A Question from my wife...

[Cawdorian]

Those white blouses with the lacy jabot and cuffs are very attractive and feminine. They look great with a sash and plain dark long skirt.

[Panache]

Welcome to X Marks the Scot Mrs. jordanjm!

Alan has posted a lot of pretty neat ideas for a ladies outfit. My observation is that the simple black dress with the sash is the best way to go to be striking.

An observation:

The first Scottish Country Dance my lovely wife and I attending was filled with dashing gentlemen in white jacobite shirts and gorgeous tartan kilts. Most of the ladies were wearing tartan skirts or patterned dresses. The Flame-Haired Celtic Amazon Goddess and I were lost in a sea of color. Who was the one person who kept catching our eye? It was a lovely lady in a slim elegant black dress. The simple black made her stand out from the crowd.

So how do you outshine a tartan peacock? Don't compete with him head on with a tartan dress, top, or skirt. Use a single dark color to draw the eye and a small matching tartan accessory to show your clan affiliation.



Cheers

Jamie

[RowdyRed]

arggghhhh, Alan H! I didn't need the temptations!

I am like brandycr; got to get some mad money together and go shopping!

[Rampant Lion]

Hey, I always thought that the few opportunites that us guys do get to get dressed up in our full scottish regalia were the few times that we get to possibly "outshine" our significant others, or at least think we do.

Don't take that away from me!

Actually, I'm going to have to show my wife some of the options posted in this thread. Some of those will look great on my wife.

[turpin]

I saw a woman in this (different tartan) at the woodland Games and it about knocked my socks off.

Arrgghhhh! Alan, ya gotta stop that. I'm regimental at work!

Hmmmmmm, Mrs. Cav would look gorgeous in one of these in Fraser Hunting

That's only about 3 or 4 belts' worth Steve. Go for it. The kids don't need their teeth cleaned this year.

[Alan H]

Arrgghhhh! Alan, ya gotta stop that. I'm regimental at work!


That's only about 3 or 4 belts' worth Steve. Go for it. The kids don't need their teeth cleaned this year.

LOL...the gal at Woodland had hers in a blue tartan, and she chickened out and wore a t-shirt under it. I figure, if you're gonna wear something like that, girl, then GO for it.

Actually it still looked great, but can you imagine that corset/bodice over a plain white or plain black skirt, maybe black velvet? WHHOOOOOIIIEEEE and it wouldn't cost much more than the price of the corset/bodice...a big black velvet skirt is easy enough to make yourself.

[turpin]

LOL...the gal at Woodland had hers in a blue tartan, and she chickened out and wore a t-shirt under it. I figure, if you're gonna wear something like that, girl, then GO for it.

Actually it still looked great, but can you imagine that corset/bodice over a plain white or plain black skirt, maybe black velvet? WHHOOOOOIIIEEEE and it wouldn't cost much more than the price of the corset/bodice...a big black velvet skirt is easy enough to make yourself.

STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP! The lights just went out at work. I'm not responsible for my actions. Aieeeeeeeeee!

[jordanjm]

Arrgghhhh! Alan, ya gotta stop that. I'm regimental at work!

I think you two are being naughty. There is no way I'd wear something like that: I'd get sunburned all over. - Mrs. JM I know that some women would wear that however. They probably don't have two babies though.

BTW Alan H, thank you for finding all of the ideas. I really like
and

and

[Alan H]

Panache has a good point. Until you're ready to break the bank for over $1,000 for a custom-made showstopping dress, it's hard to beat the LBD, black heels,and a tartan sash with a nice pin for "class" and good looks on a budget.

If you're handy with a sewing machine and have the arms and shoulders for it, look in the pattern catalogs for something like the second top that I posted. there are a zillion patterns for something like that. The only trick is you HAVE...HAVE to be careful how you lay out the pattern on the tartan; it MUST BE symmetrical so you must have enough material. If you buy heavy kilting wool, you'll die form the heat so if you opt to do this, get lightweight wools (8-10 ounce) or polyester-viscose or even poly-cotton..

I'm not someone who regularly sews anything to a pattern, but I've thought hard about making a top like that...not a hint of Renaissance there, for the Luminous Joan. It's just that she'd have my head on a platter if I actually did it.

[thescot]

. . .how do I keep him from out shinning me? . . .

Just hang on his arm, and you'll look good. Even if he is better dressed, you'll still look prettier than him. (There is that peacock thing, you know. The more colorful male birds always try to look good for their lassies, too.) And I suspect that if you are on his arm, he'll look the better for it.

A nice kilted skirt in your tartan is a good choice for any woman. Add a white blouse or some such, and--voila--you're all set. You could go for an arisaid or something, but it's not really necessary.

Enjoy.