formal jackets and the cookie cutter aversion

[Bugbear]

gee Ted, I have a rusty orange(you of the right age remember the color) Levis WIDE wale corduroy blazer. As it has no lining, it ought to be easy to modify. Can you all imagine it with, well any kilt you can think of?

Bob

That sounds great, but credit where credit is due. It was all MacMillan of Rathdown's idea. He brought the concept of corduroy being good for kilt jackets to the forum; though I think James MacMillan was the first to bring it up with his black corduroy conversion thread. (Rathdown equals acceptable Highland attire.)

As far as evening wear, he suggested a black pin wale corduroy doublet in an Argyle cut with ribbed silk lapels and cuffs.

My daywear kilt jacket is a medium brown pin wale corduroy and waistcoat. There are no epaulets or Argyle cuffs. I re-tailored it from a suit that came from a family member.

[OC Richard]

I'm new to this forum and to this discussion. My reaction to the original post is that at most of the formal things I've attended the Highland dress doesn't show all that much variation: everyone in Prince Charlies, white shirts, black bowties, offwhite hose, and ghillies. Of course the tartan of the kilt varies, and the exact style of sporran, so it's true that there is more colour and variety than there is in Saxon formal wear.

When I first got into piping 35 years ago it seems like there was more variety: every Highland Dress shop carried five or six different styles of formal jackets and at events I would actually see some of these different styles being worn. (I myself used to wear a Burgundy velvet Montrose Doublet back in the early 80's.) Over the years the Prince Charlie seems to have won out, though the semi-formal Argyll/Crail/Braemar jacket is often seen pressed into full-fledged formal duty.

In the pipe band world there is even less variety: a decade or so ago every single band I saw in the Grade One Finals in Glasgow wore the same uniform, consisting of black Glen, black Argyll jacket, pure white popcorn hose, and black ghillies. Only the tartan of the kilt varied. All but one or two bands even wore the same sporran style, a black leather Hunting Sporran with chrome Evening cantle stuck on.
Nowadays at least a few bands are wearing different socks, black and navy blue suddenly becoming popular.

What's cool is the huge variety of 1860's Highland Dress seen in The Highlanders Of Scotland. Amazing all the different shoe styles and jacket styles etc etc.

But then photos of pipers going from the 1860's all up through the 1930's show one single jacket style over and over again. It seems to have been regarded as the universal style for pipers. I wouldn't know what to call it. Nobody seems to make it anymore. (Several people claim to make these but none have been able to furnish a photo of one they have actually made.)

[Jock Scot]

I'm new to this forum and to this discussion. My reaction to the original post is that at most of the formal things I've attended the Highland dress doesn't show all that much variation: everyone in Prince Charlies, white shirts, black bowties, offwhite hose, and ghillies. Of course the tartan of the kilt varies, and the exact style of sporran, so it's true that there is more colour and variety than there is in Saxon formal wear.

When I first got into piping 35 years ago it seems like there was more variety: every Highland Dress shop carried five or six different styles of formal jackets and at events I would actually see some of these different styles being worn. (I myself used to wear a Burgundy velvet Montrose Doublet back in the early 80's.) Over the years the Prince Charlie seems to have won out, though the semi-formal Argyll/Crail/Braemar jacket is often seen pressed into full-fledged formal duty.

In the pipe band world there is even less variety: a decade or so ago every single band I saw in the Grade One Finals in Glasgow wore the same uniform, consisting of black Glen, black Argyll jacket, pure white popcorn hose, and black ghillies. Only the tartan of the kilt varied. All but one or two bands even wore the same sporran style, a black leather Hunting Sporran with chrome Evening cantle stuck on.
Nowadays at least a few bands are wearing different socks, black and navy blue suddenly becoming popular.

What's cool is the huge variety of 1860's Highland Dress seen in The Highlanders Of Scotland. Amazing all the different shoe styles and jacket styles etc etc.

But then photos of pipers going from the 1860's all up through the 1930's show one single jacket style over and over again. It seems to have been regarded as the universal style for pipers. I wouldn't know what to call it. Nobody seems to make it anymore. (Several people claim to make these but none have been able to furnish a photo of one they have actually made.)

You are so right on evening wear, I am not a follower of bands so I cannot really comment. I think it is this one style fits all mentality that seems to run through society today and helped along by the hire companies. Also there is, often, a lack of confidence, by those that don't really know the form, to buck the trend. It is a shame not to see the Sherriffmuir, Montrose,Regulation doublet and even some long lost design in tartan or various coloured velvets in action at an evening do, like in the old days.

[Bugbear]

Well, MacLowlife... I guess I'll pass the torch to you. It's your role now to be Grand Forum Inquisitor Of Traditionalists and Traditional Highland Attire, and Asker of Questions Everyone else Is Afraid to Ask. Turn the lights out when you're done.

[MacLowlife]

Not so fast, McBug, I have to learn everything they told YOU, first...Still looking for pictures of everything discussed. By the way, I found some great TARTAN pinwale corduroy. That is going to become something, I can promise you, and probably not something cookie-cutter.

All the Best

[Bugbear]

Too late! Greatness has already been thrust upon you.

[Bugbear]

And by the way, I suggest a five or six button waistcoat along with jabot and cuffs for evening attire.

[McMurdo]

And by the way, I suggest a five or six button waistcoat along with jabot and cuffs for evening attire.

That all depends on the Doublet though Ted, I certainly would not want a waistcoat on under my Montrose.

[Bugbear]

That all depends on the Doublet though Ted, I certainly would not want a waistcoat on under my Montrose.

I've heard of people wearing T-shirts under their Montrose.

sydnie7 has jabot and cuff sets in her signature.

[McMurdo]

I've heard of people wearing T-shirts under their Montrose.

sydnie7 has jabot and cuff sets in her signature.

A t-shirt is fine, in fact I wear one under mine, however a waistcoat would be a tad much.