all,I have a Balmoral, however I would not wear it with formal wear, but then to each their own.

[Bryan]

Thanks for the advice! I personally don't own one nor do i intend to, it was just out of my own curiosity that I asked.

[PiobBear]

I'm a piper, so quite often it's a glen, regardless of the level of formality. As McMurdo observed, gentlemen are generally expected to uncover indoors, the exception being color guards and honor guards while performing their duties, including pipers, as they're considered to be under arms.
For example a funeral service with honors; escorting the casket in, the honor guard (including piper) will keep their covers until seated for the service, at which point they uncover. Same for a color guard posting colors at a formal dinner. If I'm piping a wedding, I generally don't sit down, but stand at pipes ready, therefore I don't uncover at all. Were I to attend any of these events as a guest, not a participant, I'd leave the hat in the car.

[macwilkin]

As for Argyll/Argyle? The place name and jacket is Argyll and the hose pattern is usually referred to as Argyle.

Argyle is actually the old way of spelling Argyll; one set of my great-great grandparents' tombstones in Iowa lists their birthplace as "Argyle, Scotland".

Regards,

Todd

[slohairt]

Argyle is actually the old way of spelling Argyll; one set of my great-great grandparents' tombstones in Iowa lists their birthplace as "Argyle, Scotland".

Regards,

Todd

True, that is an archaic Anglicisation of Earra Ghàidheal.
I was just referring to the usage today concerning the duds in question.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Generally speaking I prefer a balmoral for two reasons: the glengarry has become so identified with pipe bands and pipers over the last 100 years or so that it has almost ceased to be an item of civilian wear; real feathers seem to look better when worn with a balmoral. That said, under most circumstances I find a broad-brimmed hat infinitely better to wear at games as it keeps the sun at bay.

I do not wear a hat to formal events.

[JS Sanders]

Donning a balmoral with PC formalwear is not a faux pas. I do it almost every piping gig requiring kilted formalwear.

Others may choose to be bare headed - which also is perfectly acceptable.

As previously stated, glengarries have become practically inseparable from pipers, so that one's your call.

Slainte,
steve