The Style Guy: he’s gotcha covered
Dear Style Guy,
I’m refurbishing a doublet for my nephew to wear and it is missing some buttons. We’re an Irish pipe band so the buttons are gold with a harp on them. Do you have any idea where to find gold buttons with harps?
Or do I cut them off a doublet that is too small for anyone but hobbits to wear?
Second, I have heavy calves and find the regular piper’s hose binding. Do you know where I can find bottle green hose for wide calves?
Thanks so much, Style Guy!
Cailin NicBlousdaidh
To be sure, to be sure! Honestly, I have a drawer full of Royal Irish Rangers’ buttons, and I believe that you may want to start with this regiment. Check military surplus shops, or, yes, sacrifice the jackets of a few leprechauns.
Your other question is easy, to be sure, to be sure! I am not a fan of those flimsy hose. Proper socks for pipers and drummers should come off of a knitting needle, by a seasoned craftsperson using 100 per cent wool. If you don’t have access to a wee Highland knit-wit, then check around with good Highland dress dealers. (Check here for the ones that might be more helpful than others.) The better ones will have cultivated contacts who knit hose to spec. These are not cheap, but they are worth every punt, or euro. Be sure to be precise with measurements, and ensure the tops are built to fold down up and down. And the bottle-green colour sounds like just the thing.
What of the brown ghillies?
Buttons: try Firmins of London, who can be found quite easily by Googling for firmins buttons””
I’m waiting to see who’s gonna be first to wear jackets with the players” name and number across the back…or white Ghillies to contrast against the black hose…or worn and faded denim kilts with leather jackets and studs for the”terminator” look…or chain pipe cords…or tartan Bermuda shorts with pith helmets in the hotter locales…or designer sporrans by Gucchi…or leather kilts with Kodiak work boots on a rainy muddy field for better traction and water repellent properties…or clear multi-coloured drum shells…yeah…that’s the ticket!”