A kilt is the centrepiece of a highlandwear outfit, but the right accessories are what bring everything together. Whether you’re attending a wedding as a guest, part of the wedding party or getting married yourself, there are a few traditional accessories to consider alongside your kilt.
What are the essential accessories for a kilt?
The accessories you need will depend on how formal you want your outfit to be, but a traditional kilt outfit usually includes a sporran, kilt hose, flashes, a sgian dubh and kilt shoes or brogues.
A sporran is worn at the front of the kilt and provides the pocket space that a kilt doesn’t have. Kilt hose are worn below the knee, with flashes helping to keep them in place while adding another opportunity to introduce colour to your outfit. For footwear, traditional brogues are a popular choice, particularly for formal occasions.
These pieces create the foundation of a kilt outfit, but the rest of your accessories can be chosen to suit the style and formality of the wedding.
What should I wear with a formal wedding outfit?
For a more formal wedding outfit, a Prince Charlie jacket and waistcoat is a traditional choice. This is usually worn with a formal shirt, bow tie, kilt hose, flashes, a sporran, and dress brogues.
Accessories such as a kilt pin, cufflinks and a pocket watch can then be added as finishing touches. A sgian dubh is also traditionally worn tucked into the top of the kilt hose.
For a particularly formal wedding, keeping your accessories classic and coordinated can help the whole outfit feel polished without taking attention away from the tartan.
What should I wear with a contemporary wedding outfit?
A contemporary kilt outfit gives you a little more freedom to mix traditional highlandwear with modern styling. An Argyll jacket and waistcoat, for example, can be dressed up or down depending on the wedding.
You might choose a traditional sporran and kilt hose but swap a bow tie for a ruche tie, or choose a more modern shirt and waistcoat combination. Tweed jackets and waistcoats can also work particularly well for relaxed weddings.
The accessories don’t all have to match perfectly. Mixing textures, colours and materials can give the outfit a more modern feel while still keeping the kilt at the centre.
How do I choose accessories that work with my tartan?
Your tartan is a good starting point when choosing accessories. Look at the colours within the tartan and consider whether you want your accessories to complement or contrast with them.
For example, brown leather brogues, a brown sporran and warm-toned accessories can work particularly well with earthy tartans. Black leather is a more versatile option and works with almost any tartan.
You can also use your accessories to pick out a less obvious colour in your tartan. Kilt hose, flashes, ties and waistcoats can all be used to introduce another colour without making the outfit feel too coordinated.
If you’re unsure, it can help to start with the tartan and jacket, then build the accessories around them rather than trying to choose everything at once.
Do I need every traditional kilt accessory?
Not at all! There are plenty of traditional kilt accessories available, but you don’t need to wear every single one to create a complete outfit.
The accessories you choose should reflect the occasion and your personal style. A sporran, kilt hose and flashes are a good starting point, while items such as a kilt pin, sgian dubh, cufflinks or pocket watch can be added as finishing touches.
The important thing is that the outfit feels comfortable and appropriate for the occasion. There’s plenty of room to make a kilt outfit your own.
Can I buy kilt accessories separately?
Absolutely! Kilt accessories don’t have to be purchased as part of a complete outfit. You can buy individual pieces to add to an existing kilt outfit or replace something you already own.
Whether you need a new sporran, a pair of flashes to match a different tartan, or a fresh pair of kilt hose for an upcoming wedding, individual accessories can be bought separately.
At MacGregor and MacDuff, you can browse individual kilt accessories alongside kilts, jackets, waistcoats and other highlandwear, making it easy to build or update your outfit piece by piece.
