Too Traditional?

[creagdhubh]

Kyle, my musings about the idea of wearing the kilt traditionally, but also for 2012, were not directed at you personally, so please don't take offence. I think you have answered your own questions about your attire and we have seen that the Xmarkers you admire all approve of your approach to THCD. I'll ask the Dukes the next time I see them

Colin,

No offence taken at all mate! I apologise if I sounded as if I was on the defence, because I most certainly was not. I was simply 'explaining' my position a wee bit more (Sometimes, I have the tendency to go on and on), as I have enjoyed this thread immensely. I understand that we are having a lively and friendly discussion about traditional Highland dress and it being worn in various environments, and whether or not some outfits may be slighly over or underdressed.

I admire a great many of my fellow 'Xmarkers,' not just the members in which I stated. I am rather pleased and honoured at the friendships I have formed through this forum and I look forward to more friendships blossoming in the near future. I have nothing but the utmost respect for all the contributing members of this forum.

Cheers my friend,

[auld argonian]

Yeah, please...nobody take this personally...no offense intended ever. To paraphrase that old '60's dorm room poster, " I do my thing, and you do your thing.
I am not in this world to live up to your expectations, and you are not in this world to live up to mine.
You are you, and I am I, and if by chance we run into each other at a Highland Games, we'll buy each other a pint and laugh at the guys who are still wearing pants."

Best

AA

[creagdhubh]

Yeah, please...nobody take this personally...no offense intended ever. To paraphrase that old '60's dorm room poster, " I do my thing, and you do your thing.
I am not in this world to live up to your expectations, and you are not in this world to live up to mine.
You are you, and I am I, and if by chance we run into each other at a Highland Games, we'll buy each other a pint and laugh at the guys who are still wearing pants."

Best

AA

Hahahaha! Well put AA, well put indeed! I'll drink to that!



Slainte mhath,

[opositive]

my wife claims we never fight--we just discuss loudly.

[Father Bill]

Yeah, please...nobody take this personally...no offense intended ever. To paraphrase that old '60's dorm room poster, " I do my thing, and you do your thing.
I am not in this world to live up to your expectations, and you are not in this world to live up to mine.
You are you, and I am I, and if by chance we run into each other at a Highland Games, we'll buy each other a pint and laugh at the guys who are still wearing pants."

Best

AA

Good grief, AA - you're dating yourself! Right in sync with me!

[auld argonian]

Good grief, AA - you're dating yourself! Right in sync with me!

I mean...no foolin'...I dated a girl that had that one on her bedroom wall...I know it's 43 years later but please don't tell her parents that I was in her bedroom...

I know that the line is, "If you remember the '60's, you probably weren't there..." but I have a tragically good memory.

Best

AA

[Mael Coluim]

OK AA and FB here is the poster that was in my dorm room.

[Bugbear]

I started living in a dorm room when I was about thirteen… I don't recall ever putting up a poster. Although, that would have been very funny.

[ThistleDown]

That is SOOOOOO good, Ted. Thank you for setting us a bit straighter on the path. None in my room either, but in my mind....

[MacSpadger]

Last night my youngest child, (who is now 12 and old enough), enlisted in the Army Cadet Corps. As the platoons lined up for inspection, it reminded me of a few things that may well have a cultural bearing. My father, uncles, grandfathers, etc, all served in kilted Scottish regiments and went through rigorous inspection and detail on how to dress. Without me knowing it this was probably passed on to me, (or at least some attempt made to pass it on, how much actually sunk in is another matter).
When I was 9 I joined the local Boy's Brigade as did many of the local kids. This was run by ex-Scots Guards and ex-Gordon Highlanders and we had the same high scrutiny inspections as I saw my kid go through last night. These guys had joined the police on leaving the forces, so also piped in the Aberdeen City Police Pipe Band, (now Grampian Police).

A lot of the local pipe bands in my area were run by ex-Gordon Highlanders and wore the Gordon tartan. These ex-Gordons gave them the same detail of inspection at band practice as you would get in the Army Cadets or Boy's Brigade. After all, they were wearing the tartan of the Gordons and proper respect must be accorded. Everything gets looked at, pocket alignment, pleats, sporran height and placement, how your headgear is positioned, even how your laces are tied. To the north west of me pipe bands and local youth organisations were run by ex-Seaforths, to the south, Black Watch, etc.

A noticable occurence for me was that whenever I attended Highland Games or such like, there would always be lots of soldiers or ex-soldiers in attendance. Even out of military uniform, they would be dressed very smartly, tweed jackets, balmorals perched "just so", day sporrans. You just didn't want to be in the same place as these guys if you were dressed improperly. There were even some CSM types that would say things to incorrectly dressed civilians, but a withering glare was probably more effective. Their wives were more vocally fierce about people "looking a state".
So, even if you have not been in the army or been part of a youth organisation that wears the kilt, certainly for actual Scottish people of my age, (I'm 51), there was enough people around to tell you how to dress correctly while growing up. This has the knock on effect that there is also a style of turn-out that you attempt to emulate. I guess that's tradition.
There still are a large number of pipe bands run by ex-Army pipe majors, and you will still find a fairly sizeable number of soldiers and ex soldiers competing at Highland Games. Eyes will always be on you.
This does not mean that personal flair is stifled. Gordon Walker is a prime example.

Even civilian volunteers south of the border who attend the London Scottish on a Thursday night will undergo inspection from this fellow.

So, in conclusion, there may well be a fair bit of cultural pressure on dressing "traditionally" for native born Scots. It certainly is plain to all that there is a marked difference between those who "dress-up" and those who dress the part.