Getting dressed may seem like a pretty easy process...we do it every day after all.
But the details in highlandwear can make it a wee bit trickier than, let's say, a suit.

This guide aims to share a smooth dressing sequence, garment by garment, enabling you to effortlessly compose a perfect highlandwear ensemble.

How to put on your kilt outfit, step by step

  • Step 1: Shirt (and underwear !) 

    Start with your shirt, selecting a suitable collar for your choice of straight, bow or cravat tie ( and don't forget your pants...but we hope that goes without saying ! )

  • Step 2: Kilt socks & Flashes

    Next, put on your kilt socks and flashes - pull the sock all the way on, then strap the garters of the flashes underneath the bottom of your knees. The flashes sit on the outsides of the calves. Now fold the top welt of the socks back down over the garters of the flashes, covering them and leaving just a few inches of the flashes showing. Short gents may need to double up the fold over of the socks.

  • Step 3: Kilt

    Now for your kilt - wrap the kilt around your body, making sure the waistband is sitting snugly around your natural waist (where your belly button is) - you will need to pull the straps as tight as you can to ensure the kilt remains in the correct position.

  • Step 4: Waistcoat

    Time to add your tie and cufflinks (you may want a little assistance at this point ) then the waistcoat goes on next, adjusting the back slider for a neat fit.

    Remember- if you are wearing a tweed jacket, leave the bottom button undone.

  • Step 5: Sporran

    It's now time for the sporran - use the waistcoat opening as a guide to help you, and measure one handspan down from the waistband of the kilt/ bottom button of the waistcoat to the top of the sporran (you may need a mate to help you pull the sporran chain through the large sporran loops at the back of the kilt and fasten ).

  • Step 6: Jacket

    Next, put on your jacket and pull your shirt cuffs to straighten your sleeves comfortably, leaving around an inch of shirt cuff visible 

    Simply wear your jacket unbuttoned over your waistcoat (or if buttoning, only do the top button) 

  • Step 7: Brogues

    Put on your brogues. 

    Our video in the next section shares our foolproof method of how to correctly tie ghillie brogues (ensuring the laces don't fall down ! ) 

  • Step 8: Kilt Pin

    Now is the time to add the Kilt Pin - this is not only a stylish flourish, but should be weighty enough to make your kilt apron behave in blustery weather (and keep your cheeks from turning red ! )

  • Step 9: Sgian Dubh

    ...complete your outfit essentials with the sgian dubh! Make sure to tuck this inside the sock on the side of your writing hand, running down the outside of the leg. Only about an inch of the top of the sgian dubh is left visible above the top of the sock.

How To Tie Ghillie Brogues

There's a knack to tying ghillie brogues and the following video aims to give you a step by step guide on how to tie them securely and neatly.

A common mistake people make is tying them way to high up the leg and spending the rest of the party constantly tying their shoe laces - not with our method!

How to tie ghillie brogues, step by step

  • Step 1

    Sizing is important, we recommend going a half size down for ghillie brogues as, due to the lack of tongue, they tend to feel quite wide.

  • Step 2

    Put your feet into the ghillie brogues and firmly pull the laces so they are even and your foot is comfortable.

  • Step 3

    Start by twisting (not knotting) the laces four times around each other, at the front of your ankle, close to the top of the ghillie brougue.

  • Step 4

    Now pass the laces around the ankle to the back of your leg and twist them around each other twice - keep low and close to your ankle, as the further up your leg you tie the laces, the more likely they are to fall down.

  • Step 5

    Pass the laces around your leg to the front of your ankle again and cross, before tying the laces on the outside of your lower leg. Make a double knot as you would your brogues or trainers normally.

  • Step 6

    Ready to go!