Highlanders Discuss Highland Attire

[Jock Scot]

Yes, I had thought to start the exact same thread topic addressed to the same group, based on the same prior discussions about Rocky's new tweed kilt suit. After reading Jock's comments about the tweed suit, a copy of the recommended "All About Your Kilt" (an American book) arrived, with a photo on the back cover with several of Queen Victoria's Ghillies wearing tweed kilts, and the late William H. Johnstone wearing a kilt suit of his estate tweed (p. 24). I don't mean to contradict, but rather to point out that Americans, even those doing careful research, may turn up idiosyncratic examples of dress, and have difficulty discriminating between those and what is the norm today in the highlands. Take jacket epaulets for example. My own tweed jacket has epaulets, but it was made in the 50s. I don't think I would ask for them were I to buy a jacket today.

I think I would also like to hear a bit from native Scots (and particularly highlanders), about how they experience Americans playing fast and loose with their traditions, which may bear upon their points of view. I recently attended a rather festive four-day celebration in Inverness, dressed in a suit (with clan tie). I felt much more comfortable doing that than making a fool of myself in an inappropriately worn kilt.

I am not sure that I know the pictures you are talking about, but I rather suspect that they illustrate, perfectly, the "theory and practice" phenomenon that I keep banging on about. No one in their right mind goes stalking or ghillie-ing wearing the kilt! I can think of a two word reply from the stalkers that I know and used to employ if I suggested they wore a tweed kilt and the second word would be "OFF". It may have been romantic in Victorian times to have your staff clad in estate tweed kilts, but common sense soon prevailed and estate tweed plus 4's soon replaced the kilt. As it still does today for that line of work. In my nearly seventy years on this planet have I have only known one stalker wear a tweed kilt out stalking and with the greatest respect to him, he was mad; and I have known more than a few stalkers in my time.

We used to have many Americans come to shoot and fish here and on the whole they tried very hard to fit in. Sometimes it was very hard to persuade them that kilts were not worn on the hill,or by the river or even as every day wear. One insisted on wearing his very expensive brand new kilt out stalking. ----------he only did it once. I have had the same experience with a chap(not an American) going fishing, against local advice, wearing the kilt------he only did it the once! Forget those old romatic books, forget those old romantic pictures they prove very, very little.

If you think the kilt is a good idea up there, then think again!



----and again!


I claim no credit for the pictures.