One kilt, several looks. A canny Scot's take.

[MacRobert's Reply]

I just had a quick look at The Highlanders of Scotland paintings. Of the waistcoats that have visible bottom buttons, all but three appear to be done up.

[creagdhubh]

I just had a quick look at The Highlanders of Scotland paintings. Of the waistcoats that have visible bottom buttons, all but three appear to be done up.

Many of my fellow Macpherson cousins in Scotland, particularly in the Highlands, always have their waistcoats completely buttoned.

[Barb T]

Me here - bit of a Johnny-come-lately. FABULOUS pics and looks! Thank you!

[Spartan Tartan]

I usually will button all the buttons on a waistcoat. Of coursr, I will unbutton the bottom when sitting down to keep everything flat. Upon standing, I will normally button back up.

[OC Richard]

I believe in quality over quantity and that in general more is less

Hear, hear!

Your post should be a sticky! (Did you also post this on the thread for multiple 'looks'?)

Very nice kits there. Excellent examples for us Yanks.

In my case, being that we don't have such wonderful shops around here, and being that I'm cheap (I could say 'canny' but let's face it, I'm cheap) I've come to rely on high quality ex-hire things from shops in Scotland being sold on Ebay, and vintage things. I have a tweed Argyll, a black Argyll, and a black Prince Charlie all got cheaply on Ebay, either vintage or ex-hire. I pretty much wear the same sporran all the time (sorry Jock!), a goathair thing with a 100 year old cantle, but hey, I'm a piper, and as such I can get away with being a bit over the top.

I have a very nice big vintage brass belt buckle and your post is inspiring me to finally have a belt made for it.

Here's a Yank's take on this. Less is more; I usually don't do belts, or waistcoats, or kilt pins, or any other do-dads. My usual go-to kit for piping gigs



Out piping at a golf course, same kit, different jacket



And sorry, with a different kilt and hose and all... but that same darn sporran

[gazbot]

Brilliant thread. My kind of style. Interesting point regarding bottom button on waistcoats I have always left mine open. Nice to know that the option is up for opinion when in highland dress. If The Duke of Rothesay can change his mind then its good enough for me.

Looking good folks.

[Calgacus]

Hear, hear! Your post should be a sticky! (Did you also post this on the thread for multiple 'looks'?)

Hi Richard,Thank you and all those others who have suggested this thread become sticky.
I have not posted it elsewhere, though I would be happy to duplicate it on the 'One kilt ten looks' thread if that is considered appropriate.
In fact, I think I should leave it up to the moderators to make it sticky, duplicate it, or leave it as it stands as they see fit.

[OC Richard]

I just had a quick look at The Highlanders of Scotland paintings. Of the waistcoats that have visible bottom buttons, all but three appear to be done up.

That's odd, because I just got out my copy and every waistcoat where the bottom button is visible, that button is done up.

True that the bottom buttons of several waistcoats aren't visible. Also, some of the waistcoats have an inverted 'V' notch at the bottom, but with these also the bottom button, when visible, is always clearly buttoned.

Which specific people are you referring to?

One thing of interest: at that time it was rather popular to undo one or more of the top buttons of the waistcoat, and this can be seen in THOS, specifically Adam Sutherland, Thomas MacKenzie, Archibald MacKintosh, Duncan MacGregor, and Andrew Murray.

[Calgacus]

That's odd, because I just got out my copy and every waistcoat where the bottom button is visible, that button is done up.

True that the bottom buttons of several waistcoats aren't visible. Also, some of the waistcoats have an inverted 'V' notch at the bottom, but with these also the bottom button, when visible, is always clearly buttoned.

Which specific people are you referring to?

One thing of interest: at that time it was rather popular to undo one or more of the top buttons of the waistcoat, and this can be seen in THOS, specifically Adam Sutherland, Thomas MacKenzie, Archibald MacKintosh, Duncan MacGregor, and Andrew Murray.

Hi Richard,

I don't have my copy here so can't check all the plates, but looking online, John Campbell has his bottom button undone. I can't find any others at the moment.

[Calgacus]

There are also three of the highlanders wearing waistcoats that appear to have a decorative bottom button. It is on the wearer's left of the waistcoat, whereas if it were an undone button, the button would be on the wearer's right, and there would be a corresponding buttonhole on the left.

The three figures with that style of waistcoat are Andrew Murray, Lachlan Macpherson, and Ewan Macpherson.