The Ghillie Shirt

[Tobus]

Would I be right in thinking that black ghillie brogues with the ghillie shirt would be the kilt equivalent of 'smart-casual'?

...

Personally, I believe the ghillie is a smart shirt and looks great when done correctly. I know the shirt is extremely informal and the black brogues are formal, so I imagine this would give off my desired look of smart-casual and romantic.

To be honest, when I think of "smart-casual", the ghillie shirt doesn't even enter into the equation. Everyone has their own idea of what constitutes a "smart" (or its equivalent "sharp" in the USA) look. For myself, I don't see how a shirt could be smart at all when it can't be buttoned up and worn with a tie. As you said, that shirt is extremely informal. It's meant to look outdoorsy, quaint, and folksy. It's designed to be worn with the laces loose, and open at the neck. Lacing it up and tying it closed still wouldn't come close to the smart look of a traditional collared button-up shirt with overlapping seams at the buttons.

Mixing the folksy ghillie shirt with other items that may have a dressy appearance doesn't really up-scale the whole outfit. It just becomes an odd pairing of different levels of dress. Neither fish nor fowl, or perhaps fish and fowl fighting with each other.

[PatrickHughes123]

To be honest, when I think of "smart-casual", the ghillie shirt doesn't even enter into the equation. Everyone has their own idea of what constitutes a "smart" (or its equivalent "sharp" in the USA) look. For myself, I don't see how a shirt could be smart at all when it can't be buttoned up and worn with a tie. As you said, that shirt is extremely informal. It's meant to look outdoorsy, quaint, and folksy. It's designed to be worn with the laces loose, and open at the neck. Lacing it up and tying it closed still wouldn't come close to the smart look of a traditional collared button-up shirt with overlapping seams at the buttons.

Mixing the folksy ghillie shirt with other items that may have a dressy appearance doesn't really up-scale the whole outfit. It just becomes an odd pairing of different levels of dress. Neither fish nor fowl, or perhaps fish and fowl fighting with each other.

Well I see it as wearing a Saxon suit with a t-shirt or a shirt with the top button undone, that's smart-casual when it comes to suits. In Highland Dress, I believe smart-casual would be Ghillie Brogues with the Ghillie Shirt for very informal events such as social events, sports matches, parties/family-get-togethers, pub sessions, birthday parties, etc. I personally would wear this to Highland Games, which I will do the next time I get a chance to go to one. I believe I've found something that will work.

I've outlined, in my view, the perfect smart-casual-romantic Highland Dress outfit, taken from advice on the forum;

(1) - Optional head wear, Glengarry or Balmoral.
(2) - Ghillie Shirt.
(3) - Kilt with day sporran or hunting sporran, either black or brown.
(4) - Coloured hose with flashes.
(5) - Sgian dubh.
(6) - Black or brown Ghillie Brogues, done to match the sporran.

No fly plaid. No feather plume.

[Tobus]

Well I see it as wearing a Saxon suit with a t-shirt or a shirt with the top button undone, that's smart-casual when it comes to suits.

Wearing a suit with a standard dress shirt unbuttoned (and no necktie) does seem to be a casual approach to smart dress, I agree. But there's an important element here. It's taking standard dress items and "down-dressing" them for a casual look. That is, to me, the definition of smart-casual. I would define it as a more casual way of wearing dress items.

But that's completely different than trying to "up-dress" casual items. A t-shirt with a suit may be popular these days in certain circles, but it comes off as a counter-culture look, not smart-casual. The mixing of a casual t-shirt with a dressy suit is a jab at traditional dress, not simply a relaxation of smart dress. Does that make sense?

And this is where I think the ghillie shirt fits in (or rather doesn't) with smart-casual. It is trying to "up-dress" a folksy style, and the context just doesn't fit. So it comes off looking like a jab at traditionally recognised forms of dress.

Again, if you have chosen this to be your personal style, that's your business. But the perception by others will likely not be that it's smart-casual.

I think everything else on your list could probably fit smart-casual. It's just the shirt choice that seems out of place.

[PatrickHughes123]

Wearing a suit with a standard dress shirt unbuttoned (and no necktie) does seem to be a casual approach to smart dress, I agree. But there's an important element here. It's taking standard dress items and "down-dressing" them for a casual look. That is, to me, the definition of smart-casual. I would define it as a more casual way of wearing dress items.

But that's completely different than trying to "up-dress" casual items. A t-shirt with a suit may be popular these days in certain circles, but it comes off as a counter-culture look, not smart-casual. The mixing of a casual t-shirt with a dressy suit is a jab at traditional dress, not simply a relaxation of smart dress. Does that make sense?

And this is where I think the ghillie shirt fits in (or rather doesn't) with smart-casual. It is trying to "up-dress" a folksy style, and the context just doesn't fit. So it comes off looking like a jab at traditionally recognised forms of dress.

Again, if you have chosen this to be your personal style, that's your business. But the perception by others will likely not be that it's smart-casual.

I think everything else on your list could probably fit smart-casual. It's just the shirt choice that seems out of place.

Yes, I understand what you're saying. But I believe this look which I consider to be smart-casual Highland Dress, is a great innovation which doesn't seem to break the conventions of the natural development of the kilt. Who knows, this could be the next stage in its development. Maybe in 50-100 years time, people will be wearing this outfit and it will be referred to as "Smart-casual Highland Dress" and it will co-existent with all the current levels/styles of kilt wear we have today.

[Panache]

Patrick,

Glen and I did this quite a while ago, and while it might not perfectly represent our individual styles now (after all one's personal style can grow and change) it does provide some sort of baseline as to the many ways you can wear the kilt for different levels of formality. This might help you in figuring out some basic guidelines. Take a look:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...-attire-46888/

The ghillie shirt would fall into the category of "festival wear" like the outfit I have with the pith helmet, being that in the right setting it is quite fun, but certainly not for most other occasions.

Cheers

Jamie

[Manu]

Who knows, this could be the next stage in its development. Maybe in 50-100 years time, people will be wearing this outfit and it will be referred to as "Smart-casual Highland Dress" and it will co-existent with all the current levels/styles of kilt wear we have today.

That's wishful thinking my friend.

[PatrickHughes123]

That's wishful thinking my friend.

It could happen you never know. Who really knows what kilt wear will be like in 100 years time. Plaids will probably be extinct, head wear, basically things that are getting less common currently.

But again, if my sons and grandsons take up wearing the kilt, I'd strongly suggest they do it with a smart, elegant Ghillie Shirt.

[Manu]

It could happen you never know. Who really knows what kilt wear will be like in 100 years time. Plaids will probably be extinct, head wear, basically things that are getting less common currently.

But again, if my sons and grandsons take up wearing the kilt, I'd strongly suggest they do it with a smart, elegant Ghillie Shirt.

Meh, anything is possible. Now, is it likely? Probably not. For all the reasons already explained by many, mostly Tobus, the ghillie shirt is neither smart nor elegant. Does Patrick think so? Yes, but it doesn't make it so.