The Ghillie Shirt

[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.

[PatrickHughes123]

I'd like to state that a belt is completely formal as it is not worn with evening kilt dress. It is only worn in day wear or semi-formal kilt dress but only when without a waistcoat.

[FossilHunter]

I'd like to state that a belt is completely formal as it is not worn with evening kilt dress. It is only worn in day wear or semi-formal kilt dress but only when without a waistcoat.

Dirk belts are appropriate for formal evening dress if worn over a waistcoat (as with a dirk if one is addressing the haggis or a pipe major) or instead of a waistcoat with an argyle jacket.

Here’s one of our members from
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...xamples-85511/

[Tobus]

I'd like to state that a belt is completely formal as it is not worn with evening kilt dress. It is only worn in day wear or semi-formal kilt dress but only when without a waistcoat.

I'm confused by what you're saying. If a belt is "completely formal", it is perfectly appropriate with evening dress.

Typically, certain types of belts are appropriate for daywear, and there is the option of not wearing a belt at all. Other types of belts (the ones with shiny waistplates) are more appropriate for evening dress, but only in certain scenarios. Wearing a belt with waistplate under a waistcoat is a bit of a faux pas, but wearing one over certain types of doublets/jackets are expected. It really just depends on the type of belt, the level of dress, and the type of jacket.

[PatrickHughes123]

I'm confused by what you're saying. If a belt is "completely formal", it is perfectly appropriate with evening dress.

Typically, certain types of belts are appropriate for daywear, and there is the option of not wearing a belt at all. Other types of belts (the ones with shiny waistplates) are more appropriate for evening dress, but only in certain scenarios. Wearing a belt with waistplate under a waistcoat is a bit of a faux pas, but wearing one over certain types of doublets/jackets are expected. It really just depends on the type of belt, the level of dress, and the type of jacket.

I meant to say 'isn't'. My bad!

[Lady Grey]

I’ve sat back being rather bemused for 18 pages.
So here’s my input ... take it or leave it.

Patrick
You love your Ghillie Shirt and wearing it with your other accessories and that’s fine.
However you don’t wear it well.
My comment has nothing to do the historical accuracy or all the other suggestions/disagreements that you have received.
It has to do with being well dressed and stylish. (Something that anyone can learn)

The way you present in your ghillie shirt and kilt just doesn’t suit your age, build, height and colouring. There is no visually pleasing balance or proportion in your look, hence the reason for some of the flack you are receiving here.

So first off I suggest you get some style books for men. (Most local libraries have them)
What Not To Wear & Queer Eye For The Straight Guy both have excellent, timeless advice specifically for men that will help you find what works for your body shape and colouring no matter what the type of attire is.

My suggestions (again, take them or leave them)
- proportions and balance ....This is where you fail hugely
- Get some Dark socks. The white just cuts your height in half and makes your calves look huge instead of shapely. Dark socks with the Ghillie Brouges will elongate your figure and balance the look.
- Get a Dark Ghillie Shirt. I would actually suggest dying the one you have along with the socks at the same time (you seem to like matchy matchy so it’s a cost effective way to improve your look)
- Again the darker colour(s) will look lovely with your colouring of pale skin and red hair.
- A dark green is my suggestion. Pale colours near your face just washes you out and makes you look pasty.
- Take out the laces and wear the collar open if you insist on a ghillie Shirt.
- At present... a laced up shirt with your neck beard just does not work proportionally as your neck is totally missing when viewed with the shirt laced up.
- Now I love red hair and a beard but the neck beard doesn’t suit the shirt style. Try a goatee style or chin style. I think you have nice broad shoulders but we can’t see them because your proportions are not balanced by your clothing and facial hair choices.
- The aim is to to look sleek and well put together. The closed neck, dropped shoulder line and full puffy sleeves of a Ghillie Shirt just shortens you overall, making your shoulders, chest and torso look like a square.
- The Ghillie Shirt style is not a great choice for your figure ( nor is it for me - my lumps and bumps are just in different places -lol) but if you wish wear it you need to adapt it to suit you.
-
- You wear the clothes The clothes don’t wear You!
-
- Roll up the sleeves to just below the elbow to balance the fullness of the sleeve at the cuff as it’s making you look wider.
- Layer a below hip length casual vest or Gillet in a dark colour over the top of the shirt to balance out the width of your upper body. Then add the plaid if you must.
- Experiment with styling the plaid, to find a style that suits your figure not what you’ve seen in pictures.
-
Try it! It’s only clothes and you may be surprised how a few little changes will lift your appearance to Fabulous!
It’s a learned skill...

[Tobus]

My suggestions (again, take them or leave them)

- Get some Dark socks. The white just cuts your height in half and makes your calves look huge instead of shapely. Dark socks with the Ghillie Brouges will elongate your figure and balance the look.
- Get a Dark Ghillie Shirt. I would actually suggest dying the one you have along with the socks at the same time (you seem to like matchy matchy so it’s a cost effective way to improve your look)

Many great points in your reply, Lady Grey. I've quoted only a couple of them here for discussion.

One of the reasons that stark white is a turn-off to many folks is just as you said: proportionality suffers. White has a visual widening effect, where dark colours are visually slimming. These can be used to great effect when done with purpose.

Dyeing is a great way to re-purpose white hose without having to ditch them entirely. But, with that said, it probably would not work to dye the ghillie shirt and white hose with the same dye. They are different materials and the end result will likely be two different shades. The shirt is probably a cotton material, or a high-cotton blend, whilst the hose are probably a blend of nylon and/or other synthetic materials for stretchability. Hose are notoriously difficult to dye.

Looking back at my previous photos, the white hose that I originally purchased were going to be thrown in the trash once I decided I wouldn't wear white hose any longer. So I dyed them with Rit dye, in a dark forest-green colour. They looked great initially, but the more they got rinsed and then worn and washed, the dye quickly faded. Being inexpensive hose, they are made from synthetic materials (plastics, basically) that just really don't take a true dye. Luckily, they faded to a lovely pale green that's very close to a Lovat green. Here's what those white hose look like today, years after attempting a dark green dye:



I am quite certain that if I had tried to dye that white ghillie shirt, it would not have ended up the same colour. I didn't even keep the shirt; I sent it back, so it's a moot point.

All of this is to say that I agree with the dyeing suggestion for economy, but it might be better to use different dyes on the shirt and hose, and not try to make them match.

[FossilHunter]

I don’t think that “smart casual” can be achieved by mixing casual and formal and hoping it averages out.

Black ghillie brogues are regarded as formal shoes, most appropriate for wearing with Prince Charlie jackets and bow ties.

If I were to try to peg the ghillie shirt to a level of formality, it’d probably be equivalent with polo shirts since they share a similar collar arrangement. I wouldn’t wear anything equivalent to black tie with a polo shirt.

If I, and this is just me, were to try and wear a smart outfit using a ghillie shirt, it would probably include brown brogues, a brown belt with brass buckle (not an ornate plate), and a brown pouch like sporran. I’d go for a kind of rural/folk/romantic feel.