1st Highland Dress I feel proud of...critique?

[Lime]

I'm firmly in the camp of separating the "functional" handkerchief from the decorative! Ideally both would be carried: one for display and one for offering to ladies/wiping the sweat from one's brow/acting as a tourniquet after a gun battle with enemy agents/etc.

There is a great pleasure in simply having a pocket square for a pocket square's sake and silk seems to work very well against the foil of a rough tweed jacket or barathea... although I do have some cotton ones which I like to think work well too.

Matching? For me it is more about adding visual interest: it would never "match" the tie, shirt, jacket etc. but would, at its best, add another element but one that is complimentary.

As to the fold I have two techniques... and they largely depend on how I feel at any one time and the pocket square itself rather than any rule in particular. The first is to pinch the middle betwixt thumb and forefinger, give a little shake and fold in half and then "stuff". The second is three folds one way then three folds the other and place so that the (hand stitched) edges show. I don't like the "perfect triangle" or "three points"... but that is just me.

As I say it is mainly how I feel. Some days I look in the mirror and think "Lime you need a pochette today" and other days I look in the mirror and think "leave it at home wide-boy". I think, what I am trying to say, is I like to have the option and don't worry too much about wearing, or not wearing, one.

[tpa]

Just a follow up:
This is what I wore to the Advent Kirkin o' the Tartan / St. Andrew's Day Luncheon. I enjoy this "kit" and believe it is a finished outfit...
other than a better knot for my neck tie. Criticism welcomed and thanks again, to the rabble.

Top marks for offering yourself up for criticism, Domehead, it certainly supports the confidence quotes in another thread. For me, if possible, I prefer the sporran to match the shoes in leather tone and mixing stripes and diamonds with a kilt pattern is like mixing two tartans, it's too much and not only draws the eye away from the kilt, it is the first thing that hits you. As you have no doubt guessed I go for the understated look, if you could call wearing an Anderson tartan kilt out and about in central England understated but that's my preference. In terms of an eye catching outfit - full marks.

[Domehead]

Tpa,
No problem and thanks for the perspective. Incidentally, thanks to all who've responded thus far. As said, I (at a minimum) consider all perspectives.

Re: different patterns...
In my minds eye, I allow disinct patterns to fade away, e.g. the hose tops cease to be "diamond pattern'd" as much as generic "hose toppers". Same for the vest - not large tattersall Haggart's tweed, just "earthy tweed" with a couple a' tones to play with.

However, as you've said, those items may appear stark. I live with these articles in my wardrobe, which makes a big difference. They're slightly dulled (for lack of a better term) to me.

[OC Richard]

Well I really like both kits! I like how the jacket, waistcoat, and hose are three different colours none of which are the ground colour of the kilt.

About the second kit, what's going on, which perhaps is what people are seeing, is a "warm/cool" thing: from the knees down all "warm" colours, from the knees up mostly "cool" colours.

This splits the kit in two at the knees.

To test this out, try reducing the warm colours below the knees, strong blue flashes and black shoes, to "balance" the overall kit a bit more. I see the green flashes, and the red/yellow tie, but somehow I'm still seeing the warm/cool split.

I don't think about things like that when I get dressed, but when I look at the kit I normally wear nowadays, it's fairly balanced. In fact it seems that I've got a basic two-colour warm/cool thing going on both below the knees and above the waist, claret/green and sky blue/scarlet respectively, the other things being black, and the colours of the kilt being left alone to do their own colour thing

[kiltedjoss]

I like the red touches. I like red, yellow, or white pocket square depending upon hose and tie colors. If not square, a lapel pin can also be used to accent.

[Muddy]

Dude, I think you've got this kilt thing DOWN brother!
First pic: love it. Especially the flat cap. I love how it's slightly squirrelly on purpose. It WORKS in my opinion. Don't listen to anybody telling you otherwise.
Second pic: I don't think I'd wear the patchwork flatcap on the second look but, I LOVE the matching tie and hose!!!! KUDOS. Bold choices and it WORKS.
You've got style sir! Bravo.

[Domehead]

Good morning,
Thanks to all for the kind words and the specific criticisms. They are all considered.
I did wear this to my wife's Company Christmas Soiree the other evening. Something I don't normally do. I usually dress in conventional Daywear.
There are three men working for said Co. who are all 1st Gen American:

1. Mr. Reid...Very respectiful of his family legacy and sacrifice, but not a "kiltie". Enjoys my interests, but I get the impression he thinks it's quaint.
2. Mr. MacDonald...Again, very respectful of his family legacy and sacrifice, but not a "kiltie". He too, enjoys my interests. He is very interested in the history of Highland Dress, but I doubt he would ever "take the plunge". At least, he's never inquired and I've known him for 10 years.
3. Mr. Fraser...VERY respectful, VERY knowledgable, NOT a "kiltie" BUT will be changing that very soon (intendes to be married in Fraser Tartan). By directive, he actually purchased length of Fraser Tartan. He was repsonsible for providing casket drapery for a Fraser Family funeral.

Mr. MacDonald & Mr. Fraser have familial understanding of Highland Dress, and they're extremely complimentary. Mr. Fraser said I was, "Put together very well. It all works".

I am not trolling for affirmation. I relay this anecdote with re: to OC Richards point -

The evening event used dimmed artificial lighting, sans ambient light. This makes the "warm" hose colors less stark. I wonder, if the reception was in the afternoon on the lawn, would the reaction been the same?

Although I do appreciate compliments from these men (understanding, familiar & appreciative of their heritage - whose generational "distance" is short),
the attention I receive doesn't make me very "grey"?

I'm not overthinking this. I just enjoy the conversation.
Thanks again, to all who have contributed