Blue Patrol Jacket

[Piobair]

Some will disagree, but I'm not a fan. Jackets like this have become part of a trend in the pipe band world where service bands increasingly choose kit that's not quite civilian, not quite military, and wind up with a look that can 100% tacky. Usually there are spats with solid colored hose involved and hackles sticking out of something. It looks a lot like adults playing dress up, which maybe it is.

I have respect for bands that go for full No. 1, but those uniforms can be hard to wear and expensive, especially if they're intended to fit correctly. The minute I see a band kitted out in in aviator shirts and horsehair sporrans or poorly tailored Pakistani doublets, I know exactly what I'm going to hear - and it's usually rough. I appreciate that military uniforms look cool - I have yet to see a picture of Gavin Stoddard from back in the day that didn't make me wish I had a job that allowed me to dress like that. But I would never play at a competition in one of those uniforms. I periodically wear No 1 to play at a wedding or something, but even then the goal is to keep it as close to MOD as possible without wearing an actual regiment's gear.

If someone was really into that look and doesn't want to become a piper, why not join SAMS or something and commit to really nailing it?