What would you choose?

[Bogus Piper]

If you could "delete" one item of our "costume," what would it be? (Costume defined as summer time competetion gear.) For me, I would make a new rule forbidding the wearing of any jacket. It's way too hot (in N.A.) to wear it and it is too restrictive on playing. Oh sure, it looks fine, but c'mon!

[JRM]

Easy....HAT !
Not really practical for any type of weather.

[Lonny B.]

I second the hat... I look stupid in hats of anykind.. not looking forward to wearing smeggin hats.

[Ross McMahon]

I wouldn't change anything about what we wear. Just the prices. I'd love to get a silver mounted sgian dubh but cannot afford one at the moment.
Ross

[Gord™ ©1980]

I would change nothing!

I am glad the days of full dress are almost past and am happy with what is considered "standard dress" these days. I have no beefs with anything I wear.

:hatoff:
Cheers,
ME

[Iain Sherwood]

I'd forbid the wearing of black jackets, except at funerals. I'd also boot out white socks, unless the kilt worn had a preponderance of white in it.

Bands today look like gaggles of Scottish penguins.

[Jonny Ives]

How about this for a band look:

Get rid of the kilt.

Sorry, the door was open, I had to get that one in there before someone else did.

[Dave Sanderson]

I'm with you Jonny, with the temperature getting what it is in the summer I vote for khaki shorts or something. At least on parade then buckle on the kilt for the comp's.

As I am typeing this it is snowing like a son of a gun out the window and will be -25 with the wind chill tonight !!

Dave

[Victoria Crowe]

Originally posted by Iain Sherwood:
I'd forbid the wearing of black jackets, except at funerals. I'd also boot out white socks, unless the kilt worn had a preponderance of white in it.

Bands today look like gaggles of Scottish penguins.I'm with ya on the white hose Iain! I loved the look of the tweed jackets, but after I tried on several different colors with my kilt, they just looked like mud. The black jacket sharpens it up! (Not that I want to wear it when it's hot and sunny out! hoochie mama!)

[AllisonB aka Sweet Reed]

The Glengarry! Most definately the glengarry! I think it makes most folks look like a pinhead or conehead (I'm from France!) :lol:
I would rather not wear a hat at all, but if I have to wear a hat I would much rather wear a balmoral.

[Ross McMahon]

I think black jackets are great. The argyll can be worn during the day as well through the evening. Black jackets are great for pipers who play weddings and funerals. It gives a polished look.
I could't agree more with you on the white socks issue Iain. I can't stand the ones with the popcorn tops. Who's idea was that.
Ross McMahon

[Iain Sherwood]

Black jackets are great for pipers who play weddings and funerals. It gives a polished look. Actually, it doesn't, because an Argyll jacket is NOT considered to be correct for evening wear. If you're going to be a 'professional' piper, you should invest in the proper clothing for a professional. For funerals or informal weddings, a tweed jacket (preferably other than Ettrick tweed) or a charcoal tweed jacket, worn with a black armband for a funeral, is correct.

For formal weddings, you need an evening jacket - and diced or tartan hose. This crap about 'white hose being proper for evening wear' was foisted on the public by kilt hire agencies thirty years ago. Get a Prince Charlie if you must (makes you look like a waiter at MacDonald's), but a Regulation is preferable, with a dirk if you can afford it.

Again, if you don't have it or can't afford it, don't sweat it; but if you are doing gigs outwith a band, there's no reason to wear a band uniform.

[Spunky]

I also hate the white hose, especially the popcorn ones.
I don't feel any more items of our uniforms should be dropped. People all over North America are already far too casual with their dress. There was a band in Montreal this year who thought they would get away with T-shirts and baseball caps. WRONG! Why ruin a good thing?
I think we should ban the bands who wear full dress in a disgusting manner with all their bells and whistles attached. Full dress looks great when not over done. Mind you, I'm not about to compete in it.

[JRM]

Originally posted by Spunk:
..There was a band in Montreal this year who thought they would get away with T-shirts and baseball caps. WRONG! Why ruin a good thing?..
Who were they and how did they do?

[Gord™ ©1980]

Who were they and how did they do? Glengarry Gr. II! They played very well!! However, they were disqualified.

Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

:hatoff:
Cheers,
ME

[Andrew Adams]

C'mon guys. This is too easy. Ghillies. There's nothing like playing in bare feet. At least on grass. I will never forget marching in massed bands at Western Massachussets wearing sandles. Very comfortable.

Andrew (who actually competed in drumming as above games wearing same sandles. Good thing the table hid my feet from the judge) :lol:

[Vermont Piper]

Easily those BIG, HUGE, CLUNKY belts and buckles. If you wear a vest, you can't wear the belt because it adds about 4" to your waitline - then to get a vest that fits OVER the belt, it's so big up top that the bag moves around (mayhap this is just a FEMALE problem???!!!!). Ditch the belt!!!!

Jackie

[John McCain]

Originally posted by Jackie:
If you wear a vest, you can't wear the belt because it adds about 4" to your waitline...Per the "rules" I've read (I think in the So You're Going to Wear the Kilt book), one should not wear both a vest and a belt. It's one or the other.

Glad I could help.
Best, John

[Ross McMahon]

I've worn a vest and a belt. I guess it is a girl thing. Why aren't you supposed to wear a vest with a belt? Rules Rules Rules.
Ross

[jimc]

My band wears black jackets, and we take the option of not wearing them in hot weather and at most competitions. I wouldn't change a thing about what we wear,a band looks finished with a black jacket. At competitions,unless otherwise specified,we opt not to wear the jackets as they are very restrictive,and you don't need another thing to think about!! I wore a balmoral for years and I can tell u they are the worst thing we could've worn. Was very happy when we went back to glens!! Balmorals to me look like a poancake on top of ur head!!lol,but they look good on some bands,depends on how u wear them. :thumb: And in case anyone's interested,we have a box full of Balmorals that are unused :wink: .Jim,PM,Jervis Bay Pipe Band.

[tallbagpiper]

I wouldn't change a thing. Our summer parade uniform is our kilt and a tan shirt, diced hose, spats and glen. Also a crossbelt and waist belt.
:smokin: :smokin:
And, I wear the whole rig to my favorite Irish Pub (Johnny's in Rochester, NY) where the ladies LOVE it.

Ahhhh, to be younger and single again. Someday my sons will know why I'm so i pushy about them playing the pipes. :wink:

[bgpipes]

Balmorals suck!!!!! For every good looking balmoral being worn...there are ten that look like fresh cow-turds...GLENS FOREVER!!!!

[JRM]

Glens, balmorals, tams, feather bonnets.....all the same. Nice tan line / sunburn. Lose the darn things and wear something practical if you must wear something. Time to stop making games into a fashion contest.

[SDowns]

Sgians Dubhs and dirks.

[Dave Sanderson]

You'll take my dirk from my cold dead fingers.

[Emmet Bondurant]

I like all of my kit, regardless of how much of it I'm wearing, and in what configuration. On the other hand, I'm not in a band, so I wear what I want, dependent of course upon the occasion.

[Bill Mc]

The Jacket and Belt. I'm too fat as it is. The coat and belt make me uncomfortable as H@!! Suspenders feel a lot better. If I realy had my way it would be shorts and muscle shirt in summer and Track pants and TShirt in winter

[Ron Teague]

I'd have to vote for that which is under the kilt. It causes too much trouble an has a mind of its own.

cheers

Ron Teague
the cheesy piobaireachd player
wounded but still obnoxious

[lonewlf4]

Personally, I'd like to lose the tie. The kilt is great, I can live with the glen and the funky tan line and hat head, but, Lord, I loath that tie.
:humm:

[FD Piper]

Ditch the spats!!!

FD piper :D

[HotScot]

I second ditching the big clunky belt, and I look totally stupid in the Glen. When my band does gigs I always seem to "forget" my glen. For the past 4 years they haven't seemed to catch on that I'm not going to wear that stupid glen, they always ask me where my glen is & I keep telling them I must have forgotten it, again. :humm:

[Ross McMahon]

Hey Elaine.
I hope no one from your band reads your post as you've just let the cat of the bag.

Brilliant just brilliant

Ross McMahon

[JRM]

Originally posted by Dave Sanderson:
You'll take my dirk from my cold dead fingers. Whatever you say Mr. Heston..

[revhaggis]

It seems to me that many pipers have already deleted one item of clothing. :wow: Beyond that, I would delete nothing. I love full dress - even on the hottest and most humid of days. :woohoo:

[Brendan Dunne]

Sir Bill - for the reasons you state, I must ask kindly that you refrain from the (ahem) "muscle shirt". :lol:

Originally posted by Bill Mc:
The Jacket and Belt. I'm too fat as it is. The coat and belt make me uncomfortable as H@!! Suspenders feel a lot better. If I realy had my way it would be shorts and muscle shirt in summer and Track pants and TShirt in winter

[John]

NO NO, Don't get rid of the hat (Balmoral, whatever), for your own sakes! The blinding light off my head will blind you. Plus I would get sunburnt!

I thought the rules said, wear your band uniform. I don't think Jackets are required. Have a summer uniform of not jackets. We just were short sleeve white shirts and ties (and hats and kilts, etc.)

And sunglasses, oops, that was a different topic.

Stay cool, John :woohoo: