Belated pictures

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Guys-- you are the Gold Dust Twins of kilting! everything is absolutely spot on and couldn't be better. I personally think patterned ties look great with a kilt and add that indefinable touch known as flair. Both of your ties look sharp, but for different reasons.

The knot on your brother's tie looks a little loose to me; you might want to suggest that he pull the knot a little tighter next time, before he slides it up to his collar. That said, some ties don't stay up as well as they should. Here's how I address that problem:

On the back of most ties are two loops; one is the label, the other a keeper.

(1) Adjust the knot at the collar;

(2) Slip the narrow portion of the tie (the tail) through the keeper (if there is no keeper use the label);

(3) Holding the tip of the tail, slide the keeper up about an inch;

(4) Secure the tail of the tie to your shirt with a tie clasp placed immediately below the keeper, with the front of the tie covering the clasp.

This should keep the knot (unless it is too loose) from slipping.

[McFarkus]

You guys both look great!

[Fitzy]

Well done ! You both look great.

And if any one tries to tell you otherwise, it's only because they must be jealous !

Paul

[Jack Daw]

Well done for both of you all the way around for kilt, sporran, waistcoat, tie, hose, garters, etc. I like the paisley tie, too!

[mookien]

Great looking outfits. You both look like you have an eye for fashion. I hope you take this in the complimentary way in which it is offered, but you look like two actors (maybe the Weasley twins?) from the Harry Potter saga standing on the common at Hogwarts. Way to go!

[AKScott]

That said, some ties don't stay up as well as they should. Here's how I address that problem:

On the back of most ties are two loops; one is the label, the other a keeper.

(1) Adjust the knot at the collar;

(2) Slip the narrow portion of the tie (the tail) through the keeper (if there is no keeper use the label);

(3) Holding the tip of the tail, slide the keeper up about an inch;

(4) Secure the tail of the tie to your shirt with a tie clasp placed immediately below the keeper, with the front of the tie covering the clasp.

This should keep the knot (unless it is too loose) from slipping.

I used to have an amazingly smooth silk tie from Hong Kong that I absolutely _had_ to wear this way or it just would not stay up at all. Thanks for the reminder.

[Macman]

I'll add my compliments on how good you both look. Well turned out, lads.

[KiltedDixon]

Great Pics! Well done.

[AKScott]

I thought of one other tip for keeping a recalcitrant tie snugged up. The tool is very hard on shirt collars, but for special occasions it might be worthy of consideration.

Imagine a paperclip bent into the shape of a capital M. Then make the V bend in the middle somewhat more shallow than the standard font here at Xmarks.

The put spirng loaded extensions on the outer limbs with feet and pointy bits, rather like a ski pole tip.

It would look like this:


During the penultimate step of tying a four in hand, slip the tie stay into that last open loop before you finish tying the knot so there is one layer of tie over the top bar of the stay and the rest of the tie knot laying like this:


Then snug the knot up to the shirt collar, and set the pointy bits of the tie stay into the back side of your collar's points.

I am certain we called these tie stays when I was in the navy (shortly after Trafalgar), but my google-fu is failing me for a link to product today.

Before you run out and buy six of these things at your local base exchange or post exchange, be advised that while your tie will not budge, your collar points are going to take a beating. I recall if you use this tool with the same shirt one day a week every week for six months the collar points will be in absolute ruins.

On the other hand these should still be under ten bucks. If you have a brilliant shirt and tie combo that just won't stay snugged up and huge interview, this shouldn't wreck your collar points in just a few hours.

Thank God MacMillan has signed off on paisley ties with tartan kilts, full speed ahead.

[AN COIGREACH ALBANNACH]

You're kicking goals boys.Dapper!Should be more of it.