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

[JohntheBiker]

Nice set of photos. Nicely turned out. Very instructive.

[Nathan]

Thanks for sharing. Very sharp indeed.

A few observations:

Those diamond patterned hose are quite unique! Not diced and not tartan. Not really picking up colours from the tartan either. They certainly stand out!

The fly front, lay down collar, french cuff tuxedo shirt is almost impossible to find here. Wing collar pleated front tuxedo shirts with studs are by far the most common for sale here followed by lay down pleated front shirts with studs. I do like the concealed placket and the overall look of this shirt. Perhaps they will become more available here in time.

How much more rare would you say a Glengarry bonnet is as compared to a Balmoral aside from among soldiers and pipers?

Final question: Many on this forum have expressed the view that the semi-dress sporran which is sold specifically to be worn with the Black Argyll (morning dress) is neither fish nor fowl and therefore undesirable. I notice you have chosen an evening sporran with this look while I've also seen a simple (usually black) day sporran pressed into service for this level of dress.

I wonder whether there a difference regarding when one would choose one over the other given the context of the occasion or if it's a simple coin toss that goes to personal taste.

Again, thank you for sharing your pics and your comments.

[MacKenzie]

Thanks for sharing. Very sharp indeed.

A few observations:

Those diamond patterned hose are quite unique! Not diced and not tartan. Not really picking up colours from the tartan either. They certainly stand out!

The fly front, lay down collar, french cuff tuxedo shirt is almost impossible to find here. Wing collar pleated front tuxedo shirts with studs are by far the most common for sale here followed by lay down pleated front shirts with studs. I do like the concealed placket and the overall look of this shirt. Perhaps they will become more available here in time.

How much more rare would you say a Glengarry bonnet is as compared to a Balmoral aside from among soldiers and pipers?

Final question: Many on this forum have expressed the view that the semi-dress sporran which is sold specifically to be worn with the Black Argyll (morning dress) is neither fish nor fowl and therefore undesirable. I notice you have chosen an evening sporran with this look while I've also seen a simple (usually black) day sporran pressed into service for this level of dress.

I wonder whether there a difference regarding when one would choose one over the other given the context of the occasion or if it's a simple coin toss that goes to personal taste.

Again, thank you for sharing your pics and your comments.

Nicely veiled. Almost.

'Nay' button needed.

[Nathan]

Nicely veiled. Almost.

'Nay' button needed.

On the contrary, my friend. Nothing was veiled. I am very much appreciative of Calgacus for showing us how he does it. Silly me, I thought the thread was meant to prompt discussion. Most of his choices are perfectly aligned with what I would choose. Thankfully, there is still room for all of us to express our individuality a little bit around here. I thought his choice of hose was daring and I'm still deciding what I think of the risk. I was hoping my comment would prompt some others to weigh in and that I might learn about an option I hadn't considered. Perhaps I should have just quietly wondered where the lines are regarding patterned hose and formal wear.

I complimented his choice of shirt and lamented my inability to find one in my city.

On the Glengarry, Calgacus acknowledged that it was the less typical (although perfectly acceptable) choice while stating that he seldom wears a bonnet but that he feels this type looks better on him. My question was an honest one. I don't live in Scotland. I had a reason for asking as a good friend of mine prefers the Glengarry also and I'm sure one who wears it in Scotland would notice when others do. I also own a Glengarry and the responses might just prompt me to take it out of the drawer once in a while.

My question on the sporran was also an honest one. I have the same outfit and the same sporran choices and given the fact that so many commented less than favourably about my semi-dress sporran (so much that I bartered it for a day sporran) I am now puzzled about which sporran works better with the black Argyll and long tie and, if both do; how do I know which to choose when?

I don't know about you MacKenzie, but I'm here to learn and share what I've learned. I ask questions and provide input. If you thought what I wrote was a veiled insult, I'm afraid you are seeing an esoteric subtext that simply isn't there.

[MacGumerait]

Nathan , I certainly didn't think it was veiled . Looked like open and honest conversation to me ... compliments on some things and a desire to learn more about other things . A gentleman's reply in my mind .

[Downunder Kilt]

Nathan, if reference to your sporran question. You referred to the sporran that Calgacus was wearing with his Argyll outfit as an evening sporran. I call these type of sporrans, formal. The black barathea Argyll, to my mind, is formal, daywear that is. I do not see the sporran that Calgacus is wearing in his photo as being out of place. I also do not see the wearing of a plain black leather sporran with the same outfit as being a social faux pax.

[Barb T]

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

[Spartan Tartan]

Nathan,

I always appreciate your thoughtful questions and contributions. I also, tend to be the guy that just sits back and reads more than anything... I find that so many others are able to properly communicate so much better than I am able to communicate in typed/written media. But in this case....

First, I was thinking how smashing the outfit in 1a presents. I really do think the PC fits Calgacus exceptionally well. For my own use, I prefer the Argyle over the PC. Perhaps that is due to my build, I don't know, but that is just my preference for my own use. In this series of pictures, I think the PC looks far nicer on Calgacus.

As to the hose... I love them. I agree they are unique and I found them to be rather eye-catching. If I could get a pair like that, I would wear them irrespective of colour combination. I generally wear hose that compliment other aspects of my outfit, but in this case the unique and sharp look of those hose make them a great addition to the outfit.

Regarding the sporran. I am not a fan of the semi-dress sporran. Personally, I only have two: A plain leather day sporran (no tassels--don't care for tassels either) and a dress sporrans. I mostly wear the day sporran unless it's a specifically formal event. I think both look fine with a long tie and black argyle and would certainly wear either without concern. I just tend to grab the plain sporran first and get going--although my buddy tends to wear his dress sporran under those similar circumstances... Honestly, I think they both look fine and our suitably appropriate.

Just my two cents...

[Nathan]

I understand that the semi-dress is an unpopular choice on xmarks although I don't mind how it looks with the black Argyll and long tie. I think that is the only jacket it really works with rather than being a jack of all trades sporran, it has a very narrow application.

As a morning dress equivalent, the black barathea Argyll with un-faced notched lapels is somewhere between very formal evening wear and tweed day wear and the semidress sporran is likewise somewhere between the leather day sporran and the evening fur and metal cantle sporran.

On the other hand, a day sporran or, as Calgacus ably demonstrates, an evening (formal) sporran with this jacket and tie works equally well or maybe better. It just seems somewhat odd to have an order of dress where most any smart sporran will work, really but there you are. It seems even more odd that the sporran genre that seems to have evolved in the 70s to fill this very niche as attire became less formal hasn't made the grade among many traditionalists. I can't argue with the logic, though. Why buy another sporran for just one look when either of the two I already have will serve as well or in the eyes of many, better?

Our own Jock Scot in his McRostie day sporran


A Kinloch Anderson model


The canny Calgacus himself


Oh, and I agree with the suggestions that this thread become a sticky.

By the way, McMurdo and I were talking and he reminded me where I'd seen similar style hose in the past. On the very smart Pipe Major John D. Burgess.

[Calgacus]

...By the way, McMurdo and I were talking and he reminded me where I'd seen similar style hose in the past. On the very smart Pipe Major John D. Burgess.

In future if anyone queries my choice of hose I can tell them that if it's good enough for P.M. Burgess, it's good enough for me!