Quote Originally Posted by McMathTX View Post
The hose suggestion was great. I've just got to decide among a deep red, forest green or navy blue. How about all three?

I just don't go formal enough to justify buckle shoes, much less ghillie brogues. Is it too much of a faux pas to buy ghillies laces and add them to wingtips?
First, let me say that I think you uniform is quite elegant. What you need to do, to keep the whole ensemble from looking like a "cruise ship costume", is try and keep the whole look "military" The Knights are, after all, a military order and you want to reflect that in the way you dress.

HOSE: May I suggest that red and white diced hose (or red and black diced hose) will give you the best look with your kilt/jacket combination. White, for obvious reasons won't work, and solid colour hose will look far better with civilian day wear than with your Knights of Columbus uniform.

SPORRAN: Spend the extra few dollars for a fur or hair sporran. It will look more elegant and definitely more military than an all leather sporran. A "military" pattern sporran would probably look the best and could easily have the KofC insignia attached to the cantle.

SHOES: Rather than spend a great deal of money on ghillie brogues, I'd suggest you opt for a tin of Kiwi shoe polish and a pair of pipers "ghillie flaps". And at all costs avoid the "ghillie" laces.

WAISTCOAT Any tuxedo shop can sell you a black waistcoat similar to that worn with a Prince Charlie coatee. When you go shopping, bring along your kilt and uniform jacket, to make sure that everything lines up properly without any gaps at the top of the kilt that would allow your shirt to be seen. Replace the buttons with gold buttons (either small KofC or US eagle buttons) to complete the look. A word of warning: under NO circumstances should you wear a coloured waistcoat-- you will look like a waiter in a Scottish themed restaurant if you do. The same goes for the bow tie. Black with a black waistcoat, white with a white waistcoat; anything else will look like you are cruising with Carnival Line, and bring the dignity of the KofC uniform into disrepute.

You are in a unique position to define the kilted uniform of the Knights of Columbus, not as a fashion statement, but rather reflecting the dignity and devotion that you, and other kilted gentlemen, bring to the Order. That, Sir Knight, is a heavy responsibility.