Some pictures (finally) and observations

[Hamish]

Troy,

At last! Someone else with the Cornish National - I was begining to think I had the only one here at X Marks!

You are looking really good and fully at ease in it, although I have to agree with David about the smile!!!

A question for you: if you wear the Cornish National casually (and I hope you do), do you have difficulty in co-ordinating shirts, hose, etc. with it? Because of the black content in the tartan, brown leather accessories just do not work. Beige shirts and hose, which I normally advocate for almost any tartan, do not hack it either. I find myself keeping this kilt for more formal occasions where black and white are more fitting.

PS: I am just about to order an Arran sweater in black to wear mainly with the Cornish National, and the Breton National which poses similar problems.

[Schultz]

That looks fantastic!

As a die-hard Pittsburgh Steelers fan, I need to get one of these. It's the perfect tartan, for the team and the city in general.

I was also thinking about the question Hamish introduces. What would one wear with this on a casual basis? Outside of a fan gathering/game, where I would tend towards the ridiculous (or at least ridiculous to the uninitiated...lots of black and gold), the only thing I can think of wearing for a casual basis would be a "natural" Arran sweater and off white hose to match.

I also agree that a brown sporran just won't cut it.

[nixphotography]

Looks like all had a good time. Thanks for sharing.

Brett

[starbkjrus]

Nice pictures and I really like that tartan. Well done.

As far as wearing it casually matching the blue stripe comes to mind. I have a blue polo that matches the blue stripe in my Carolina District tartan and they look very smart togther.(IMHO)

From my screen the two colors look to be the same shade of blue.

[ozmeath]

Always a pleasure seeing fellow Aussies posting aroung here esp with pics. Looks like it went down a treat. It's not often you get to see the Cornish Nat. and it comes up well.
I'd say your obsrvations are not too dissimilar to mine on those points. I often find I get grilled by anyone with a sence of national culture about the kilt. Some people assume I'm an expert but I at least try to point them in the right direction.

[Hamish]

Nice pictures and I really like that tartan. Well done.

As far as wearing it casually matching the blue stripe comes to mind. I have a blue polo that matches the blue stripe in my Carolina District tartan and they look very smart togther.(IMHO)

From my screen the two colors look to be the same shade of blue.

Dee, like you I have blue polos that match that stripe but, in practice, the image just does not look right; the balance is not there. The answer, I believe, lies in the hose - if only hose were available in as many colours as polos life woiuld be SO much easier! My thinking is that black or white hose are too formal for a truly casual look, but I have worn a white polo, rolled down white hose and black boots with it - that's about as casual as I have managed to get. Also, I have worn my Cornish National with a beige Arran sweater and beige hose with black (Cornish) sporran and shoes, but it still does not come across as very casual.

The real problem seems to be with the 'gold' colour. In reality it is a slightly greenish yellow (a really unusual colour and, as such, part of the tartan's attractiveness), but is virtually impossible to match or co-ordinate. I challenge anyone to find me even a plain woollen tie in the same shade!!

All that being said, the Cornish National is a truly beautiful tartan and I am honoured to wear it even if only on formal and semi-formal occasions, as is Troy I am sure.

My apologies to you, Troy, for hijacking your thread. My enthusiasm, I'm afraid, tends to take over at times!! But, I'd still be interested to hear how you 'casualise' the Cornish National.

[Pour1Malt]

guid oan ya!

[Troy]

Very nice!

And enough charming ladies to justify a bigger smile

wear your sporran a tad bit higher

Point taken re: smile - for some reason I've always had a bit of a problem forcing a smile for the camera, really have no idea why!

Thanks for the tip re: sporran - will remember to buckle up an extra hole next time. I had only just put a new chain on a few days before - the one that was supplied with the strap was very poor quality, and a little bit shorter - and I guess I simply buckled up to the 'usual' hole.

Cheers,

Troy

[Troy]

Very very nice Troy, you look grand in the Cornish Nat. I just bought Cornish hunting for my wife, I'd like a kilt in it for myself.

Who made your kilt?

Come down to Tassie and we'll have a kilt night!

Thankyou, I'm glad you like the tartan - it certainly gets a lot of attention.

The kilt was made by All Things Tartan in Queensland - their pricing and service is, IMHO, first rate.

My wife and I have always wanted to visit Tassie, and now that I have discovered a long-lost Aunty on my late mother's (Scottish) side, there's even more of a reason to go.

I'll let you know when we're coming down.

Cheers,

Troy

[Troy]

?... a silly question - I'm not familliar with the style of necktie you have. Is it a bowtie tucked under the collar, or is it a different style altogether...?

Not a silly question at all.... I don't actually know what the style of tie is called - my father wore it in the late-1950's, and it is basically two flaps of fabric that cross over each other and are then joined in the intersection by a stud.

I find it dresses a shirt up nicely without being too ostentatious. I think it works well with the kilt for a semi-formal look.

Maybe Hamish, or one of the other more mature gentlemen on the forum, could enlighten us as to what this type of neckwear is called???

Regards,

Troy