Ghillie brogues - why the dislike and resentment..?

[Ivor]

So much is this the case that they will refer to Victorian or Edwardian styles as being before 'traditional' Highland dress came about! What they really mean, but express, I feel, in misleading terms, is that the mid-20th century casual styles that came in after the First World War and were no more than the fashions of the era (as indeed were the Victorian and Edwardian versions previously) are promoted as the ideal.

You touch on a very significant point here and one that seems to raise its head here frequently, namely “traditional”. I have found it impossible to pin down just what this means beyond what one individual frequently refers to, seemingly what was good enough for his father is good enough for him and others who can swear on a stack of bibles and evidenced by extensive research and documentation what is the only true “traditional”. For me from a purely personal recollection “traditional” harks back to the likes of Kenneth McKellar, the Alexander Brothers or Andy Stewart maybe even Harry Lauder from an earlier time. While not seeking to emulate any of them they still seemed to provide an example of highland dress at the time.
“Plus ca change plus c'est la même chose “ maybe sums up “traditional” in that despite all the variations that appear from time to time it is essentially the same outfit. Perhaps it is time to forget examining the minutiae and just get on with wearing it.