Quote Originally Posted by ThistleDown View Post
Jim, HRH wears what most of the Highland gentry wear today. That is, none of the military and/or 18C and 19C bits and pieces like gauntlet cuffs and epaulets. Just a normal jacket cut to work with the kilt. Actually, he has a large number of sporrans about the place, but chooses to wear just his favourites, mostly ones that he has inherited. He's been gifted a few, but I doubt he has purchased one in his life. His shoes are always black because that is traditional with Highland dress. I've not seen the brass buttons, but would love to! The only time the Highland gentry wear bonnets is when they have to display a clutch of feathers; he doesn't have to do that, so no bonnet.
JSFMACLJR and you both made some very insightful and helpful comments. Thank you.

First off, I may have been mistaken about the brass buttons. On closer inspection, they may all be a light colored bone. but they look like falt, brushed brass, and I think that might look pretty good.

Is there any place one can actually buy the jackets without the epaulets, cuffs, etc. off the rack? I've not seen them, and the overall look is very conservative. I think Kinlock Anderson might have such, but theirs are all pretty pricey.

I didn't know that fact about the bonnets. It's good to know, and I've never heard that before. I suppose a bonnet becomes a sign of the non-gentry.

I have slowly worked through many different sporrans and other items, but I have also slowly settled on certain standard pieces which are pretty conservative. I am in the process of commissioning a sporran similar to HRH's from Janet Eagleton because I want a standard, traditional look in a sporran that my grandson will still be wearing when my carcus has long since stopped being worm's meat. I intend to wear it for the rest of my life.

Again, I appreciate the comments.