The Ghillie Shirt

[CollinMacD]

Tobus, my first recollection would be in the 70's. I'm not sure when they first came out. Of course, I have my romanticized versions of cowboys too! I'm just saying that, after all these years, ghillie shirts have now squeezed their way into what I would call "accepted" highland wear, even it they're not traditional highland wear. Not accepted by all, though!

I posted much earlier of the popular "Ponderosa Shirt of the sixties, also referred to as the HIPPIE Shirt.



Little Joe work a shirt similar to the Ghillie shirt. Several cowboys, including Nick Adams of the Series Johnny Yuma the Rebel wore one, and even Steve McQueen work one. Typical Costume shirt of the fifties and sixties, not just for Pirates anymore.....;;





Does this look familiar, markets and Laced up Range Shirt




Patrick all we are saying the Ghillie shirt is not a Scottish traditional shirt, more Wild West or Pirate than Scottish, and yes more of a costume look.

[PatrickHughes123]

I posted much earlier of the popular "Ponderosa Shirt of the sixties, also referred to as the HIPPIE Shirt.



Little Joe work a shirt similar to the Ghillie shirt. Several cowboys, including Nick Adams of the Series Johnny Yuma the Rebel wore one, and even Steve McQueen work one. Typical Costume shirt of the fifties and sixties, not just for Pirates anymore.....;;





Does this look familiar, markets and Laced up Range Shirt




Patrick all we are saying the Ghillie shirt is not a Scottish traditional shirt, more Wild West or Pirate than Scottish, and yes more of a costume look.

Okay, still though. I would say it was simply more 60s fashion than a costume shirt, just fashion, that's all. Not a costume.

[PatrickHughes123]

Tobus,

I've made some changes to the outfit, what do you think?



Better? Worse? Do I look smarter? Do I look more ridiculous?

I put the hose lower and the kilt higher again? Does it look good?

[Panache]

Tobus,

I've made some changes to the outfit, what do you think?



Better? Worse? Do I look smarter? Do I look more ridiculous?

I put the hose lower and the kilt higher again? Does it look good?

Patrick,

You have asked for opinions and I shall give you mine

I state this without any malice or intent to insult. I look at your photo and the thing that comes to mind is that you are a first time kilt wearer who picked up all his kit either in a package deal or at the same shop all at once without a lot of experience.

The simplest way to improve your outfit would be to exchange the ghillie shirt with a white regular dress shirt and a nice solid color tie. You are wearing a dress sporran on a chain, along with a belt with a chromed waist plate, and a pair of black ghillie brogues and these items really are for a more dressed up look. White kilt hose are a fairly modern thing and in my opinion they work best with a dressier look than a casual one (and not a historical inspired outfit).

If you are really fond of the ghillie shirt then you should go for things that work with a more romantic / historically inspired look.

Below I am wearing one of my swashbuckling "poofy" shirts. Things that I think work work well with it are:

The simple roller buckle wide belt
The historical inspired bag-style sporran with leather straps
The dark colored hose

And let's be honest...the basket hilt backsword absolutely completes the romantic highlander look



I have worn this sort of outfit to Scottish Country Dances (minus the sword...never bring a sword to a SCD event unless you are prepared to do a highland sword dance!) and felt good about how I looked. The shirts are comfortable, and who doesn't want to be a bit of a romantic highlander at a dance?

Whether or not you continue to wear these shirts casually about is your choice. I have offered a few suggestions here that will at least bring a romantic historically inspired outfit together instead of being a mishmash of styles and levels of formality.


Cheers

Jamie

[PatrickHughes123]

Patrick,

You have asked for opinions and I shall give you mine

I state this without any malice or intent to insult. I look at your photo and the thing that comes to mind is that you are a first time kilt wearer who picked up all his kit either in a package deal or at the same shop all at once without a lot of experience.

The simplest way to improve your outfit would be to exchange the ghillie shirt with a white regular dress shirt and a nice solid color tie. You are wearing a dress sporran on a chain, along with a belt with a chromed waist plate, and a pair of black ghillie brogues and these items really are for a more dressed up look. White kilt hose are a fairly modern thing and in my opinion they work best with a dressier look than a casual one (and not a historical inspired outfit).

Thanks for the advice Jamie.

Explain how a simple chain is formal? The shop showed me a decorated chain that had square metal bits on it, which you had to pay money for, so I got the basic metal chain, which was free. It a simple chain with a detailed sporran gives a beautiful look, the two don't clash.

Unfortunately, I've bought all of this stuff now, so I'll remember for next time. I should have researched the levels of formal and I should have though long and hard about the specific way I wanted to wear the kilt and what look I was going for, but I didn't. Then later I tried to go for a historical look but by then, it was too late. I'd bought all the stuff. Well, lesson learned.

That's if, I even get another kilt. I am considering giving the kilt up.

[Taskr]

Thanks for the advice Jamie.

Explain how a simple chain is formal? The shop showed me a decorated chain that had square metal bits on it, which you had to pay money for, so I got the basic metal chain, which was free. It a simple chain with a detailed sporran gives a beautiful look, the two don't clash.

Unfortunately, I've bought all of this stuff now, so I'll remember for next time. I should have researched the levels of formal and I should have though long and hard about the specific way I wanted to wear the kilt and what look I was going for, but I didn't. Then later I tried to go for a historical look but by then, it was too late. I'd bought all the stuff. Well, lesson learned.

That's if, I even get another kilt. I am considering giving the kilt up.

Patrick,
Panache is only mentioning that the rest of your outfit is a higher standard of dress than the ghillie shirt. The stuff you've bought looks good! Very good in fact. The sporran is quite fancy with the chrome cantle and all - excellent for a business or more formal event. The detractor to what you already have (which is impressive) is the ghillie shirt. You've a few options for kilted dress from what we've seen in pics thus far. Here are two suggestions: 1. With your ghillie shirt, go with a less formal shoe, or even a boot. Try the look without the belt, just to remove the chrome element from your waist. Maybe you can find a nice wide belt at a thrift shop, or perhaps find a good deal on a dull(er) finish buckle. A very plain (very inexpensive) sporran might fit the look better. There's lots you can do to meet the look you want that need not cost much at all. 2. With the brogues, try a shirt and tie with the belt. Can look quite sharp. Try a nice pullover with or without a collared shirt and with/without a tie - dependent on pullover collar style, of course. This can be a very nice look for an afternoon out and about, or when looking to impress (for whatever reason). This isn't suggested to change your look, only to let you know that what you have can make this look work quite well.

Not everything has to come from a kilt shop. The more time you spend reading the threads and experimenting with what is already in your wardrobe and in other non-kilt shops, the breadth and depth of your "kilted looks" will develop and expand to suit you and the events you care to wear it. That is what I've been doing and I have found it very helpful.

IMO there's no need to get another kilt (re: 1 kilt, 10 looks thread), and giving up on kilt wearing now would be a shame since you've some very nice stuff already.

[PatrickHughes123]

Patrick,
Panache is only mentioning that the rest of your outfit is a higher standard of dress than the ghillie shirt. The stuff you've bought looks good! Very good in fact. The sporran is quite fancy with the chrome cantle and all - excellent for a business or more formal event. The detractor to what you already have (which is impressive) is the ghillie shirt. You've a few options for kilted dress from what we've seen in pics thus far. Here are two suggestions: 1. With your ghillie shirt, go with a less formal shoe, or even a boot. Try the look without the belt, just to remove the chrome element from your waist. Maybe you can find a nice wide belt at a thrift shop, or perhaps find a good deal on a dull(er) finish buckle. A very plain (very inexpensive) sporran might fit the look better. There's lots you can do to meet the look you want that need not cost much at all. 2. With the brogues, try a shirt and tie with the belt. Can look quite sharp. Try a nice pullover with or without a collared shirt and with/without a tie - dependent on pullover collar style, of course. This can be a very nice look for an afternoon out and about, or when looking to impress (for whatever reason). This isn't suggested to change your look, only to let you know that what you have can make this look work quite well.

Not everything has to come from a kilt shop. The more time you spend reading the threads and experimenting with what is already in your wardrobe and in other non-kilt shops, the breadth and depth of your "kilted looks" will develop and expand to suit you and the events you care to wear it. That is what I've been doing and I have found it very helpful.

IMO there's no need to get another kilt (re: 1 kilt, 10 looks thread), and giving up on kilt wearing now would be a shame since you've some very nice stuff already.

What about wearing it with brown Ghillie Brogues? See, I look at the brown ones and get the impression it's more informal than the black ones. I want to wear Ghillie Brogues with the shirt. I wouldn't wear buckle brogues, they're too formal. I was thinking something like brown brogues with red or blue hose.

[Manu]

Tobus,

I've made some changes to the outfit, what do you think?



Better? Worse? Do I look smarter? Do I look more ridiculous?

I put the hose lower and the kilt higher again? Does it look good?

I think raising your kilt and lowering the top of the kilt hose is a great start, and Panache has given you great advice on how to wear that style of shirt. He is one of the few people I have seen pulling the look well. Like Panache said, if you're going for a romanticized highlander look, go 100% for that look. Keep it up buddy!

[MNlad]

I have to agree with Panache. The ghillie shirt has a place, not in traditional highland wear, but in a romanticized setting. This photo was taken at a local Renaissance fair a couple of years ago and later Photoshopped. In that setting it goes beautifully with a kilt. The only look? NO. But one of many looks, YES.

[PatrickHughes123]

I have to agree with Panache. The ghillie shirt has a place, not in traditional highland wear, but in a romanticized setting. This photo was taken at a local Renaissance fair a couple of years ago and later Photoshopped. In that setting it goes beautifully with a kilt. The only look? NO. But one of many looks, YES.

What kind of plaid is that? Just curious.