Re-enactment / historical question

[Tetley]

It seems that I will be attending one of the many re-enactments that go on over the Summer months in Britain, I am not sure which one it will be as yet, but I do know that it will be either 14 or 15 century since the lady that invited me belongs to both those groups.

X Marks does seem to have quite a number of members that go to re-enactments or the American equivalent and it is to them that I am addressing this question.

I can put together a Great Kilt from one of the double-wide cloths I have for making "modern" kilts with a suitable belt, the cloth is a modern tartan, Austin Ancient to be exact, which is the wrong century by quite a margin, but I already have it, so I will use it anyway, but the question of what else I should wear with it springs to mind.

Browsing around the Internet does give a huge variety of pictures and advice but to be honest, most of the photos show what I would call a relatively modern version of what to wear with a Great Kilt.

Now, I do not want to spend any more money than I need to on this, preferably none at all if I can manage it, especially since I do not know, as yet, whether or not I will go to any more re-enactments. So my question is, after all this rambling pre-amble, what would be good to wear to show that I am trying to fit in, but not totally authentic, which I cannot afford at present.

I wear a kilt everyday, so I have the normal things like sgian dubh, hose, leather sporran, leather shoes and any number of shirts including a jacobian style shirt and a great Heritage Shirt from Kevin at Empire Canvas Works and I am a pretty fair tailor and knitter if things need to be made.

So, your suggestions and advice would be appreciated especially since the most likely event is at the end of August.

Mark

[M. A. C. Newsome]

If the reenactment is 14th or 15th century, then the great kilt itself (or feilidh-mor) is incorrect. The earliest documented evidence for that garment is c. 1594, and you would need to look for sources c. 1300-1500 to fit your time period.

Here is one source where you can purchase clothing from that era.
http://historicenterprises.com/

[Tetley]

I could not see anything scottish on that site and I doubt very much if the scots of the time would wear dublet and hose. However, your point is taken about the earliest known great kilt.

Still, just because the earliest known date is circa 1594 do not mean to say that something like that was not worn, just that there is no record of it.

So, the question then becomes, what did the scots wear in this time period?

Also I should reiterate my budgetary requirements for little or no cost.

Mark

[HeathBar]

I guess we would need a little more information. When you say re-enactment, do you mean these are people you are trying to acurately portray a certain time period in Scotland? Such as those who recreate Culloden and other battles. Or do they just like to dress up in period dress and eat smoked turkey legs? We have both over here. The first kind are very serious about getting everything correct and spend extreme amounts of time and money getting their persona correct. The other kind are usually part of the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) group. These usually host the Ren-Faires where there is a broad range of period dress. While there are some in the SCA who are very serious about their persona, not everyone there takes historical accuracy in consideration. For them its all about having a good time.

So what did Scots in that time period wear? Well, it would depend on what part of Scotland they lived and what their social status was. I would imagine that the lowland Scots would have worn what the rest of Europe was wearing as the fasion of the day since that part of Scotland was accessible to the rest of Europe. So it could have been those doublets and hose. Especially for the well-to-do.

I would ask your friend as she would probably be the best source of how other men there will be dressed. She might even be able to scrounge somehting up for you. Sometimes these people have extra bits that they've put asside as they improved their look. I guess the important part is to have fun.

[Tetley]

I guess we would need a little more information. When you say re-enactment, do you mean these are people you are trying to acurately portray a certain time period in Scotland? Such as those who recreate Culloden and other battles. Or do they just like to dress up in period dress and eat smoked turkey legs? We have both over here. The first kind are very serious about getting everything correct and spend extreme amounts of time and money getting their persona correct. The other kind are usually part of the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) group. These usually host the Ren-Faires where there is a broad range of period dress. While there are some in the SCA who are very serious about their persona, not everyone there takes historical accuracy in consideration. For them its all about having a good time.

Judging by the stories I have been told by the lady in question these re-enactment are trying to accurately portray various battles such as the Battle of Tewskbury last weekend. These re-enactments go on all over the country including a trip to France the weekend after next to re-enact Versailles. My thought is to go as an itinerant scot, if there is such a thing, but my main thought is not to embarrass the lady by my ignorance, hence the question.

[macwilkin]

Now, I do not want to spend any more money than I need to on this, preferably none at all if I can manage it, especially since I do not know, as yet, whether or not I will go to any more re-enactments. So my question is, after all this rambling pre-amble, what would be good to wear to show that I am trying to fit in, but not totally authentic, which I cannot afford at present.

As a former reeenactor, I would suggest contacting a local reenacting group and talking to them first before investing money in "the hobby". Most reenacting units/groups will have a "probationary" period for new members to allow them to try things out and see if they like reenacting enough to invest so much time and money.

In addition, some groups will have "loaner" clothes and/or equipment.

From personal experience: research your period before you take the field, and seek out "old veterans" for their counsel and advice, especially when you start buying kit.

Todd

[fortcollinsjerry]

Still, just because the earliest known date is circa 1594 do not mean to say that something like that was not worn, just that there is no record of it.

Mark

and Mark, that is the rub many proto-reenactors think should be the rule. Unfortunately, it is not! The whole point of doing reenacting is you are expected to become a historical archeologist (SP) of sorts. Delving into the written and/or visual arts to have the provanance of everything you wear or own. Otherwise you just wind up looking like a rag bag of different parts and pieces from different times. There is no record of something because it didn't exist then. What do you think all that stuff in museums is all about. Just about everything that has ever been made by humans is in a museum or in a work of art somewhere.

The technological mentality of the era is important as well. You can't possibley be in character with a damascas steel dirk on you hip because that technology did not exist anywhere else other than in North Africa. Modern black smiths and knife makers didn't discover that technology untill late in the 20th cantury.

Using your premis "If they had of had it they would have usd it" simply isn't the best approach and sometimes you will embarass youself showing up in something that couldn't possibley had been in use in the time your living in. Really, we can't advise you what to wear because we don't know "Who" you are going to be and in what era you existed. Finally, for gods sake don't show up with a stainless seel anything.

[george7]

I couldn't imagine dressing as a 17th century peasant being more expensive than dressing as a 21st century college student.

[macwilkin]

I couldn't imagine dressing as a 17th century peasant being more expensive than dressing as a 21st century college student.

You'd be surprised. Historically accurate period reproductions of clothing and kit can be quite expensive. Just ask any of the gents here who do Revy. War impressions.

Todd

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I agree with Todd. If you want to do this for "little or no" cost to you, your best bet is to borrow some garb from one of the members of the reenactment group.

By the way, I hear it said all the time that "just because the first documented evidence of the great kilt was 1594 doesn't mean it wasn't worn before that date." Which is perfectly true, of course. However, usually it is being said in order to justify wearing the great kilt for reenactments from 100 or 200 years prior to the date in question. While I would accept someone wearing the great kilt for a period of a decade or two before 1594, for the reason stated, there really is absolutely no reason to assume anything like the great kilt was worn in the fourteenth or fifteenth centuries.

What would have been worn by the Highland Gaelic Scots at the time would have been very much like contemporary Irish dress. What would have been worn by Lowland Scots would have been very much like contemporary English dress -- which you can easily find on the web site that I referred to.