Too Traditional?

[OC Richard]

because I'm not Chinese, I should be doing a modern version of this dance.

If applied directly to kiltwearing, the analogy would be, I suppose, that anyone who is not a Scottish Highlander should not wear traditional Highland Dress.

What, then, Utility Kilts for all non-Highlanders? I don't agree with the premise at all.

As usual many interesting and thoughtful posts, in this thread. Thanks!

[OC Richard]

Ah, some smartly-dressed gents there! Not so different from how I usually dress...



and if people object to the wearing of a hair sporran with tweed, so be it! I'm in good company anyhow

[Jock Scot]

So is there a correlation between "too traditional" and making it seem costumish with putting on too much then?

I have been thinking about this and whilst it sounds so obvious to me it is plainly not obvious to those new to kilt wearing, or, those who are unaware of the subtleties involved. Those that just don't care do not need to read further and fair enough. To avoid the "costume look", requires experience and it helps to have the luck of having the benefit of others to steer us through the sartorial minefield. This is where a website like this is so valuable to those that want to learn. The first lesson to learn is that "there are more ways to skin a cat than one". So a combination of personal flair,informed imagination and common sense is a prerequisite before we tap into the available experience.

No one is saying you can't wear this, that, or the other with the kilt and no one is saying you can't wear your choice of this, that ,or the other to any event of your choice. Many do and get their dress pretty much right and others get it oh so wrong. Now getting it wrong if that was a conscious thought to do so is fair enough for the individual------your hosts or colleagues may have other thoughts on the matter, but there we go.

However, there are many who would like to get things somewhere near right that are completely unaware , even after considerable thought and possibly expence too, that their proudly worn attire is nothing more than a costume and not what was intended at all. Which is a shame.

[HenryT]

OC Richard... Nice pictures, but I would say that Clan Chiefs in Scotland, on parade, pretty well wear what the wish and are never too traditional. They have an "expected" appearance. If they all took to wearing Bowler hats would you walk up to one and say, "I say, that is not the way it is done." They are a separate group.

Pipers are also a distinct group. You look very dashing in the picture. You are not in Costume as a piper, but in expected dress.

[Jock Scot]

OC Richard...

Pipers are also a distinct group. You look very dashing in the picture. You are not in Costume as a piper, but in expected dress.

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I do agree, pipers should not really be considered in the, general traditional kilt attire equation. Whilst in danger of creating yet another compartment, Pipers and band members perhaps ought have their own traditions in attire noted in a band attire spot?

[Jock Scot]

Now here is a picture of a pretty traditional kilt attired chap (Macmillan's Son, thank you for the picture) and if I saw him walking down Inverness High Street, he would get my glance, as any kilted gentlemen gets, and my almost instant thought would be, "yes that's OK" and on I would go without a thought.

If we consider the picture, it appears to be have been raining, its overcast, and whilst I assume it was not taken in Scotland it could well have been.

The point is this:

Its traditional kilt attire. We could add a balmoral, lairds plaid, and a cromach and its still traditional. We would be more than a tad over-dressed for the pub though.

We could also take off the tweed jacket and tie and it would still be traditional.

We could leave the tweed jacket and tie on and take off the sweater, for a smarter look, and still be traditional.

We could take off the jacket, tie, sweater and roll up the shirt sleeves and still be traditional, but we would probably not be in appropriate attire for a wedding

We could take the example in the picture and add a dirk and fly plaid and we are in the realms of costume.

I suggest that we ought to try to be a lot more understanding on this website, many of us are overly critical of the subjects in pictures, particularly as we can study a picture at our leisure for as long as we want. We are unaware of the circumstance of a picture. Someone might be wearing a jacket, sweater and white hose in the height of a heatwave and lo and behold a full salvo of fairly hefty critisism arrives from all diections. But, BUT what we don't know is that the fellow in the picture has just left hospital after a hefty dose of malaria and having fallen over and tearing his claret hose he borrowed a pair of white hose to get him by. I honestly think by worrying about the minute detail, we miss the overall image that I see with my split second glance when walking down Inverness High Street.

[creagdhubh]

Now here is a picture of a pretty traditional kilt attired chap (Macmillan's Son, thank you for the picture) and if I saw him walking down Inverness High Street, he would get my glance, as any kilted gentlemen gets, and my almost instant thought would be, "yes that's OK" and on I would go without a thought.

If we consider the picture, it appears to be have been raining, its overcast, and whilst I assume it was not taken in Scotland it could well have been.

The point is this:

Its traditional kilt attire. We could add a balmoral, lairds plaid, and a cromach and its still traditional.

We could also take off the tweed jacket and tie and it would still be traditional.

We could leave the tweed jacket and tie on and take off the sweater, for a smarter look, and still be traditional.

We could take off the jacket, tie, sweater and roll up the shirt sleeves and still be traditional.

We could take the example in the picture and add a dirk and fly plaid and we are in the realms of costume.

I suggest that we ought to try to be a lot more understanding on this website, many of us are overly critical of the subjects in pictures, particularly as we can study a picture at our leisure for as long as we want. We are unaware of the circumstance of a picture. Someone might be wearing a jacket, sweater and white hose in the height of a heatwave and lo and behold a full salvo of fairly hefty critisism arrives from all diections. But, BUT what we don't know is that the fellow in the picture has just left hospital after a hefty dose of malaria and having fallen over and tearing his claret hose he borrowed a pair of white hose to get him by. I honestly think by worrying about the minute detail, we miss the overall image that I see with my split second glance when walking down Inverness High Street.

***!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rondo]

You are being VERY traditional with every one of these choices!

Hmmmm, interesting Richard. I wear things as I do for comfort and practicality. Who would have thought?
Rondo

[Panache]

In answer to the OP's question I do not think you can wear highland attire too traditionally. Jock Scot has made some excellent points but I can boil them down to this

The most important part of wearing traditional highland dress is simply wearing clothing that is appropriate to where you will be and what you will be doing.

If you are wearing an outfit or individual items that are not appropriate for the place and activity then you really aren't dressing traditionally. This simple rule applies to all fashion.

Cheers

Jamie

[Droid]

To add my two cents... I don't wear vests, pullover sweaters (unless they have hoods), or collared shits unless I'm dressing up for something specific like a wedding. I understand that in some areas, for some groups of people, for some occasions, tweed is the traditional and common thing to wear with a kilt. I don't own a tweed jacket and don't plan on buying one anytime soon.

Like Four, I am generally under dressed. Comfort is my #1 concern. I've worn my PV kilt out and about with flip-flops. I usually where a T-shirt, kilt, hose, flashes, and chucks (All-Star tennis shoes) to the bar. In Southern California, that's what people wear, I just added a kilt to my repertoire.

If I were to ever go to a traditional dinner party or if ever asked to participate in a parade or official event, I'd need to buy some more 'traditional' accessories like a waistcoat or tweed jacket.

I agree with the majority of the replies here when they say it's more an issue of being over dressed for an occasion than being too traditional. And, if you feel funny or feel like you are putting on a costume, then that is going overboard. Like I've read many times on this forum, kilts are clothing, wear one with pride and comfort.

I know I don't wear my kilt traditionally, and, I fear being judged on my trip to Scotland. But, I hope they take pity on me.