Plaid Shirt with Solid Color Kilt

[Bugbear]

I'm going to be using this old thread of mine to explore the use of solid color kilts with tartan and paterned clothing, for example, plaid shirts. The following is how the thread began:

Hi all, this afternoon I'm planning on going out shopping and so on, and I'm thinking about trying a plaid flannal with a kakhi Buzz Kidder. The shirt is a light and dark blue. I did this at a casual Thanksgiving party, but the shirt was a brown and blue patern, and I used brown belt, sporran, and shoes. I'm thinking about going with black casual sporran and black low top boots this time, no belt just the black straps of the kilt. I don't have any pics, but does this sound like it could work? Thanks.

You can find pictures of the kakhi kilt and plaid shirt pared
in my pictures in the gallery at the link in my signature.

[TheKiltedWonder]

I think it should look fine. Would it look good with kakhi pants? yes, so it will look good with a kakhi kilt in my opinion. Happy kilting!

[Bugbear]

It was that going beltless that was worrying me a little. I don't have a casual black belt yet. I'm also thinking this looks good with scrunched down cream hose.

[Moosedog]

Tes,

You and I think alike! I love plaid shirts and wear them often with solid kilts...the outfit you describe sounds great!

You said you were worried about the lack of belt--if for looks, don't worry--unlike p**ts, you don't need a belt to be considered "dressed." Especially a BK with its traditional styling. If for comfort or security--well, that's up to you.

Have fun!

Moosedog

[Bugbear]

Thanks. I haven't had the guts to try putting a paterned shirt with tartan yet. I'll let you know how my kilt adventure goes.

[Rex_Tremende]

Sure - I wear plaid shirts with solid kilts very often. I like to think it tends to remind people of the origins of the contemporary kilt that I'm wearing. But then again, I also wear other patterned shirts with solid kilts, and then I don't have a real reason other than I think it looks good.

Have fun,
Rex.

[pipesndrumsnun]

I think it would look great!

[Bugbear]

Hi all, I'm back from the shopping trip. I was at some very large packed stores and all went well. After the sun went down I had to un-scrunch my hose because it got a tiny bit cold. I think the BKs are the way for me to go for casual. Also, in the back of my mind with wool, I'm a little worried about being snagged on things. The canvas just has that jeans feel, and it really does work well with the plaid shirts.

[Ian.MacAllan]

At the risk of being beaten senseless with a pound of wet spaghetti I'd like to mention that there is a pre-Culloden Scots tradition of combining different tartans in a single outfit. I have read that there exists a painting of the battle, allegedly based on the attire of actual prisoners, showing Scots wearing as many as three different tartans simultaneously. This is of course a practice that one would expect the English to deride, but what care we of their attitudes?

My favorite type of shirt for cold weather is a heavy flannel jacket-shirt, which is often available only in plaid. One can often find these in inconspicuous patterns such as the one I'm wearing now: dark green and Navy blue. IMHO there are many popular conventional tartans with which this one does not clash. I see only two disadvantages to these shirts:
1. If the shirt is worn outside the kilt it will cover much of the kilt; and
2. The shirt is so thick that a kilt which fits under it will not fit well over it, in general.

Responses? Opinions? Questions?


.

[James MacMillan]

Sure, we have painted illustrations of combining different tartans.

But to me, it doesn't look right. The possible exception, which I haven't tried could be a complimentary tie of a different tartan worn with a vest and coat.

The vest would serve to seperate the tartans. I would not think placing different two tartans together where the tartans are touching would be pleasing to my eye.

Maybe those clans that have many different tartans do this as a rule? Fly Plaid or hat or tie of a different tartan but the same clan? I don't know.

I recently added a solid black kilt to my collection for the sole reason of being able to wear pattern shirts. I think this is the best. Somebody (ChattanCat?) is thinking of putting many tartans together into a patch-work kilt, but I don't know if it ever made it out of the discussion mode.

As a personal rule, I don't mix patterns with patterns, in the same general method that I did with my old "Saxon" wardrobe. Doing so leads one to the mental image of Herb Tarlick from WKRP fame or some used car salesmen, or some golfers....... Garish is a kind word for some of these combinations.

I did, at one time own a Madras jacket, but I never wore it much. In this same vein, I have never owned any trews or other pattern trousers. So maybe I'm brain-washed by the Saxon fashion police?

Maybe not liking to see two or more tartans together is a conditioned reflex, but, with me at least, it took.

I don’t do it.