new website

[Alan H]

Hi Alan,

With regard to the pinstripe kilt suit: I also have this suit which, for me as a non-trouser owner, is indeed as close as I can get to a business suit! I have tried to post a photo of my suit in this post but I cannot find a way to do so! However, there is one on page 6 of my Photo Album (link below).

As with most items of clothing, whether or not it looks good/effective depends so much upon how it is worn and accessorised, and I have to agree that the photo taken on the catwalk at 'Dressed to Kilt' is of a slovenly and untidy presentation. A Pinstripe suit is semi-formal and should be worn appropriately.

I do not always wear a sporran with this suit, indeed I sometimes wear the kilt casually without the jacket - black boots, rolled down black or grey hose and a chunky black sweater.

Anything is possible with this outfit, as with any other, but thought MUST be given to the image the wearer presents before he ventures into the great world outside!

Here's my thinking. A Pinstriped suit is an elegant thing if cut well out of good material and worn with some thought and preparation. There's no reason that a kilt suit couldn't be the same. In my own way of thinking and taste, the current vogue of "pinstripes" which are anything but "pin"stripes... really wide and violently contrasting with the major color of the fabric just doesn't look very good. The appeal of pinstipe is not in it's gaudiness, but in it's subtlety. PIN stripes....not driving-down-the-road stripes, you know?

Your tweed 4-yard box pleated kilt from M.A.C. Newsome is a thing of beauty because it's subtle thing. Its quiet understatement (funny to say for a kilt, but there you go) is what "makes it". The same goes for pinstripes in suits.....and kilt suits. Classic design and a quiet statement lasts pretty much forever.

The kilt and jacket combination in that picture was neither classic nor quiet, but in my opinion, rather gaudy and badly worn. Now, it may be that the designer intended it to be that way. That look may be all the rage this year in some circles. If that's the case, then that's fine. However, time will judge the staying power of that idea.

Of course this is just my own opinion. I'll go look at your pinstriped kilt suit picture, now! I have no doubt whatsoever that you will look well dressed in it!

[Alan H]

Just looked at Hamish' gallery, not his X Marks one. I'd not visited it before.

The blue and green tweed suits are bloody gorgeous, Ham. Just fantastic, absolutely class. I'd love a dark blue suit like that.

The pinstripe works, too. To my mind it's a bit more of a stretch, but that's just me. You've done it right and worn it with care, which makes all the difference. There's a world of difference between you in that picture and the model on the walk that I referred to.

[Hamish]

Just looked at Hamish' gallery, not his X Marks one. I'd not visited it before.

The blue and green tweed suits are bloody gorgeous, Ham. Just fantastic, absolutely class. I'd love a dark blue suit like that.

The pinstripe works, too. To my mind it's a bit more of a stretch, but that's just me. You've done it right and worn it with care, which makes all the difference. There's a world of difference between you in that picture and the model on the walk that I referred to.

Hi Alan!

Many thanks for your kind words. I am pretty much equally fond of the three suits - each has its place at the right time. The green one is in a fairly heavy tweed, and the blue is in a mid-weight woollen worsted as is the grey pinstripe.

With regard to the latter: I understand what you say. Actually, mine is a pinstripe but I did look at wider chalkstripe fabrics before opting for this one.
I wore both pinstripe and chalkstripe suits virtually all my working life and I wanted a kilted suit for the slightly more formal occasions that occur during retirement years. This one fits that bill very nicely.

[Colin]

those are actually the links from Tom's cafe if memory serves me right. I did happen to notice that he has a picture of a member from this board on his site. I hope that was approved.

And for the record, there are 13 Canadian tartans not 4.

[Ugly Bear]

I did happen to notice that he has a picture of a member from this board on his site. I hope that was approved.

It wasn't approved, but I don't care.

If I had it to do over again, the sporran wouldn't have sat so low in that picture. But, seriously, I don't mind. If that photo convinces even one man that kilts are a viable alternative to pants, then it's done some good.

[Colin]

I did happen to notice that he has a picture of a member from this board on his site. I hope that was approved.

It wasn't approved, but I don't care.

If I had it to do over again, the sporran wouldn't have sat so low in that picture. But, seriously, I don't mind. If that photo convinces even one man that kilts are a viable alternative to pants, then it's done some good.

Great attitude, mate. If nothing else, it sure makes us kilt wears seem like a burly sort. I doubt any would call that a skirt to your face.

[Ugly Bear]

I did happen to notice that he has a picture of a member from this board on his site. I hope that was approved.

It wasn't approved, but I don't care.

If I had it to do over again, the sporran wouldn't have sat so low in that picture. But, seriously, I don't mind. If that photo convinces even one man that kilts are a viable alternative to pants, then it's done some good.

Great attitude, mate. If nothing else, it sure makes us kilt wears seem like a burly sort. I doubt any would call that a skirt to your face.

To my face? Never.

To my back? Quite a bit.

I don't like to classify non-kilt wearers as cowards. But my detractors sure seem to fit the bill. They'll make snide remarks, but you turn around and look at them and their jaws instantly go slack.

I don't think there's a relationship between gutlessness and trousers, but there's definitely one between gutlessness and kilt derision.

My favorite detractors are the women who say, "Nice dress!" with a look like they just bit into a lemon. Invariably, these women wear pants, so my reply is always, "Nice pants, SIR." They've never come back from that one.

[Geoduck]

I was using the urinal in a bar in Pullman, Washington a few weekends back. It was rather late in the evening and a bunch of guys were talking (probably thought they were whispering) and saying ..."no, It's a Utilikilt, can't you read the pocket? That's pretty damned cool..."

I was actually rather amused. I usually figure people talking behind my back would be detractors, but these guys apparently appreciated that I didn't have to be a slave to the zipper.

I'm also not sure I've had that many guys staring at my backside in a straight bar. I wonder what my wife would say

[Graham]

Good site, it brings together a lot of good info and links, nice and clear.
I just wish it wouldn't make any mention of that stupid No Pants Day. That site would turn anyone off and just put us all in the same bag of nutters.

[Jeremy]

I catch quite a few snide remarks made behind my back. The funny thing is when I turn around, face the guy,and ask if he has any questions; invariably, he'll tuck tail and run. Considering the comparitive size of most of them, it's really quite amusing.

On another note, I have to agree wholeheartedly about the no pants day.