Adding kilt bows/rosettes?

[OC Richard]

Here's a Black Watch kilt with the bow-shaped things the regiment calls rosettes:



and being worn by the Drum Major and Pipe Major of that regiment:



It doesn't show up well but the Pipe Major's are shaped like the Drum Major's but made of Royal Stuart tartan ribbon.

Here's another view (in this case the Pipe Major of the Black Watch is the enormous man nicknamed the Big Ugg):



and in the old days:



True rosettes (which by definition have a central button) are worn by the Pipe Major of the Royal Highland Fusiliers, in this case Gavin Stoddart:



and



Gordon Walker, ex military, wears rosettes on his civilian kilt:



But they're not exclusively military, as one of the men shown in The Highlanders of Scotland has bows to his kilt.

I have this vintage photo of a civilian wearing them:

[slohairt]

If I recall correctly, the bows are sometimes referred to as "Gaelic knots" or "Gaelic bows".

[creagdhubh]

Here's a Black Watch kilt with the bow-shaped things the regiment calls rosettes:



and being worn by the Drum Major and Pipe Major of that regiment:



It doesn't show up well but the Pipe Major's are shaped like the Drum Major's but made of Royal Stuart tartan ribbon.

Here's another view (in this case the Pipe Major of the Black Watch is the enormous man nicknamed the Big Ugg):



and in the old days:



True rosettes (which by definition have a central button) are worn by the Pipe Major of the Royal Highland Fusiliers, in this case Gavin Stoddart:



and



Gordon Walker, ex military, wears rosettes on his civilian kilt:



But they're not exclusively military, as one of the men shown in The Highlanders of Scotland has bows to his kilt.

I have this vintage photo of a civilian wearing them:

Wonderful photo of Gordon Walker, Jack Lee, Roddy Macleod, Angus McColl, et al! What a great shot of some of the best pipers in the world!!! Man, would I love to have a ceilidh with them piping!!!

Slainte!!!

[OC Richard]

I just noticed that Gordon Walker is the only guy not wearing a black Argyll jacket... his is charcoal grey. He's always a notch above the rest.

And here he is again! Note that he's the only one not wearing a Prince Charlie, and that he has buckles and red laces on his ghillies...

[creagdhubh]

I just noticed that Gordon Walker is the only guy not wearing a black Argyll jacket... his is charcoal grey. He's always a notch above the rest.

And here he is again! Note that he's the only one not wearing a Prince Charlie, and that he has buckles and red laces on his ghillies...

Yes! He is always "a notch above the rest!" I love his style. I have never seen weathered colors worn with the black and silver of Highland evening wear, until I saw Gordon Walker doing so. I love it and plan to order a Macpherson weathered 8 yarder in strome as soon as I can do it! He is always conscious of his Highland attire, it seems, and thank goodness! I always look forward to seeing photos of him and what he will be wearing next. Thanks for the lovely photos Richard.

[BoldHighlander]

I don't know if I just missed them when viewing pictures in the past or what, but I've got to say I really like the idea of tartan rosettes!

Have you thought about going this route Brian?
(though I understand too the desire to honour your former branch of service)

Here's another view (in this case the Pipe Major of the Black Watch is the enormous man nicknamed the Big Ugg):


Gordon Walker, ex military, wears rosettes on his civilian kilt:

Great photos!
And being a connoisseur of the handlebar moustache (after a brief hiatus mine is back ) I really like the facial hair these gents are sporting!

and in the old days:


But they're not exclusively military, as one of the men shown in The Highlanders of Scotland has bows to his kilt.

I have this vintage photo of a civilian wearing them:

[longhuntr74]

Gordon Walker (who I've never heard of until just recently by reading these threads on XMTS...I've never been exposed to the world of piping) is my new role model for what "right" looks like when it comes to kilt wearing! He really does have class. I love that grey Argyll jacket, that weathered/muted tartan, and the hose selections. Those matching rosettes look awesome as well...I will be making a pair of them for wear with my BW kilt when I complete it...as well as for my US Army kilt down the road as well. I've got in mind a concept for how to make them a removable pin-on device so I can wear them for certain occassions, but don't have to wear them for all occasions.

[OC Richard]

I suppose the trick for these bows or rosettes would be finding tartan ribbon that matches the kilt well, like our Gordon Walker has done.

About 25 years ago I made a pair of Black Watch style bows of Gordon ribbon that I attached to my Gordon kilt. I'll try to find a photo.

I did a lot of Scottish Country Dancing back then and I always got comments on those bows.

OK here's a blast from the past, me in 1980 or so, showing those Gordon tartan bows. They're wrong of course, because the Gordon Highlanders never wore such.

[OC Richard]

Gordon Walker (who I've never heard of until just recently by reading these threads on XMTS...I've never been exposed to the world of piping) is my new role model for what "right" looks like when it comes to kilt wearing! He really does have class.

For those who don't know Gordon Walker, he's one of the world's best pipers.

Here he is!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmJUBiTk6bw

He's ex-military and evidently quite proud of it, and often wears bits of his military kit, such as his regimental kilt pin, cap badge, etc.

Now about him wearing his Pipe Major's stripes on a civilian jacket there, I need to point out to US military people that the office of Pipe Major is an office, not a rank. (Army Pipe Majors can be just about any rank. Some Pipe Majors are captains and majors, others are noncommisioned officers. Whatever the man's rank, every pipe major wears the same four chevrons which denote the office.) Therefore, Pipe Major's stripes can quite properly be worn both by ex-military men and by civilians who hold the office of Pipe Major in a civilian pipe band.