How to wear Highland Dress

[neloon]

Although aimed at the piping community, this article may be of more general interest.
http://pipingpress.com/highland-dres...ighland-dress/

Alan

[Jock Scot]

I think that I have seen this before on Xmarks Alan? Nevertheless, I can find little to disagree with, even though I have nothing to do with piping. Well worth a kilt beginner studying in depth.

[OC Richard]

Yes this article was discussed earlier, but it might take a while to find the thread.

Though I agree with most of what he says, and I too am disappointed to see these faux-pas being committed at every Games, I do disagree with a few points.

First, the photos.

The top photo purports to show incorrect dress. In spite of what he says about it, the Glengarry seems to fit well and is worn normally and properly- his military background showing through! I could post a hundred photos of military men wearing their Glengarries just so.

He doesn't like the wearing of a vest (note he uses that word, not waistcoat) without jacket and I agree. The vest-only look has become standard now, and I'm tired of it. He seems to be saying that only a bow tie is appropriate for a black Barathea vest, and in this he's probably correct, and this is universally violated by pipe bands nowadays.

He says the sporran is too low and indeed the modern fashion is to wear it, if anything, too high. I could post a hundred photos of civilians and military men alike wearing the sporran that low.

The lower photo purports to show correct dress.

However he's wearing the extra-wide belt and big 'white metal' buckle long worn by military pipers as part of their Full Dress uniform, incongruous with the rest of his outfit.

As far as deportment goes he would receive demerits for both kilt and shoe laces being crooked, if he was being judged by ordinary deportment standards.

In the body of the article he says the Vestiarium Scoticum was "lost". It wasn't lost at all; the Allen Brothers claimed to have a copy in their possession, which they produced on demand (literally).

He says people can wear any tartan they wish, not just tartans which they are entitled to wear, and mentions wearing a clan tartan simply because he likes it. This, as I understand, would raise some eyebrows in certain Scottish kiltwearing circles. For sure that's long been the situation in civilian pipe bands, who adopt various Clan, military, and even Royal tartans at whim, and no-one worries one bit.

He mentions Royal Stewart as being exclusive to royalty but goes on to say that it's appropriate for civilians to wear it as long as they play the pipes (?!)

He says that many sporran styles are appropriate for both Day and Evening wear, though this flies in the face of the traditional Highland Dress which has come down to us from the beginning of the 20th century, in which sporrans were strictly categorised.

[figheadair]

In the body of the article he says the Vestiarium Scoticum was "lost". It wasn't lost at all; the Allen Brothers claimed to have a copy in their possession, which they produced on demand (literally).

The article says that The Vestiarium Scoticum, published by the Sobieski Stuart brothers in the early nineteenth century, is the only authority for many of our tartans. This work was claimed to be based on a sixteenth century document which was later (conveniently?) lost. The author is referring to the so-called Douai Mss., which the brothers cite as their authority. It was this that and not the VS or their draft work the Cromarty Mss., that 'disappeared' when others, such as Sir Dick Lauder, asked to see it.

[OC Richard]

I suppose it's an overly fine point but I question the use of the word "lost" due to the Brother's claim that the Douay MS wasn't in their possession in the first place.

At least that's what they said when people wanted to examine it: that the Douay MS was in their father's possession in London and not even the Brothers had access to it.

The MS they offered up for examination was the only one they said they possessed, the Cromarty MS.

But at another point they write of the Douay MS as being in their possession! Typical of the Brothers, they can't even get their story straight.

[neloon]

Maybe getting OT?
Alan

[Taskr]

While we need not agree with everything the article author has to say, it was originated in '99 and his implication if not stated is that things were becoming 'normal' that he'd prefer did not.

In searching on glengarries, for example, there are many historic photos that show the military wearing it at a slight (and not so slight) angle to the right. The more modern military photos do seem to now sport the glengarry at a flat wear angle. Interesting.

The tie in photo 1 is horrid. Far to thin to fill the collar at the button with the knot off to the side. Would be panned in saxon dress just the same. I wonder if that what inappropriate meant. OC Richard, I'm not sure a bow tie is required. The one time I wore a tie with plain vest I'd thought a bow tie a bit too odd looking. Something to seek on the Net a bit more. I have worn a vest with a solid shirt and no tie on occasion. Likely another fashion faux pas but it suited the casual aire. And, not a white shirt. That's just too I'm-trying-to-look-good-but-too-lazy to me. Haven't worn my black barathea/silver button on its own (I suppose I should caveat with a "yet" )

A belt with a waistcoat? Not my style at all. Thanks in part to learning on this forum and also from trying it and seeing first-hand that it looked odd.

I've seen many a worn-low sporran, and photo 1 appears to me as being terribly low. I was told "one hand width down" and that seems to look good and still doing the job whilst seated.

Maybe in '99 and from his country of origin that comment on Royal Stewart held more weight. That particular tartan is gaining personal interest to suit my current employ position, in addition to being a citizen of the Commonwealth.

I'm still grappling with sporran style, to the point of re-facing my inexpensive 'starter' with mink for semi-formal wear. But I do have one that seems acceptable for all day - given that all day is usually fairly casual throughout.

I don't like ghillies at all. Not a dancer and not a piper, so I'll pass on them.

In photo 2, the balmoral and the belt buckle are not a style I'd wear, but he seems to like it so good on him. Maybe the buckle is a bit shiny for the attire, but B&W might be negating the overall look.

As with most information, we take and learn from it what we wish. I don't fully agree with all the author has to say, but it does provide some brain fodder; not the least of which is that styles seem to be changing and one has to decide if they are going to follow along or not.