Run in with "Kilt Police"

[SFCRick]

Last night I attended the 206th Saint Andrews dinner of Baltimore, not a bad turn out of 270 gents ( no ladies allowed at this one ) for a Thursday night.
While sipping a nice single malt- Glemorangie ( the distillery donated a bottle for each table) I had a man come up to me and tell me " you are not supposed to wear a Badger sporran with formal attire" I told him that is not true, that a full face badger is worn anytime and is fantastic formal wear. I then informed him that by the way, my sporran is a skunk not a Badger. He huffed and as he walked away and older gent ( who was a navigator in Lancasters during wwll) told me to forget that "he has always been a *** wan*er"
The second incident happened while I was with a friend that had feathers on his bonnet ( these feathers are about 5 " tall, only 2 and look like owl or hawk)
an old guy walked up and without an intro asked him if he was a chieftan, he said no "why?" he said if you wear feathers it means you are a cheiftan, I introduced us and told him that they are not Eagle feathers and not 3 anyway. He said he never mentioned Eagle feathers, that I did and that any feathers means he is a cheiftan. I told him he was wrong, he said he knows because he is a cheiftan, I laughed and asked him where his Eagle feathers are, he kept ranting and I told him to leave. I find my table for dinner and lucky me, both Kilt Police at my table, so I moved to the Wounded Warriors table and had a great night with our guest troops. Pics will be in another post.

[dadgad]

I think I saw you there. I was with the band (I'm a SASB member as well). Good looking sporran.

[auld argonian]

Probably those of us who frequent this forum know more about the particulars of dress than the fellas that toss it on once or twice a year and head out to a dinner...I'm just sayin'...

Not to cast asparaguses (Norm Crosby-ism) on the OG's but the cognoscenti here keep us all pretty much straight on what goes and what is right out. Great that you had your facts in order when challenged and to those who would take it upon themselves to castigate (there's that word again!) a kiltie for his apparel, sometimes it's better to just let it go. Better to keep yo' mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.

And big thanks to the experts here that share their knowledge with the tyros. We appreciate your giving us the benefit of your experience.

Best

AA

[McFarkus]

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. You seem to have run into someone with a VERY little knowledge.

[SFCRick]

I think I saw you there. I was with the band (I'm a SASB member as well). Good looking sporran.

think I got a pic here, hey you must all be Cheiftans with those feathers!

[auld argonian]

All these chieftans and no indians...

Best

AA

[CamelCody]

It's such a shame that someone would try and ruin someone else's night with
petty things like that. Especially at a formal event where everyone is generally expected to act like a gentleman (even in spite of the single malt per table). It's even sadder that someone who had such little knowledge of what was 'appropriate' or not would try and correct someone else. I am by no means an expert on what is accepted by the standards of highland dress, especially when it comes to formal or evening wear. It's exactly for this reason that I wouldn't walk up to anyone in a huff and try and critique their outfit.
I was glad to hear there was a wounded warrior's table. Some of my brothers from my unit were recently wounded in action and it's good to know that America still respects and appreciates their service. All in all, well done

[Jock Scot]

think I got a pic here, hey you must all be Cheiftans with those feathers!

Those are the complete set of tail feathers from a male Black Grouse, black cock(female--grey hen) and are very traditional with pipe band head wear in Scotland.

I just cannot get over how rude some of the people are that you chaps bump into. Whilst I think, it is fair game to discuss the finer points of kilt attire on a website such as this and on occasion we can even agree to differ, but to berate someone in public is increadably bad form and I have no idea how I would react in such circumstances.

[MacHiram]

I'm sorry that you had a couple of people attempt to ruin your evening but it sounds as though you handled them both very well (better than I would have) and had a great night. I made a full badger sporran about 13 years ago and wear it frequently now that I have my weathered Gordon kilt and I must say...it looks smashing!

[dadgad]

think I got a pic here, hey you must all be Cheiftans with those feathers!

Tell that to the Pipe Major! I'm the piper whose face is obscured by the drone pipe.