Now, as eloquently as you've put it, we have a fundamental difference of philosophy. It's not a matter of 'kilt snobbery' per se, but of getting it right. Because the majority of people get the niceties wrong, need we descend to that level? If you and I both know that something is wrong, forgive me, isn't it a little bit silly to 'go with the herd'? Surely the reason you and I are here at all is that we both care enough about highland dress not to make mistakes in wearing it? Perhaps all those glances of incomprehension will lead to people asking why and learning why they are wrong!

Nor is it really much more expensive to dress properly. I admit bespoke and so on is a luxury that things like having a professional background allow for some and not for others), but there are shops such as Hector Russell that sell Highland dress, you can get a stiff marcella shirt for just under seventy pounds, a collar for ten and a pair of properly coloured hose for twenty.

Forgive me for a spiel, but I really should defend my position politely.

Thank you to everyone who answered with all the suggestions and wonderful pictures.