With highlandwear, the focus is always around the kilt, and rightly so. The tartan, the swing of the pleats, there’s a lot to love about a kilt, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle when it comes to a full highlandwear outfit. A lot of the time, kilt accessories are overlooked or left as an afterthought which is a shame as the accessories are arguably the most fun part of buying a kilt outfit. The accessories are also where you are able to add a touch of personal style to your highlandwear look and therefore should be given as much thought as choosing your tartan gets.
So, what accessories do you need to think about when buying a kilt outfit?
Sporrans and Sgian Dubhs
Sporrans and Sgian Dubhs are the most traditional highlandwear accessory and both have historical significance. A sporran would have been used as an everyday item to carry food and tools. A sgian dubh was used as a multi-functional tool that a highlander would carry, either in the sporran or within the folds of the great kilt.
When choosing a sporran you have a multitude of furs, colours, cantles and designs to choose from. You can choose to match your sporran to your outfit or choose to get something bold and striking. When selecting a sgian dubh, the choices are equally great. You can choose to buy a sgian dubh with a simple design and colour or choose something bright with gems and an intricate design. There are even options with bottle openers on the blade, so while a sgian dubh is mainly there for decoration, buying one with the ability to open drinks can make for a great conversation starter. Sporrans and Sgian Dubhs are a great way to bring in your personal style to your outfit and because the options are so vast, take your time and get something that really showcases your personality.
Kilt Pins and Cufflinks
Kilt pins and Cufflinks should match your sporran and sgian dubh, for example, if you have an antique cantle on your sporran, you should try to match them by metal or at least colour. The kilt pin is attached to the front apron of your kilt and adds a little extra weight to it. This helps keep the apron closer to the rest of the kilt without actually attaching it shut. Kilt pins come in various shapes, sizes and colours. Popular options have a sword or thistle designs. As for cufflinks, these also come in a wide range of metals and colours but it is probably easier to choose your kilt pin first and then find cufflinks to match.
Brogues and Flashes
Looking at the lower portion of a kilt outfit and working your way up, you’ll first need to consider what type of brogues you’ll want to wear. There are two main types to choose from, ghillie and day. Ghillie brogues have long laces and no tongue whereas day brogues are more like normal suit brogues. Once you decide on the type of brogue, the next step is to choose the colour. The standard options are brogues made from either brown or black leather. Brown matches really well with navy tartans and bronze kilt accessories whereas black is a really versatile choice. You can even go a step further and opt for tartan brogues if you really want to stand out from the crowd.
Flashes are worn at the top of the sock and are worn to add flare to your outfit as well as help keep your kilt socks up. You can choose to wear plain coloured flashes or tartan flashes that match your kilt. Both options are equally acceptable and your choice will come down to personal style preference.
Kilt Neckwear
What you wear around your neck will be dictated by the type of shirt your wear. Typically, winged collared shirts are worn with a bow or ruche tie and normal collared shirts are worn with a straight tie. Bow ties and straight ties are available in block colour options or tartan to match your kilt. Ruche ties are available in 16 different vibrant colours and come pre-tied for convenience.
Storage
We often speak of a kilt being an investment that you can cherish for a lifetime. This statement is very true but it’s important to store your kilt correctly to make sure you get that lifetime of use out of it and to make sure it is ready to be worn for when your next event comes up. A kilt roll is a brilliant accessory for people looking to travel with their kilt. Whether it be an overnight stay or a fortnight holiday, a kilt roll will allow your kilt to look as good as it did when you set off on your travels. A kilt wardrobe is also a great option for storing your kilt at home, protecting it from dust and critters while still allowing the wool to breathe. These simple items can help prolong the life of your kilt as well as help it maintain its readiness to be worn.As you can see, there are so many items that go into creating your kilt outfit and your choice of options for each is endless. The result will be an outfit that is uniquely yours and one that tells a story of your style and personality. So if you're thinking about buying a kilt or kilt outfit, don’t just spend your time looking at tartans, you’ve got a lot of other fun and exciting decisions to make. For any questions about or range of highlandwear accessories, email info@macgregorandmacduff.co.uk