You have used a picture of Tobus as an example. I hope he does not mind. Yes you are right, a horse hair sporran might tip the balance towards "costume" in some people's eyes. Add diced hose to the equation and the balance is starting to tip towards "costume" rather more. Add a dirk and we are, as far as I am concerned, now well into the realms of costume. Add a fly plaid held on with a large broach at the shoulder and most would agree that we are now off the traditional chart and well into costume. For me, we would have been at the costume stage at the horse hair sporran level, in fact, I would say that the those smart spats were a wee step too far in the circumstaces that they were worn. Had the ground been muddy then they would have been perfect, others may and will differ, but it does illustrate perfectly just how fine that line is. It is all to do with perception and where your experience has come from and that, more often than not, is as hard to grasp as mist blowing in the wind. Does it matter? No not really, but regardless of how unimportant we may think it is, we all have a sneaking wish to cut a dash in our own way.
Nope, don't mind at all. I actually appreciate the commentary, as I value your opinion.

My intent, when dressing that morning to go to the Highland Games, was to be very traditional and yes, even push the envelope. Knowing that virtually no one here dresses that traditionally, I knew it would stand out, and I wanted to gauge reactions. Had it not been so blazing hot, I would have worn the matching jacket, which I think gives it a better overall look:



I went back and forth on whether to wear the spats. In the end, I decided to wear them because every time I go to a Highland Games here in Texas, I end up coming home with dust/dirt and tiny bits of dead grass all stuck in my hose and shoelaces. You don't see it in that photo, but most of the grounds are dirt/gravel walkways and grassy areas, and lots of dead leaves. There was some mud too, but I stayed out of it as best I could. I wanted to see just how well the spats would keep out the dirt, and they did fine. Plus, of course, I just like the way they look and would like to see them come back into style. I actually had several people approach me with "wow - spats!" type comments. It was an experiment, of sorts, in finding that "fine line" between traditional and too traditional.

I agree that patterned hose, hair sporran, fly plaid, and all that other stuff would have been over the top.