Clan Crest Badge Affixed to a Day Sporran..

[Famous Willie]

We're moving off-topic here, but this is Bill's thread and he is entitled to do so. Jock is, of course, correct. Highland dress is not a uniform (and it's not 'regalia', as some call it). It's simply the way the kilt is traditionally worn today in Scotland. The emphasis must be placed on 'today', because how we wear it in a traditional manner is constantly evolving. Most of us don't wear tartan ties with tartan kilts, but a few do. Most don't make any attempt to match hose with shirts, but some do. There was a period of time when white hose were all the style (although there is an appearance difference between hand-knit white hose and machine-made). That was a strange glitch in the evolution and we have mostly moved beyond it.

Some of us do just reach into the armoire for a shirt, but some of us (or our wives) still try to find something that is pleasing to the eye. A lumberjack shirt and a red Menzies kilt are fairly jarring to the eye; so is a lemon yellow shirt and a Macleod of Lewis. We are a bit more cautious than Jock is making us out to be, in other words. The tattersall shirts we all have hanging there make it fairly easy to decide. As Jock said, white or cream is traditional, but there is a trend by younger folk to darker shirts and one day those might become alternatives just as the tattersall has become the norm. It's rarely a good idea to think you might be leading the pack when you are a neophyte and don't come from generations of wearing Highland dress, but always go with what is comfortable.

When it comes to hose we do usually have to choose from what we have and that's almost always from a selection of what our wives/girlfriends/mothers/aunts/friends knit for presents for us. Colours rarely are perfect matches for colours in the kilt(s) we have, so we go with what's in the drawer -- and that invariably works out well. Knit and hand-tied garters are much the same but we have favourites and those are what we wear.

Jackets are another thing and probably the second most expensive item of Highland dress you will buy. Be cautious here and make every effort to think about the occasions when you will wear whatever you buy, and not jump at what you think looks good on someone else. Tweed in one of its many forms is probably best for you, but if the only time you will wear a kilt is at black-tie, formal events, then there are a variety of formal jacket styles that will be appropriate.

Yes, I have seemed to gotten the Thread way off topic, so I think I will ask one of the Moderators to close the thread. I do appreciate your advice also Thistledown, and will have to really think of how I want to wear the Kilt and how to attire it. Like I mentioned to Jock in a reply, I am fortunate that over on this side of the Atlantic, not too many are attuned as to the proper way to wear the kilt. And living here in Kitchener, one don't see the Kilt too much. In fact I've only seen one other fellow wearing a kilt.

In a couple of weeks, I should have my Tartan Kilt from the Kilt Maker, and I can toss the Utility/Cargo Kilt into storage and only wear it on very casual occasions. Like I mentioned to Jock, I've been told I wear it wrong also,.

Thank you again Thistledown,

Bill