Critique my Summer Kilt Wear II

[xman]

Here are the two of us together to illustrate a contrast in approaches:

There, you see? I didn't even polish my shoes!

[CMcG]

There, you see? I didn't even polish my shoes!

[Lyle1]

I like the way the colors look together, but I agree that the short sleeves look out of balance with a vest, and worse when the vest is buttoned. I also agree that long sleeves rolled up would look better, but I personally think that look is a bit silly for summer. Going with the theme of "It's summer," I would put the wool vest away until the temperature dips below 70 degrees F or so.

Here's a question for the strict traditionalists: Would a highland gentleman have rolled up his sleeves, or even have appeared in public in shirt sleeves?

[davidlpope]

Here's a question for the strict traditionalists: Would a highland gentleman have rolled up his sleeves, or even have appeared in public in shirt sleeves?

The Highland gentlemen (and peers) that I've met seem to be a pretty hardy, heat-tolerant bunch, despite the fact that weather in Scotland is generally much cooler than here in the South. In most cases, even in upper 80's/mid 90's heat they tend to keep their jackets on for the "official bits" of Games attendance. That being said, when it comes to really blistering temperatures they remove their jackets, although I've rarely seen them remove their ties or roll their sleeves.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Here's a question for the strict traditionalists: Would a highland gentleman have rolled up his sleeves, or even have appeared in public in shirt sleeves?

These paintings are all from the mid-1800s and show Highland shepherds. So yes, then the circumstances warranted it, the shirt sleeves were rolled up!

[tpa]

These paintings are all from the mid-1800s and show Highland shepherds. So yes, then the circumstances warranted it, the shirt sleeves were rolled up!

And the waistcoats open!

I guess my avatar shows my preferences.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

One of the hidden rules of British behaviour is that gentlemen only turn back the cuffs of their shirts two or three turns. Turning the cuffs back to above the elbow is considered to be very much "working class" (and decidedly non-U).

Short sleeve shirts tend to be very much a matter of personal taste, and those chiefs (certainly U) who spend much time at Scottish games in the USA will be seen in short sleeve shirts; the Earl of Caithness comes to mind in this instance. Indeed, the short sleeve shirt is not and was not unknown in Scotland; a quick glance through those "Clan and Tartan" books published by Johnson and Bacon in the immediate post-war era have several illustrations of men in kilts wearing short sleeve shirts.

[Jock Scot]

Oh dear Matt, we are heading into the fog,mire and general misunderstandings of the social world that existed and in some ways still exist in Britain. Right or wrong, these social pitfalls probably exist here more than anywhere else in the world and as such are an almost complete mystery to the majority! In consequence, many subtleties (the pictures illustrate this) and general day to day quirks of the social minefield that are not noticed or understood, by those who do not understand.

Anyway, wonderful people though they were and are, shepherds are not gentlemen! Gentlemen in the days of the pictures were rather averse to physical effort(some still are!!) and most certainly would not deem that handling a sheep, never mind a flock of them, as a fitting pastime for a gentleman. Note the "gentlemen" standing and sitting in the background of the pictures-----no rolled up sleeves there, or much physical effort either! No sorry, its is very bad form for a gentleman to roll the sleeves above the elbow. LOL

[English Bloke]

Unless he happened/happens to be in the Military and dressed in Summer Order before 18:00 o'clock.... But then yet still, he probably wouldn't have rolled his own sleeves up, he'd have some 'Oik' from the ranks to do it for him. [Only kidding Jock ]

[Jock Scot]

Unless he happened/happens to be in the Military and dressed in Summer Order before 18:00 o'clock.... But then yet still, he probably wouldn't have rolled his own sleeves up, he'd have some 'Oik' from the ranks to do it for him. [Only kidding Jock ]

--------or down.I have no doubts that you are quite right!