What is Sharp?

[English Bloke]

Of course, hence the "within reason". We don't venture forth unless we've judged our appearance acceptable. My point is we wouldn't carry ourselves the same if we felt we weren't up to the mark. This goes for any clothing, not just Kilts. Good tailoring and a spot on fit helps as well. Not always possible with off the peg, which let's be honest, is how most of us buy our clothes. The only bespoke items I possess are Kilts and one suit.

[CMcG]

I agree that confidence is key, especially in terms of how one feels about themselves. Nonetheless, I have seen guys who obviously think they look like a million bucks in their kilt, but who didn't look sharp. At all! Then again, it often seems to be confidence that takes a well put together kilt outfit and gives it the *pop* that Mikilt mentioned.

Father Bill has a good point about not overdoing it, which was more or less the subject of our "Too Traditional" discussion a while back. For me, the "respect for (and knowledge of) tradition" that he mentioned plays out as classic style, neither historical/costumey nor too contemporary.

Further to the relationship of classic style and sharp, I don't usually think of modern kilts that way. I've seen guys looking cool, funky, or edgy, but usually not sharp. This could just be my own bias and I'm open to being convinced otherwise... Come to think of it, I don't usually think of formal wear as sharp either. It's just too... formal

English Bloke's mention of fit is important and yet often overlooked in this "off the peg" world. My best fitting clothing was bespoke or made to measure, but a close second would be things that I had altered. Given that I buy a lot of stuff at thrift shops, spending a few bucks to get pants/sleeves hemmed or to suppress the waist on a jacket is money well spent. There's something about clothes that hug the body while still allowing freedom of movement that is just sharp! There is a trend in menswear right now for really skinny or tight fitting clothing, which I hope stays well away from the kilted world...

One time I was at a tailor and a young guy came in to have his shirts altered, which is not something I'd even thought about, but is actually a pretty good idea. Not that I need to, after taking advantage of the cheap custom shirt industry while I was in Hong Kong

[Scout]

... Good tailoring and a spot on fit helps as well ...

That would be my #1 criteria. Kilts or pants, regardless of the style or level of formality it all needs to fit! It also all needs to be properly cared for (cleaned and pressed).

[TheBrus]

That would be my #1 criteria. Kilts or pants, regardless of the style or level of formality it all needs to fit! It also all needs to be properly cared for (cleaned and pressed).

Yes, I'd say that being cleanly and neatly dressed (attention to detail) is probably more important to being sharp than being fully accessorized. Just being sure that your hose cuffs are even, your flashes/garters are properly aligned, your kilt is on straight and not sagging... these kinds of things make you sharply dressed. However, matching the the accessories that you do have to the occasion or task at hand goes along with this.

[Chas]

Of course, one man's sharp is another's 'some work required'.

When I was growing up, my mother would say that if she had the money, she would give every woman a full length mirror - maybe every man needs one too.

Regards

Chas

[TheBrus]

"Oh, wad Powers the giftie gie us to see oursels as ithers see us." or something like that.

[Tobus]

Sharp is obviously a subjective term. It will mean different things to different people, and at different times or places.

I've started to type several different meanings, but I keep realizing that they're all contextual. So, without specifics, perhaps looking sharp is as simple as standing out from the rest of the crowd for being better dressed but more comfortable/confident. Regardless of the context, though, sharp always means well-dressed and groomed. I can't ever imagine the term being applied to someone in casual or sloppy clothing. Being 'dressed up' is a necessity for being sharp (to me, anyway). Yet that doesn't seem to be enough by itself. Maybe the deciding factor is having your own unique style that really suits your figure and personality and makes people really notice you in a positive way, without looking like you're trying too hard.

To get more specific than that would be futile. It's like the famous old saying about pornography: I can't define it, but I'll know it when I see it!

[David Thorpe]

Several key factors have already been mentioned. Well-fitting, correct in style with respect for tradition, appropriate to the venue and occasion. I would add obvious craftsmanship and tailoring, and showing care in neatness and grooming. All these things put together make confidence easy.

[Cygnus]

I don't see "sharpness" as being nearly as subjective as others have said. I like what MiKilt said about there being styles and variations which he finds "sharp" but not to his taste.

In my opinion, sartorial sharpness is like the sharpness of cheddar cheese - it's about the intensity of the flavor. Even if it's a flavor you don't like, you can tell when it is a high-quality, well-aged cheese. I suppose confidence can help, but I've seen clothes on mannequins that looked sharp, and I doubt the mannequins were any more confident than the others on display. Some folks come around looking a bit like cheap Colby Jack cheese - they're a mixture of "flavors" and, while some may like the taste, I hardly think it could be called "sharp."

The aging of cheese plays back to Father Bill's comment about tradition playing a part, and I would have to wholeheartedly agree - there's something about time-honored and traditional styles that is inherently sharp.

[rondo]

I'll take a stab at this:
Today I'm working my bar/restaurant. As the owner I wear what I choose. The kitchen is hot so full on formal is a non-starter. I am wearing a clean blue 50/50 poly T-shirt with company logo , a USA Kilts Semi-traditional [Holyrood], sporran has been put in office in exchange for a blue waist apron, Brown lacer boots and bright yellow hose scrunched down. I wear a brown and yellow cotton crocheted Rasta bonnet. This outfit is very casual but it is clean, fits well, and is in excellent repair. So even though casual it is, imho, sharp.

This covers, perhaps the most casual that I dress. In the evening the T is replaced with a button shirt, a tie or bolo and often the hose get pulled up as Il move from back of house to front of house.

In any case, I am better dressed than 95% of my clientele [which I find sad, really].

Rondo