Aboyne Highland Games Photos - Various

[Tobus]

On another note, I seem to notice more men in these photos wearing traditional garter ties, rather than modern elastic garters. I believe this is a growing trend.

I noticed that too, and I'm glad to see it. One can only hope that we will look back in 20 years and shake our heads at the awful 'fad' that was elastic garters with flashes.

I did also note that at least one fellow was wearing "shooting socks" that had different coloured cuffs and matching (long) garter ties.

[Chas]

I noticed that too, and I'm glad to see it. One can only hope that we will look back in 20 years and shake our heads at the awful 'fad' that was elastic garters with flashes.

I did also note that at least one fellow was wearing "shooting socks" that had different coloured cuffs and matching (long) garter ties.

As a 'fad' it's been going for a long time. Over 50 years ago I wore elasticated garters as part of my Wolf Cub uniform!

I am happy to say that since then all of mine have been hand tied.

Regards

Chas

[Standard]

A couple of things that caught my eye werethe manner in which balmorals were worn. I see everything from plopped on the top of the head with both sides hanging evenly down to worn more in the style of a beret with one side standing mostly straight up and the opposite side hanging noticably near the ear. The other thing that struck me was the number of glengarry bonnets worn. To paraphrase Jock, the kilt "rules" are more guidelines than actual rules. I think that is one thing that many of us here in the States forget since many (most?) of us are not steeped in, nor have access to true Scottish kilted fashion trends.

[creagdhubh]

As a 'fad' it's been going for a long time. Over 50 years ago I wore elasticated garters as part of my Wolf Cub uniform!

I am happy to say that since then all of mine have been hand tied.

Regards

Chas

I currently own Lochcarron's 'double flash' style in every colour they offer, and I am indeed fond of them, however, I have noticed that I have often gone for the traditional garter ties when wearing Highland day attire. Though, I am still fond of wearing elastic garters with coloured flashes for evening attire - either with diced or Argyll style hose.

I have often wondered why HRH Prince Charles hasn't made the change to traditional garter ties? I suppose he has always worn elastic garters with flashes and is simply use to it (like many other men)! I do like the way the Duke of Rothesay wears his flashes though, a nice hose-cuff turnover with a wee bit of the coloured flash peeping out - always the understated gentleman.

Slainte,

[Thomas H]

Awesome Picture of all the Chief's togeather !!

[Chas]

I currently own Lochcarron's 'double flash' style in every colour they offer, and I am indeed fond of them, however, I have noticed that I have often gone for the traditional garter ties when wearing Highland day attire. Though, I am still fond of wearing elastic garters with coloured flashes for evening attire - either with diced or Argyll style hose. Slainte,

Kyle, I bought those as well and am in the process of stitching them on to new tapes. I buy 'woven woollen tape' from my local haberdasher and stitch the double flashes on. Quick and easy. The tapes don't show, everything is still all woollen and I get a whole range of coloured garters for really very little money.

Regards

Chas

[Tobus]

As a 'fad' it's been going for a long time. Over 50 years ago I wore elasticated garters as part of my Wolf Cub uniform!

I am happy to say that since then all of mine have been hand tied.

Regards

Chas

Heh, that's why I use single quotation marks around the word fad. I know it's not a new trend, but hopefully in the long run it will be seen only as a temporary trend that came and went.

This may offend some, and I apologize, but I see elastic garters with flashes as being in the same category as the clip-on tie, or a pre-tied bowtie with a hook closure. It is a cheap, easy, idiot-proof method to make a person look like he is wearing something authentic when in fact he is not. I don't know how it became de rigeur in Highland dress, but I think it needs to be phased out.

What's next? Velcro closures on kilts with fake buckles? Would we accept that as being correct and authentic too?

Tying a traditional garter tie (or ribbon, or whatever one wants to use) is not difficult. I don't know why we should accept elastic garters and flashes as part of traditional Highland dress. Part of becoming an adult is learning how to tie a necktie, tie one's shoes, and (for kilt-wearing) tie a garter tie.

Just my opinion, and a strong one at that!

[Alan H]

I rather enjoyed these pictures. Here we have the cream of Scottish Dress Up, done by SCOTS...in the HIGHLANDS... and my, my but we have chiefs and all sorts of terribly important people.

And what do we see?

White socks, for one. Hey, you might hate them, you might like them, you may think that they "work" or they "don't work" but a bunch of SCOTS at a big GAMES in SCOTLAND are wearing them. These aren't athletes, those clueless brutes. These aren't pipe bands. These aren't sheeple-people-Americans. No, these are the Scottish "gentlemen" of the Games. Not ALL of them are wearing white socks. But some are, and I don't see that the other gentleman are sneering at the men in the white socks.

Do you want to complain that they're still wrong, just that the guys who are wearing them are posers, they're just "pretending" to be Scottish men in the Highlands? They're not "really" Scottish Gentlemen? Do you want to suggest that the men wearing them don't really know what's "correct" and everyone is just tolerating them because that's just how it's done in the Highlands. Nobody would ever be overtly rude...but behind the scenes everybody just "knows" they are posers, and the little comments just make the rounds, later?

bleechh.

A couple of guys are wearing non-tied up shoes...slip-ons. The paisley vest is just plain fantastic. --I HATE IT--... But what the h311, He likes it, he wears it. Guid on ye, Chief. So much for worrying about whether your vest is the "proper style of waistcoat".

Sporrans range from completely plain, possibly military surplus to gorgeous tooled leather day sporrans, to fur "dress" sporrans to a long hair sporran and even a few full-mask sporrans. So much for stressing over exactly which sporran is "proper" with "daywear".

Several of the gentlemen aren't wearing belts at all. Some are wearing shiny chromed buckles on their belts. Some are wearing more subdued belts. So much for worrying yourself into a lather over whether you are wearing the "correct" belt.

Get over it.

I see glengarrys and balmorals. I actually searched around for a flat cap, but in fact didn't see one, so I guess that dead horse can rest in peace for now.

Here we have a picture from 2007, with eagle feathers everywhere, which I'm sure will warm the hearts of many, but what do you know????? More WHITE SOCKS.



So....If you don't like white socks, that's fine. You're welcome to say that you don't like them.
If you think that colored socks look better, that's fine. You're welcome to express your opinion about what you think looks good or does not look good.

But if you are going to claim that white socks are just plain WRONG or INCORRECT or NOT PROPER because of course, proper Scottish Gentlemen simply don't wear them (only those tacky low-class people who rent their kilts wear them) , then you are WRONG, and this whole photograph series illustrates *Exactly* that point.

Me, being blunt, again.

[creagdhubh]

I rather enjoyed these pictures. Here we have the cream of Scottish Dress Up, done by SCOTS...in the HIGHLANDS... and my, my but we have chiefs and all sorts of terribly important people.

And what do we see?

White socks, for one. Hey, you might hate them, you might like them, you may think that they "work" or they "don't work" but a bunch of SCOTS at a big GAMES in SCOTLAND are wearing them. These aren't athletes, those clueless brutes. These aren't pipe bands. These aren't sheeple-people-Americans. No, these are the Scottish "gentlemen" of the Games. Not ALL of them are wearing white socks. But some are, and I don't see that the other gentleman are sneering at the men in the white socks.

A couple of guys are wearing non-tied up shoes...slip-ons. The paisley vest is just plain fantastic. --I HATE IT--... But what the h311, He likes it, he wears it. Guid on ye, Chief.

I am still not convinced. Why choose white hose when there are so many other smart looking, colourful hose available? Naturally, this is my own opinion and by no means am I attempting to insult the Scottish gentlemen wearing white hose in the photos. Wear what you like, I say! However, I do not care for the paisely waistcoat either - too loud for my tastes, and that is saying something, because I do like a certain degree of 'loudness' in my Highland attire.

Slainte,

[piperdbh]

Who can identify the gentlemen (and ladies) in these pictures? Anybody know all these folks?