A Question of Taste...

[CMcG]

...or a Question of Influence? I'm thinking it's six of one and half a dozen of the other. I've been reflecting on how my sartorial kilt-sense has grown and changed since I discovered Xmarks. Anyone care to join me in some self-relection?

How would you define your taste in kilt attire?

What is/are your main influence(s)? Have they changed over time?

How has Xmarks contributed to how you approach the kilt?

Before, my main influences were, sadly enough, rental kilt outfits and pipe bands because thats mostly what I saw around me, if and when anyone else was wearing a kilt. Neither really suited me but attempts at mixing in Saxon wear didn't really work out.

Now, I'm enjoying the benefits of the accumulated wisdom on this wonderful forum. The deep knowledge of the traditionalists is priceless but I also enjoy the contributions of modernists and individualists.

And then it hit me. The single biggest influence on my sense of taste is my lass, hence why I sometimes affectionately refer to her as my "official kilt inspector." Her aesthetic is North American and non-Scot but well informed by the available options within Highland attire.

She has patiently learned a ton of terminology about tartans, pleating styles, sporrans, sgians, doublets, jackets, etc. Now she knows quite a bit about Highland attire and has formed some excellent opinions. The other day I asked her to spell it out for me.

In her opinion, the way to go is contemporary-traditional. While she doesn't mind a Sportkilt-and-tshirt look for hiking or puttering around the apartment, she generally thinks the kilt should be reserved for special events. This means she favours smart casual, dressy, semi-formal, and formal looks.

She doesn't like modern kilts (Utilikilts et al.) or scrunched down hose with boots because they are too casual and not traditional enough. On the traditional side, she doesn't like lace jabots, doublets, dirks, PCs, full-mask or horsehair sporrans, hats with toories, too much tartan, too many mixed patterns, and too many colours because they look to either archaic, over-the-top or both.

I then pressed her to specify what she does like. Sgiannan dubh are cool. Hose always up with flashes; solid for daywear, diced/Argyle for formal, and white never. Black leather shoes, sporrans, and belts. Darker, short-fur, metal cantle sporrans are OK for dressing up. Tasteful mixing of patterns can work i.e. a subtle tattersal shirt with a tartan kilt. A button up shirt, tucked in is the minimum, which can then be dressed up with a sweater, vest, and/or Argyll/Crail/Braemar jacket. Tweed or black barathea for the jacket. Four in hand, black bow, or stock tie, depending on the level of formality. Traditionally styled, tartan kilts or Irish solid colours and any type of pleats.

I don't always listen because horsehair sporrans and lots of tartan are just awesome But by-and-large, I defer to her judgement. After all, she's the one who has to be seen in public with me!

[Mael Coluim]

You are a lucky and smart guy.

Now what was the question?

[Bugbear]

* "How would you define your taste in kilt attire?"

Well at one point I was a fan of the jabot, but I feel I never quite got a handle on the whole way things are done in Scotland.

* "What is/are your main influence(s)? Have they changed over time?"

I recall seeing some copies of very old photographs, and probably drawings when I was young, and that has, of course, influenced me. Then there is the discussions here on the forum. Trying to match the two up didn't always work out well.

* "How has Xmarks contributed to how you approach the kilt"

All I can really say is that I have made a few or still have a few friends here, and it was actually the first forum or socially interactive web site I joined. Some of those friends wear kilts; guess I'm a groupie. I'm not Scottish, though.

[English Bloke]

Blimey... I'd hang on to her.

So what you are actually telling us is... "Darling? I have to wear my kilt tonight. Hayelp?"

Don't worry about it, my Mrs keeps me straight too and she's Turkish but with excellent taste. It's the refined taste that counts if you're not following the absolutely tradtional directive.

If you see pictures of me dressed immaculately, it's my wife's influence. If you see pictures of me looking like a lemon, it's me.

[llyd]

I am pretty much at the experiment stage...I do not have the $$$ for formal or dressy casual..yet...the cthulhu tartan box pleat will be my first decent tartan kilt...will see about vest, waistcoat, etc, later...anf of course I really wamt kilts in my clan tartans..Keith and Hamilton...maybe Gunn later on...
My usual outfit is a variety of tweed print polo shirts and casual kilts...camo or solid, made of cotton bottom weights, although I do have a nice lightweight Italian suit wool in an understated fashion tartan...would look nice with tweed or black jacket and tie..gotta get busy amd re hem it though....
Xmarks has taught me alot...and given me the impetus to learn how to male my own bloody kilts...

[robbiethepiper]

Since you asked: Horsehair sporrans, spats, feather bonnets and long plaids label the wearer a wannabe piper/drummer. It's a bit like wearing medals/rank badges you haven't earned. Dirks are for killing people. Wish I got invited to a few more white tie funtions so I could justify the cost of a montrose jacket and jabot. Tartan waistcoats and ties are a good way of demonstrating your heritage/affiliation when you have to wear trousers;They should never be worn with the kilt. In a day or evening formal setting dress according to tradition ( not history! ). In a casual setting almost anything goes except for baseball caps, which should be reserved for your inevitable audience with Satan should you transgress. It is of course your human right to dress as tastelessly as you wish. Now, who will bite?

[English Bloke]

robbiethepiper... Brilliant... Less the horsehair sporran bit... It's a wallet with attitude when all said and done!!

Now wearing medals you're not entitled to? That could grind a stone!

[Geoff Withnell]

Since you asked: Horsehair sporrans, spats, feather bonnets and long plaids label the wearer a wannabe piper/drummer. It's a bit like wearing medals/rank badges you haven't earned. Dirks are for killing people. Wish I got invited to a few more white tie funtions so I could justify the cost of a montrose jacket and jabot. Tartan waistcoats and ties are a good way of demonstrating your heritage/affiliation when you have to wear trousers;They should never be worn with the kilt. In a day or evening formal setting dress according to tradition ( not history! ). In a casual setting almost anything goes except for baseball caps, which should be reserved for your inevitable audience with Satan should you transgress. It is of course your human right to dress as tastelessly as you wish. Now, who will bite?

I would respectfully disagree with you on the long plaid. I have recently started wearing one fairly frequently, and find them a useful garment. They provide a bit of additional warmth when needed, and are easier than a jacket to carry when you don't need the warmth right now, or are wandering around indoors, say in a shopping mall.

Geoff Withnell

[Bill aka Mole]

A newbie's answer: (I've only been wearing since August 2010)

***How would you define your taste in kilt attire? ***
At this time it is mostly modern, perhaps a bit dressy. This winter had me in sweaters a majority of the time with a tee shirt underneath. The SWK Heavy kept the waist and below plenty warm. During the fall I was wearing SK PV kilts and was feeling darn proud when I received my first one... right until I saw the photos. Ick! Tenney runners and kilts definately are not made for one another.

***What is/are your main influence(s)? Have they changed over time?***
I would say that my current influence is to have an outfit that my long suffering wife will tolerate! Example: I wanted to kilt on both our wedding anniversary and Valentines Day evening outings BUT since I did not have a proper jacket, I was strongly advised that I'd be going solo on these occassions to our only 4-star resturant if I went kilted. So, I had to wear the suit. Colors are another thing that I defer to her as she can tell what looks better on me than I can.

***How has Xmarks contributed to how you approach the kilt?***
XMarks first allowed me to show SWMBO* that a kilt was more than a Scot's choice in clothing. Now, there was a bit of give and take on this matter BUT it did allow me to get her into a mini-kilt at this years Charleston games. I volunteer as a Firefighter and a kilt will not work well under our protective clothing. So, while I'm in town and on call, I wear those other things that I can tuck into my socks. Normally, I kilt when I want to be a bit better dressed than a set of cargos and whatever shirt I happen to figure is clean enough to wear to a fire or car wreck. It also has given me some other answers to the question that my honest manner of answering would likely be too coarse for the fairer sex.

*SWMBO = She Who Must Be Obeyed.

[CMcG]

Blimey... I'd hang on to her.

So what you are actually telling us is... "Darling? I have to wear my kilt tonight. Hayelp?"

Don't worry about it, my Mrs keeps me straight too and she's Turkish but with excellent taste. It's the refined taste that counts if you're not following the absolutely tradtional directive.

If you see pictures of me dressed immaculately, it's my wife's influence. If you see pictures of me looking like a lemon, it's me.

I think we are in the same boat

Since you asked: Horsehair sporrans, spats, feather bonnets and long plaids label the wearer a wannabe piper/drummer. It's a bit like wearing medals/rank badges you haven't earned. Dirks are for killing people. Wish I got invited to a few more white tie funtions so I could justify the cost of a montrose jacket and jabot. Tartan waistcoats and ties are a good way of demonstrating your heritage/affiliation when you have to wear trousers;They should never be worn with the kilt. In a day or evening formal setting dress according to tradition ( not history! ). In a casual setting almost anything goes except for baseball caps, which should be reserved for your inevitable audience with Satan should you transgress. It is of course your human right to dress as tastelessly as you wish. Now, who will bite?

I'll bite.

Would you play nice and be a bit more self-reflexive? You have expressed a good many opinions but not bothered to present how you have formed them.

You say to dress according to tradition but not to wear a tartan waistcoat with the kilt; I was under the impression that it was perfectly traditional, though not too common. Same goes for horsehair sporrans. This I have gathered from older photos and opinions expressed by some expert Xmarkers.

And in your circle of acquaintances, are people often getting killed by dirks?

I would certainly agree that wearing medals or badges that one has not earned is disrespectful. That's just common sense.