Waistcoat only?

[OC Richard]

Wearing a waistcoat/vest without jacket has, for some reason, become near-universal in The Pipe Band World, which as people here know tends to be something of a separate category of modern traditional civilian Highland Dress.

Last August, at The World Pipe Band Championships, every single band in the Grade One Finals was so dressed. And of the 230 or so bands present, there were only a few not like that, so on Glasgow Green that day one would have seen around eight thousand people wearing a waistcoat without jacket.

I think it's because a band can look a bit smarter than they would with shirts only, without the large expense of everybody getting jackets. And, many bands are from places like the USA and Australia where it's too hot for a jacket in the summer competition season.

Steve was right on the mark about the silk-backed vests. Back in the 80s and 90s when the waistcoat-only pipe band look came in, many bands were wearing the silk-backed vests but after a few years of sun and rain and sweat the backs of many vests, originally black, would fade to a dingy purple or even pink. Most bands here in the USA get their vests from J Higgins because 1) they have the same wool fabric front and back 2) they come in a variety of lengths and 3) they're inexpensive.

Getting the right length is important but often overlooked. Pipe bands compete in a circle facing in, so the audience's view is that of the unsightly backside, a kilt worn too low and a vest too short with an expanse of shirt revealed. Ugh.

The pipe band thing: at Stirling Castle



Wearing a nice heavy tweed waistcoat not designed for the kilt



Wearing a notched-lapel vest not designed for the kilt, got at JC Penneys

[OC Richard]

Well as the temp in Cornwall has been known to rocket into the 80's... I tend not to wear my tweed Argyll unless it's a more formal setting, court for speeding was the last time I wore it.

What did the judge think?

As an aside, my grandmother's side of the family is from Tywardreath, a lovely village not unlike what one sees in Doc Martin (other than the silted-up bay). Her parents were named Reed, and Varcoe (a uniquely Cornish name, I think). They were miners there, and then miners here (West Virginia). I follow The Cornish Pirates from afar, online.

A bit of a quest of mine has been to design a Cornwall tartan that's more attractive than the usual yellow one, and I think I've succeeded, the only hurdle now being the expense of having it woven.

[tripod]

What did the judge think?

My second visit, I spent 3/4 hour arguing with the prosecution solicitor about the legality. Eventually after looking in law books I was done on a rarely used section. (Reduced the fine though)

The bench did comment and said it was nice to see.

There are two other Cornish tartans the hunting and the St Piran

[cizinec]

I have a waistcoat I have worn for quite some time. It's wool all around. Instead of having a buckle in the back, it has two buckles on the side that are hidden when your hands are by your side. It seems a touch longer than most waistcoats.

Unfortunately, I bought this in 1987 or 1988 and it was the last one the store had even back then. It has seen years of pub sessions, work days and many other events. I found another similar, but is not as dressy. I've always kept my eyes open for waistcoats that fit the "all around" description, since I have always liked them.

I apologize for the quality of the photo of me, my waistcoat and my Jackrat dog, Elvis. You can see the buckle on the side. My side, not Elvis's side. There is an identical buckle on the other side.

Let me know if you would like me to photograph the details of the waistcoats if you want to copy them.

-Roy