Wanted: Lovat green tweed Argyle-type jacket and waistcoat, 44S

[Jock Scot]

Second-level of closure, today I tested my wedding outfit. Sporran chain needs to be shortened and I need to make a small repair to the Velcro on the flash garter, but this is why I did a test run well before the wedding.

Attachment 44760

Well yes, you look pretty smart and a "test run" is very sensible, but to my mind you could do better. However, if you are happy with the look,.....apart from the sporran.... then carry on carrying on.

[BobF]

Well yes, you look pretty smart and a "test run" is very sensible, but to my mind you could do better. However, if you are happy with the look,.....apart from the sporran.... then carry on carrying on.

I’m all ears, if you have suggestions.

[Jock Scot]

Well alright, so from top to bottom.

Loose the bonnet.
The tie knot needs attention.
The kilt needs raising a tad. At the very least an inch.
Yes, the sporan strap needs attention. Shorten it, quite a bit.
The Garter flashes need shortening ------tuck a bit more under the hose fold over. Leave no more than an inch sticking out.......to "flash!"
Those beautifully polished shoes need to be black.

And finally, all the very best for a happy kilted life!

[BobF]

Well alright, so from top to bottom.

Loose the bonnet.
The tie knot needs attention.
The kilt needs raising a tad. At the very least an inch.
Yes, the sporan strap needs attention. Shorten it, quite a bit.
The Garter flashes need shortening ------tuck a bit more under the hose fold over. Leave no more than an inch sticking out.......to "flash!"
Those beautifully polished shoes need to be black.

And finally, all the very best for a happy kilted life!

I appreciate the fair comments. The bonnet would only be while we’re outdoors. If you think that’s bad, I tried a glengarry first. Lasted all of fifteen seconds.

The tie knot was just a quick four-in-hand, which as you know is not symmetrical. I’ll use a different knot on the day, after I remind myself how to tie it!

Will raise the kilt, for sure.

Unfortunately for the sporran strap, I’m going to have to remove some links from the chain. What you see there is as tight as it would go with the buckle pushed all the way up the strap, where there aren’t even any holes. This was the real benefit of the test fit, as this will take a bit more effort than might have been possible on the morning.

I might have to physically alter the flashes; they’re homemade from cotton webbing, and I might just have left them too long to be tucked under. Will require further examination.

I do like the shoes, though. The color didn’t photograph accurately. They’re cranberry red, fading to black at the toes. I chose the tie to echo that. At any rate, the bride’s family are from the Dominican Republic, and I fully expect that colorful Caribbean clothing will completely outshine my shoes.

[User]

Jock Scot is an excellent source for what is proper, and I'm a terrible one. But since the only two points of his (correct) advice that I would dare break are the hat and shoe recommendations, which you also brought up, I figure I'll chime in.

I can see that the shoes are supposed to be black, but I think those shoes are gorgeous. They may be too much if paired with noisy Argyll kilt hose, but with those dark plain kilt hose, they look quite nice to my eyes.

As for the hat, the general sentiment seems to be, don't wear one. But if you're going to anyway (which I recommend, the sun is brutal), don't wear a flat cap with a kilt. They're British, but not Scottish, and the combination is disliked by many. I think it looks sharp, but I've never seen anyone who knows what traditional highland wear is agree, so take that as you will.

A Glengarry and Balmoral won't offer protection, so they may not be helpful. I believe a deerstalker and fore-and-aft are casual (correct me if I'm wrong), so I don't think they'd be a good choice. Jock Scot has mentioned that a panama hat can be paired with a kilt, and I consider that a semi-formal hat, so that may work. Or of course, you can accept that people don't agree with the combination, and do what you like.

You look great!

[Jock Scot]

Just so you know, until recently the four-in-hand tie knot was the knot that most in the UK used. The Windsor knot was very much frowned upon socially. Not because the knot was no good or looked awful or some such, it was because the late Duke of Windsor-------who regularly used the knot, hence the name?----------- upset the British establishment, Nation and Empire as a whole by deserting his recognised role in life, instead of putting duty first. He put his own wellbeing first. Hence the "Windsor knot" was not worn as as silent protest against his "selfish" actions.Until recently the Windsor knot was almost unheard of in the UK and I venture a guess that even now it still not used by the majority here. Personally, I have no interest in learning to tie that knot as it is not attractive to my eye. However, I note with mild interest that the younger generation within the UK, if/when they wear a tie these days, use the Windsor knot rather more often.

[BobF]

Perhaps the St. Andrew Knot would be more appropriate.

https://www.jonathanfarley.co.uk/how...t-andrew-knot/

BTW, I now have a vintage Mackie balmoral coming from eBay.

Just so you know, until recently the four-in-hand tie knot was the knot that most in the UK used. The Windsor knot was very much frowned upon socially. Not because the knot was no good or looked awful or some such, it was because the late Duke of Windsor-------who regularly used the knot, hence the name?----------- upset the British establishment, Nation and Empire as a whole by deserting his recognised role in life, instead of putting duty first. He put his own wellbeing first. Hence the "Windsor knot" was not worn as as silent protest against his "selfish" actions.Until recently the Windsor knot was almost unheard of in the UK and I venture a guess that even now it still not used by the majority here. Personally, I have no interest in learning to tie that knot as it is not attractive to my eye. However, I note with mild interest that the younger generation within the UK, if/when they wear a tie these days, use the Windsor knot rather more often.

[Jock Scot]

Perhaps the St. Andrew Knot would be more appropriate.

https://www.jonathanfarley.co.uk/how...t-andrew-knot/

BTW, I now have a vintage Mackie balmoral coming from eBay.

Perhaps "Andrew" might not be the best choice of name over here at the moment?

A new bonnet, eh? Well done, what colour is it?

[scratchy]

If you haven't one already, might I recommend a tie bar? Seeing that your tie has gone askew in pictures post-event is a bit embarrassing.

[BobF]

Perhaps "Andrew" might not be the best choice of name over here at the moment?

Yikes, my mind totally went to the saint and not to the Andrew formerly known as Prince.

A new bonnet, eh? Well done, what colour is it?

Just typical black with red-and-white dicing and red tourie. It’s “vintage” and is coming with a Clan Lamont badge, which maybe I can trade for something better related to my ancestors (though I have no idea if any of them had any clan connection at all). Or maybe I’ll just leave the cockade. Or maybe borrow the Clan Donald badge off my glengarry (though my Donald family were in North Ayrshire—Kilwinning, and before that Ardrossan).