Kilts and Clergy wear

[davidg]

The traditional silver buttons on the Argyll, however, are having an adverse affect on my very parochial psyche!

I suffer exactly the same problem. One of my colleagues wears a black clerical shirt with standard 5 button black vest and an Argyll jacket but I simply do not like that look. I often wear just the black shirt and an Argyll jacket because I think that looks better, but it still does not quite work for me

I have made a clerical vest that looks similar to this one



but I made it in black barathea to match the Argyll jacket and the buttons are the small silver "lion rampant" buttons that also match the Argyll

The only problem with this is that you are still very "bright" as there is too much silver for my tastes so I think the far better alternative is actually Matt's suggestion. Use the standard clergy vest (or a black-buttoned barathea version) with a simple Braemar jacket, the kind that has black buttons at the front and a single lack button on each cuff. That should really give you the highland equivalent of a priest's black suit and clerical vest

I checked and the Argyll does have shank buttons with pins, but they are located inside the coat lining

There is usually a slit somewhere inside the jacket that will allow access to remove the buttons. It may be in the centre back lining or at one of the side seams. Buttons on the cuff sometimes have a slit in the lower sleeve lining, pocket flaps underneath the flap and PC tails at the top of the tail lining on each side. If these openings are not there it is easy enough to open the lining enough to get a hand in and then slip stitch it closed after changing the buttons

[MacRobert's Reply]

For me the clerical shirt and collar (or clergy waistcoat or bib stock) are generally sufficient, and I am content to wear the same jackets and doublets as my secular friends and colleagues without any further distinction. My morning dress Argyll jacket is black anyway as is my velvet Sheriffmuir doublet for evening wear. However, the buttons on the Sheriffmuir are antiqued so a duller silver. For day wear, green and check tweeds with antler buttons are fine.

I do have clergy friends and colleagues, however, for whom black is the only colour. Among these all blacks I cant think of any that wear the (tartan) kilt which in itself would break the all-black hegemony. It seems to me that once one is clad in tartan, a bit of silver and additional colour is fairly incidental ... but that's just me and its all a matter of personal taste.

By the way Jock, I didn't know the Church of England was in your neck of the woods. Could this kilt-wearing cleric actually be from the Scottish Episcopal Church? If so, although part of the Anglican Communion and popular with English Christians living in Scotland, definitely not C of E. They were, after all, proscribed by parliament after the '45.

[Jock Scot]

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By the way Jock, I didn't know the Church of England was in your neck of the woods. Could this kilt-wearing cleric actually be from the Scottish Episcopal Church? If so, although part of the Anglican Communion and popular with English Christians living in Scotland, definitely not C of E. They were, after all, proscribed by parliament after the '45.

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You have got me there, frankly I have no idea! I only visit a church to pay my respects to those that are getting married or, the dead and the details of either service mean little to me. I am on nodding terms with the local clergy, but I have----as you can see-----only a very hazy idea to which team they are batting for.

[Jay]

I'm emended of Peter Griffin, Homer Simpson or Jim Varney opening the closet to 10 identical outfits.


That said, I whole heartedly encourage any man of God to wear a kilt if his heart desires.