THE WEARIN' O' THE KILT

Paradoxically the Scottish Kilt is an extremely masculine garment and when of correct length (top of knee cap), is becoming in most males. It is only when badly made and worn with the wrong accessories that it is an acute embarrassment except apparently to the wearer.

In order to save your friends this kind of embarrassment we have prepared this short monograph on the kilt as informal day wear for a Hanna clansman.

The normal requirement is a kilt, a leather sporran and plain knee length stockings. With this you wear a pair of strong black leather walking shoes, a broad leather belt and a white or plain sports shirt. The shirt should be worn open-necked or with a tweed tie, not a bow tie.

If you normally wear a hat you can add a bonnet. This is usually a Balmoral which has a round band with a loose (not full) crown and ribbons down the back, it has a small button tassel on the crown and a rosette at the side for the Clan Badge. The Balmoral comes in navy blue or fawn or lovat. The two latter are more usual with civilian dress. The boat shaped Glengarry is attractive but, normally a military headgear.

The final item for general day wear is the short Argyll jacket. It is made of rough tweed and is generally in brown or lovat. Do not wear a long sports jacket with the kilt. The cromach (long thumb stick) is best left to the natives as it is apt to get between your legs. Coloured garter flashes may be worn, but a Sgian-Dhu (ski-an-do) to stick in the stocking top is unnecessary.

Highland evening dress is quite splendid and should be fitted by a good tailor. Don't mix informal day wear with formal evening wear, e.g. Matching tartan stockings are for the ballroom, not the Games.

These requirements should not normally be exceeded unless of course you intend to go on the stage as a Harry Lauder look-a-like.