Kilt Shirt Question

[Finistere]

Hi Everyone, I've looked on the forum but cannot find the answer to my question, it might be I'm not looking at the right post/posts so please excuse my inability, anyway my question is?

I've seen shirts of the Jacobean/Ghillie type, and the Victoria Wing type etc, is there a shirt which is in between these two? Which would be suitable when Kilted, I'm thinking of a less formal event/day wear, thank you in advance for your very kind replies. Kit

[Father Bill]

Proper shirts for kilting in the day are either tiny checks (tattersall) or plain white. Anything else tends to get either too formal or costumy.

[Spartan Tartan]

You should also consider wearing whatever shirt you would have otherwise worn. There is not a 'proper' kilt shirt--meaning that you need not wear a particular style simply because you have decided to wear a kilt at that same time.

Father Bill puts it quite right, albeit from a traditional perspective (which I share, btw). But to be fair, you could also wear a polo shirt, a t-shirt or any other shirt you would have decided to wear. The situation should dictate your shirt (i.e. formality) more so than simply the kilt. The kilt can be worn in a wide variety of situations (check out the "1 kilt, 10 looks" thread).

For example, as I sit here typing this, I am taking a brief break from my thesis paper from grad school. I am wearing my kilt and a t-shirt...please understand that I would NEVER leave the house in this state (perhaps if it were on fire), but I digress. My wife and I have plans for dinner this evening. I will wear my same kilt that I have on at this moment, but since THAT situation dictates something nicer than a t-shirt, I will wear a nice shirt and probably either a pullover wool sweater or a jacket. Same kilt.

The kilt doesn't determine the shirt. The event should, however, influence your choice.
Enjoy!!

[sailortats]

I have always thought of it this way. If I were wearing p@nts instead of the kilt which shirt would I be wearing. I have a whole bunch of shirts that I used to wear when I had to wear a suit. I find all of these go very well with my kilt if the situation warrants. I also have no problem with wearing polo shirts with the kilt. I have not yet ventured out in my kilt wearing a tee shirt but that day may come.

[Taskr]

And this sticky at the top of this sub-forum. A bit further down the pics illustrate the 'whatever shirt you'd wear' idea
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...-attire-46888/

[The Wizard of BC]

If the level of formality of the event I am attending calls for a jacket and tie I may dress like this -



This is the same shirt and tie I would wear with a jacket, tie and trousers.

If I am dressing for a day at the kilt shop I will dress like this -



If I am on a business trip I may dress well but may remove my jacket if having a drink on the patio. Like this -



If you crop off the bottom of all three photos you could not tell what I was wearing on my legs. I'd just look like any other guy.

[Bruce Scott]

Hi Everyone, I've looked on the forum but cannot find the answer to my question, it might be I'm not looking at the right post/posts so please excuse my inability, anyway my question is?

I've seen shirts of the Jacobean/Ghillie type, and the Victoria Wing type etc, is there a shirt which is in between these two? Which would be suitable when Kilted, I'm thinking of a less formal event/day wear, thank you in advance for your very kind replies. Kit

A shirt like this:

Choose a colour that compliments whatever you are wearing with it. The shirt can be worn with a tie, with or without a jacket, and it may also be worn open necked with sleeves buttoned or folded up - all dependent upon the level of formality / informality required.

[OC Richard]

Yes in traditional Scottish Highland Dress the typical shirt worn in Day Dress is an ordinary collared shirt.

The classic shirt is the Tattersall shirt.

Now, what just is a Tattersall shirt? I'd never heard of them until I joined this forum. Good reason, you can go around to a dozen Mens Shops around here an no-one has ever heard of them. And, they're rather hard to find here in the USA, because American shirts almost always get at least one of the several hallmarks of a true Tattersall shirt wrong.

The defining things, seems to me, are:
1) the classic background colour is white, less often off-white, cream, or pale yellow.
2) check pattern. The lines are evenly spaced and of identical width. There are two alternating colours, say, blue and red for example.
3) straight collar or spread collar, not the point collar usually seen on American shirts.
4) no buttons on collar
5) long sleeves.

Here's a great example of a classic Tattersall shirt:



I can (and have) gone through an entire American mall and not found a single shirt which fits the above. Usually if you find a check pattern it will have a buttondown collar, have short sleeves, or both.

Here's a recent gathering of some of us local XMarkers showing our take on Highland Day Dress... Tattersall shirts, waistcoats, and the necessary hats (due to our hot sun)



Here's one of several threads about Tattersall shirts:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...ed-ties-75698/

Closely related to the Tattersall pattern is the Country Check pattern. This has lines in three or more colours and the background colour can be darker.

Here are some patterns, a Tattersall on the left and two Country Checks in centre and right. Note that the latter lack the two alternating colours which (evidently) define the true Tattersall pattern.



A Country Check shirt

[Creag]

My tried and true method is just to put on the shirt and kilt and check myself out in the mirror. If it looks good I wear it. I've actually been surprised how many shirts, even with patterns, work fine with the kilt. If you are wearing a waistcoat, jacket, or both then your options open up a bit since these give you a break between the tartan and the shirt pattern.

[Finistere]

Thank you all for your replies and pictures, I have had my question fully answered, thank you for taking the time. Kit