Opinions Please

[Streetcar]

First, you look fine AS IS!

Given that, everything else is just some tweaking. I agree the metal should match. It would probably be easier to get silver (or nickle) buttons than change the rest of the outfit.

You've put together a non-traditional formal look. I like the sporran you have for it.

I do echo the Wizard about the hose, though. Cream just doesn't quite fit. Maroon or White I think would be your best bets with that jacket.

Oh, and a waistcoat would be too much (in my opinion)

Congrats on a great look!

[GMan]

For the most part I like it, however I am a simple guy and probably wouldn't go that "fancy"

[Riverkilt]

Good Lord Men! He lives in Fort Worth!! (No insult intended, I was conceived there...it just "is" Fort Worth) I think the turnout is quite dazzling. You wear the kilt well sir and its a beautiful tartan.

Us "experts" might notice a few things and suggest some minor tweaking of this and that but dang - you'd blow away most any gathering as you is. And, as is, you've certainly out spiffed most folks at any highland games or Scottish function.

Dazzling sir, dazzling. You make me proud to have originated (at a cellular level) in Fort Worth.

And hey, love the mess jacket. Do you think the folks that sell them would sell to a hellbound Pagan??

Ron

[Erisianmonkey]

I'll say that I agree with everyone that you should go with a formal dress sporran. I'll also agree that you should get colored hose. I think that black, or having looked at your tartan in a tartan finder, a blue that matches the blue stripes in your tartan. I don't know if you're wearing one or not, but I'll agree that the outfit also screams for a sgian dubh, or at least a sgian don't. I like the fly plaid and ribbons on the shoulders. I personally think that you could lose the belt even without a waistcoat. And the sporran definitely needs to come upwards.

Having said all that, I still think you could go exactly as you are and still look pretty sharp. That's a nice outfit.

[James MacMillan]

You are going to get a bunch of opinions on this, so here's mine. I am being super picky here. Depending on the event that you go to, (meaning very few kilties in attendance) you look fine as you are. But.....

White, to me, is the highest of formal. with that in mind you really need a gorgeous longer haired fur sporran. With a nice silver or pewter cantle.

I would change the gold buttons to silver colored. It's not generally a good idea to mix silver and gold together.

I would put the corner of the fly plaid not the edge through the brooch.

If you are going to wear the belt and buckle, you need one that is less shiney, more silver looking. Never, but never wear a cumberbum with a kilt!!!

I personally, would love to see a vest or waist coat in the same tartan.

Try some different color of hose, till you like the look. The cream color looks out of place, and sorta clashes with the stark white of the jacket.

Dressy sgian dubh for sure - red stone.

I like the pogey ropes, but if you are going to wear them, I would lose the fly plaid and wear your miniature medals. I have never seen a pogey rope with civilian attire, so why not carry the military look further.

Oh and if you can afford them, Ghillies.

Now having said all that, and assuming you are wearing the best you have, go for it. If you want to slowly improve your overall look, try some of the suggestions.

All-in-all, you look pretty dang good.

[Amoskeag]

I read the entire write-up before seeing the picture and when I looked my first thought was, "That looks superb!". I combine all my Masonic "Traps" with my kilt all the time; probably breaks every rule in the book but it looks good. It looks like that's what you have, go and be proud!
Bob

[McMathTX]

First off, thanks for everyone's help. Your comments weren't as harsh as I feared, and I really needed and appreciated a learned eye.

I'll definitely get a formal sporran. I knew in my heart that I should get one, but needed some encouragement to jump off the cliff! I'll also raise it up a bit. The strap is on the last hole now, so I'll punch a new one.

I agree that the shoulder braid and the plaid are a little much. I have 3 options. Go without either, wear only the braid, or wear only the plaid. I think that I'll gauge the function to see which of the 3 options I'll choose.

I'm wearing a sgian dubh, but for some reason it worked around my calf a little so you couldn't see it. Stag horn, hmmmm....

The hose suggestion was great. I've just got to decide among a deep red, forest green or navy blue. How about all three?

I just don't go formal enough to justify buckle shoes, much less ghillie brogues. Is it too much of a faux pas to buy ghillies laces and add them to wingtips?

I'll have to go look at the jacket and see if the buttons are easily changed, but I have to have the gold for my KofC functions. Otherwise, I'm thinking of going sans belt to avoid the clash.

Cajunscot, as you know from living in Louisiana for a time, it gets hot in the summer down here! I've posted honor guard at funerals in July/August in my cape, and thought I was suffocating. To that end, our Assembly has adopted a white mess jacket for use from Easter to Labor Day. The shoulder boards have the 4th Degree emblem on them. The color of the shoulder braid signifies rank within the 4th Degree.

Ruanaidh, there'll definitely be no plumed chapeau! I've been thinking about getting a balmoral however.

Riverkilt, I'll ask where we get our jackets from, but I do remember that they sell to anyone - even pagans!

Thanks again for everyone's help. It's really going to help me fine tune my kit. Like I said earlier, I have a sense of style that is right for me, but I don't won't to look like a dork either!

Dean

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

The hose suggestion was great. I've just got to decide among a deep red, forest green or navy blue. How about all three?

I just don't go formal enough to justify buckle shoes, much less ghillie brogues. Is it too much of a faux pas to buy ghillies laces and add them to wingtips?

First, let me say that I think you uniform is quite elegant. What you need to do, to keep the whole ensemble from looking like a "cruise ship costume", is try and keep the whole look "military" The Knights are, after all, a military order and you want to reflect that in the way you dress.

HOSE: May I suggest that red and white diced hose (or red and black diced hose) will give you the best look with your kilt/jacket combination. White, for obvious reasons won't work, and solid colour hose will look far better with civilian day wear than with your Knights of Columbus uniform.

SPORRAN: Spend the extra few dollars for a fur or hair sporran. It will look more elegant and definitely more military than an all leather sporran. A "military" pattern sporran would probably look the best and could easily have the KofC insignia attached to the cantle.

SHOES: Rather than spend a great deal of money on ghillie brogues, I'd suggest you opt for a tin of Kiwi shoe polish and a pair of pipers "ghillie flaps". And at all costs avoid the "ghillie" laces.

WAISTCOAT Any tuxedo shop can sell you a black waistcoat similar to that worn with a Prince Charlie coatee. When you go shopping, bring along your kilt and uniform jacket, to make sure that everything lines up properly without any gaps at the top of the kilt that would allow your shirt to be seen. Replace the buttons with gold buttons (either small KofC or US eagle buttons) to complete the look. A word of warning: under NO circumstances should you wear a coloured waistcoat-- you will look like a waiter in a Scottish themed restaurant if you do. The same goes for the bow tie. Black with a black waistcoat, white with a white waistcoat; anything else will look like you are cruising with Carnival Line, and bring the dignity of the KofC uniform into disrepute.

You are in a unique position to define the kilted uniform of the Knights of Columbus, not as a fashion statement, but rather reflecting the dignity and devotion that you, and other kilted gentlemen, bring to the Order. That, Sir Knight, is a heavy responsibility.

[macwilkin]

First, let me say that I think you uniform is quite elegant. What you need to do, to keep the whole ensemble from looking like a "cruise ship costume", is try and keep the whole look "military" The Knights are, after all, a military order and you want to reflect that in the way you dress.

HOSE: May I suggest that red and white diced hose (or red and black diced hose) will give you the best look with your kilt/jacket combination. White, for obvious reasons won't work, and solid colour hose will look far better with civilian day wear than with your Knights of Columbus uniform.

SPORRAN: Spend the extra few dollars for a fur or hair sporran. It will look more elegant and definitely more military than an all leather sporran. A "military" pattern sporran would probably look the best and could easily have the KofC insignia attached to the cantle.

SHOES: Rather than spend a great deal of money on ghillie brogues, I'd suggest you opt for a tin of Kiwi shoe polish and a pair of pipers "ghillie flaps". And at all costs avoid the "ghillie" laces.

WAISTCOAT Any tuxedo shop can sell you a black waistcoat similar to that worn with a Prince Charlie coatee. When you go shopping, bring along your kilt and uniform jacket, to make sure that everything lines up properly without any gaps at the top of the kilt that would allow your shirt to be seen. Replace the buttons with gold buttons (either small KofC or US eagle buttons) to complete the look. A word of warning: under NO circumstances should you wear a coloured waistcoat-- you will look like a waiter in a Scottish themed restaurant if you do. The same goes for the bow tie. Black with a black waistcoat, white with a white waistcoat; anything else will look like you are cruising with Carnival Line, and bring the dignity of the KofC uniform into disrepute.

You are in a unique position to define the kilted uniform of the Knights of Columbus, not as a fashion statement, but rather reflecting the dignity and devotion that you, and other kilted gentlemen, bring to the Order. That, Sir Knight, is a heavy responsibility.

Well said, Scott.

T.

[McGurk]

My goodness, you look absolutly stunning. The only suggestion I would make is go for white hose. Some people might dislike that, as its generaly only worn by pipebands, but I'm a beleaver in looking good rather then looking traditional.

I;ve never seen a white jacket worn with a kilt like that before, but I really really like it.