How To Wear – Houston Kiltmakers Blog

Constantly increasing in popularity, Tweed Jackets are now the go to choice for an all round jacket. Tweed jackets can be wore with a variety of outfits, giving you a range of different looks. We stock several hundred Tweeds to chose from and are the only place in the world where you can see swatches of all Scottish and English mills Tweeds in-store!

Crail Tweed Jacket and Classic Waistcoat

Where to Wear Your Tweed Jacket

The flexibility of a Tweed Jacket means that is can be worn at both day and informal occasions. You can wear a Tweed Jacket to complete a Highland Kilt outfit for day events like weddings, highland games, funerals, ceilidhs, parties, dinners etc. A Tweed Jacket without epaulettes can be worn like a sports jacket, even with jeans, chinos or trousers – giving you a 3 in 1 jacket!

A Tweed Jacket is suitable for almost any occasion, but should NOT be worn to a Black Tie event. (A dark navy or black tweed jacket may be acceptable for Black Tie events, but not recommended.)

How to Wear your Tweed Jacket

Jackets should be worn with plain, tweed or tartan ties or ruche cravats, with optional five button waistcoat.

The best choice of shirt to match with a Tweed Jacket is a standard collar shirt. For some weddings, spread bat wing shirts can be worn with a ruche cravat. We recommend you wear a semi dress, day or dress sporran depending on your shirt and tie option. When choosing your hose you must pick a colour similar to that of your jacket for example you may choose grey or black if your shirt and sporran are black. Off white hose must NEVER be worn with a tweed jacket.

Tweed Jacket Styles

On Houstons Made to Measure Tweed Jackets we offer 3 basic styles, each determined by the cuff option selected:

Cuff Style Options for our Made to Measure Tweed Jackets Crail, Argyll and Braemar

Note: Any cuff style can be made and designed by yourself to meet your own style and fit.

Crail

The Crail Jacket has an all round functional look with a straight cuff and a single button. This jacket can be worn to both formal and casual occasions. Ideal day wear Jacket and has the flexibility to worn casually, even suitable with jeans or chinos.

Argyll

An Argyll Jacket can be recognized by the gauntlet cuff, which add a little bit of bulk to the sleeve. More formal than the Crail cuff, ideal for day wear or for a more prestigious day event.

Braemar

The Braemar Jacket follows the same button style on the cuff as the Prince Charlie cuff – a series of buttons vertically on the forearm of the cuff.

One, Two and Three Button Options on our Tweed Jackets

Jacket Customization

Our Made to Measure Tweed Jackets are tailored for your every need, with every little styling detail adjustable to create the perfect jacket for you. We stock all Scottish, English and some Irish Tweeds with 1000s to choose from. Harris Tweed and Wool Cashmere mix are also available on request. We also offer over 100 different lining colour options to get your jacket looking perfect.

Some of the Custom Details on our Tweed Jackets

Some of the other options for customization include pocket number and position, jacket lining, epaulettes, button style and number of buttons, added buttonhole, contrast trimming & stitching and Tartan inlays.
Embroidered initials and Clan Crests are also available on the inside pockets of our Made to Measure Jackets.

Epaulettes can be added in different styles to the shoulders of your Jacket (Plain or Pleated) – Epaulettes should only be worn with a Highland Outfit (Kilt or Tartan Trews).

The Epaulette options for our Tweed Jackets: None, Plain and Pleated

There are several button options for your Bespoke Tweed Jacket – we recommend Imitation or Real Stag Horn as they give the jacket the finest look. Stag Horn buttons have a great day wear look and give the jacket an authentic feel.

Brown/Black Leather, Real and Imitation Stag Horn and Metal Buttons available in several finishes

As you can see, Tweed Jackets are the perfect flexible choice for your Highland Outfit – a Jacket to add to your wardrobe to give your Highland Outfit an alternative to a formal Jacket.

You can look through our customizable Made to Measure Tweed Jackets on our website, or contact the store by phone (+44(0)141 889 4879) or email (sho[email protected]) and we can run through all the options. If you pop into the shop we will be more than happy to show you all the Tweeds we have available and can so you all the custom details that you can choose from! If you can’t make it to the shop you can use our helpful Self-Measurement Guide to send us your sizes!

If you have ever seen someone dressed in a Kilt or Highland Outfit you might have noticed, peeking out the top of one of the wearers hose, a hilt of a small knife. This little detail on the Highland Outfit is the topic of today’s post, the Sgian Dubh.

The correct Wearing of a Sgian Dubh

History of the Sgian Dubh

There are many origin stories of the Sgian Dubh (pronounced ‘ski-en doo’), but the most common tale is that it had its beginnings as a dagger held under the armpit as a hidden blade. When entering a house a visitor would hand over his weapons and reveal any hidden blades as an act of trust. This hidden blade would be displayed at the top of the sock or stocking for the host to see. This is the position where the Sgian Dubh is worn today.

In the early days these small knives would have been used as a hunters knife to skin animals.

In the modern Highland Outfit the Sgian Dubh has taken a more aesthetic than practical role, adding some decoration to the Kilt Hose.

How to Wear a Sgian Dubh

A Sgian Dubh should be worn down the sock on the same side as your dominant hand (Left sock if left-handed, right sock if you are right-handed.) It should be positioned with only the hilt (handle) protruding from the top of your hose. (See image)

Types of Sgian Dubh

Dress Sgian Dubh with Purple Gemstone in the Hilt

In the same way that there are different types of Sporrans for different occasions, Sgian Dubh have variations for when you are wearing them. There are 2 main types of Sgian Dubh.

Day Sgian Dubh

Simlarly to the Day Sporran, these Sgian Dubhs are made for less formal events. The handles can produced in many different materials from Stag Horn to Oak and everything in between!

Dress Sgian Dubh

Again, much like the Dress Sporran, these Sgian Dubhs are suited to formal events (Weddings, Black Tie events etc.). These also come in many variations, often with the option of customization with a clan crest. They come in many different materials, usually with some metal plating. They can also be made in solid silver for those very special functions! Many variations have a decorative gemstone at the base of the hilt, which can be changed.

Safety Sgian Dubh

This replica Sgian Dubh looks just like the real thing, however the sheath does not contain a blade. This is a great safe option for kids (and adults!) to prevent themselves getting cut on the blade. A Safety Sgian Dubh can also be worn in situations where it isn’t possible to carry a blade – traveling overseas to some destinations for instance.

A Safety Imitation Sgian Dubh - Looks just like the real thing!

As you can see there are Sgian Dubh’s for every occasion. All are worn the same, but can give your outfit a different look depending on the event you are wearing your Highland Outfit too!

Houston’s offer a wide range of both Dress and Day Sgian Dubh’s, some with the option of having Clan Crests attached, customizable Gemstone colours and a variety of finishes.

You can see our range of Sgian Dubh’s here.