Great Kilt worn as formal attire

[davidlpope]

I think it's the incongruity between the belted plaid and what otherwise would be a "modern-ish" ensemble (black shirt, black hose). The only person that I've seen really pull off the belted plaid for formal wear is Lamar Britt. His ensemble is very historically-inspired and it seems to work for him, although I think it unlikely to be as successful for anyone else.

[Jock Scot]

In truth it all looks rather inappropriate. Just too theatrical for the event, for me.

[Woodsheal]

I think it's the incongruity between the belted plaid and what otherwise would be a "modern-ish" ensemble (black shirt, black hose). The only person that I've seen really pull off the belted plaid for formal wear is Lamar Britt. His ensemble is very historically-inspired and it seems to work for him, although I think it unlikely to be as successful for anyone else.

Again, I find this an odd attitude. The kilts we wear today are hardly more "modern" than the belted-plaid. Both forms of the kilt were worn in the days of knee-breeches and tricorns! Only the stuff worn with them (particularly shirts and coats) have "evolved" since then, but the kilts have fundamentally remained the same. One is not more anachronistic than the other, if you really think about it.
I truly feel an elegantly - and neatly! - worn plaid can work well with "modern" formal dress, and the notion that only one person can successfully pull it off is bizarre, at best....

[davidlpope]

The kilts we wear today are hardly more "modern" than the belted-plaid. Both forms of the kilt were worn in the days of knee-breeches and tricorns! Only the stuff worn with them (particularly shirts and coats) have "evolved" since then, but the kilts have fundamentally remained the same. One is not more anachronistic than the other, if you really think about it.

I have to disagree. The 8yd knife-pleated kilt is currently worn by Highlanders in the Highlands for day and evening events. I don't know of any example where the breacan feile is currently worn by Highlanders in the Highlands for evening events, unless in the context of "historical dress-up".

[tartanartist]

Ask and you shall receive.

I appreciate your comments and critiques.

I agree entirely that a doublet would have been better than the PC, but all I had on hand was the PC and going with no jacket at all would have been much worse. I am saving the pennies and dimes for the doublet as I write this.

As far as the comments about the great kilt and the modern elements not meshing well, that is great that you feel that way. Many people (if not most) feel that way about kilts as a whole group. If I followed their advice I would never have discovered the joy of wearing an 8 yard knife pleat kilt, or the pleasure of donning a well made modern utility kilt. I once attended a formal kilted event where most were wearing kilts with fly plaids, but one gentleman was wearing a great kilt. Next to the great kilt the fly plaids lost their luster and looked a little phony to me. Ever since then I have wanted to master a modern formal look with the great kilt. I know that it will not be pleasing to some and may offend a few, and for that I apologize, but to me the look is fantastic and I love it. Maybe its just the eccentric artist in me.

Now my real question is to the masters of the great kilt like Woodsheal who have been a great inspiration to me. This was one of my first attempts at pleating and belting on the plaid. How did I do? any tips for draping the fabric? Good alternative ways to wear the upper fabric?

Thanks in advance!

[xman]

How many yards did you use and of what weight is the fabric?

[tartanartist]

4.5 yards Double Width 13 oz tartan from a mill in the UK.

[English Bloke]

Sorry. It's not working for me.

[davidlpope]

...the fly plaids lost their luster and looked a little phony to me.

At least we agree that fly plaids are lusterless and phony!

[Dale Seago]

4.5 yards Double Width 13 oz tartan from a mill in the UK.

I've done that before, and it went off splendidly.

A couple of things to keep in mind are that modern sensibilities will be happier if it doesn't look like you have a tire around your middle. It's already been mentioned that you can "tighten that up" a bit.

Another is a shorter-style jacket (also mentioned); well, yes, I s'pose. The alternative is to be sure that when you arrange and pin the upper plaid, enough fabric hangs down the back that it doesn't pull up on the skirt of whatever sort of jacket/doublet you're wearing.

Also, in order to avoid the skirt of your jacket being pulled back over your shoulder when you pin the upper plaid, there is a way of bringing part of it up under your arm and pinning it so that it's essentially self-supporting on that side. Don't know if that was done in the 1700s, but I've seen portraiture clearly showing it in the early 1800s.

For those who have a sort of immediate visceral reaction to the feileadh mor worn with modern attire as somehow wrong. . .I suspect the main reason is that while the "great" and "wee" kilts are in fact essentially contemporaneous historically, the former was pretty much dropped by the 1800s while the latter continued, with modifications here and there, to the present.

That makes both forms "historical", but only the latter has survived in some form of continuous use to become "traditional".

I think it's a great look, myself. Honestly. . .People wearing it this way strike me as giving the Scots a reminder (perhaps needed, perhaps not) of their own cultural traditions and how they might be adapted/continued today in ways they may not have considered. . .

. . .In the same way that some traditional Gaelic music has survived and been revived in, say, Nova Scotia after being lost in the country of its origin.