1 kilt 10 looks: John Burgess

[ASinclair]

"Distinctive attire" indeed. Thanks for pulling these together Richard. This is my favorite.

. . .

In relatively restrained Evening dress, with matching tartan waistcoat, another amazing sporran, fantastic hose, red laces, and whisky!


. . . .

[Profane James]

"Distinctive attire" indeed. Thanks for pulling these together Richard. This is my favorite.

I agree, looks ready to rip!

[Jock Scot]

John Burgess was a sharp dresser for sure and by all accounts a fun chap to be with, but we do need to bear in mind that he was a consummate showman and as such some of his attire edged towards----- into even--- the theatrical, therefore care needs to be taken when making one's own attire choices if one is using him for guidance.

[jfraser]

Those who are interested in other photos and finding out more about this outstanding piper, might like to look at the following web site.

http://www.pmjohndburgess.net/others.html

Surely, his attire can only be matched by his piping ability. One of my all time top pipers.

You can see the military influence on how he wears the kilt etc.

[OC Richard]

John Burgess was a sharp dresser for sure and by all accounts a fun chap to be with, but we do need to bear in mind that he was a consummate showman and as such some of his attire edged towards----- into even--- the theatrical, therefore care needs to be taken when making one's own attire choices if one is using him for guidance.

Yes indeed. And Gordon Walker is the present-day equivalent.

These men, one could say, earned the right to dress as they please, with their musical accomplishments. If a mediocre piper were to show up dressed in tartan from head to toe, with dirk and powder-horn, "the piping community" would have a different view of their dress!

Though I will point out that PM Burgess' dress in the top photo, with charcoal-grey tweed jacket, plain hose, and Hunting sporran, is hardly flamboyant. I couldn't imagine anyone going wrong in using that photo as guidance for their attire choices. (You'll pay a pretty penny for the sporran!) Yes one might object to the Glengarry and Ghillies but these are nearly universal amongst pipers, and are viewed as being quite ordinary in the piping community.

[Jock Scot]

Yes indeed. And Gordon Walker is the present-day equivalent.

These men, one could say, earned the right to dress as they please, with their musical accomplishments. If a mediocre piper were to show up dressed in tartan from head to toe, with dirk and powder-horn, "the piping community" would have a different view of their dress!

I am the last person to deny anyone the right to dress as they please, I might venture an opinion to myself, or if asked, I might or might not, choose to voice that opinion.

You know who PM Burgess and PM Walker was/are, many in the piping world will, I even know who these gentlemen were/are and I have no interest in the piping scene, but I venture to suggest that most in the kilt world don't, particularly the newcomers. Therefore showing pictures of exquisitely attired pipers do need to come with explanations, so that those who do not know the circumstance of the subject in the picture and reasons for dressing the way that they are is misleading and more often than not, unhelpful.

[Father Bill]

If I may coat-tail on Jock's comment, my sense is that top-class Pipe Majors are in many ways the small-"g" gods of the kilted world.

What is expected of a mere mortal is to be humble in the presence of a god and to neither out-do, nor even attempt to match him. If one gets too close to the sun, one will burn and fall.

[Ordway]

Those who dress in the style of John Burgess or Gordon Walker are few and far between in the piping world also. With few exceptions, wandering too far toward the theatrical, as Jock has called it, will result in looks and comments of a cynical nature. Even a fine tweed jacket and a balmoral in a colour other than black raises eyebrows if you are anything other than a very accomplished piper. I have read articles in piping magazines chiding the Mr. dress ups whose piping skill does not match their sartorial splendor. Glen Brown, a Highland Society of London Gold Medal winner, has been mocked for wearing a Jacobite blue bonnet and trews on different occasions. It remains, in these times, a conservative fraternity.