distinction between dress plaid and hunting plaid

[figheadair]

Arrowyn,
It occurs to me that, though not the period of your novel, this might be of general background interest to you
http://www.jamesirvinerobertson.co.u...anscripts.html
in case you think of writing another romance in a later era.
I particularly like the David Stuart of Garth correspondence - he was sometimes called "The First Highlander" in recognition of his attempt to collect authenticated tartans.

Garth's 'attemp' was based on a contemporary artist's urgings that the 'Flags and Banners of the clans, along with their tartans, were preserved. The fact that there had never been clan tartans was rather glossed over in the romantic rush to create the Noble Highlander.

[Arrowyn]

It's been interesting, in my creation of this novel, attempting to piece together a reasonable recreation of history, while feeding romanticism at the same time. But that's what I get for being a romance writer who cares about history. My hero needs to have certain qualities and dress in a certain way to please my readers, yet my conscience presses me to make him as much a real man as I can.

[neloon]

I hope, Arrowyn, that it's not going to be necessary to titillate your readers' with implications about the hero's under-kilt garmenting. It's just too corny.

[Arrowyn]

I hope, Arrowyn, that it's not going to be necessary to titillate your readers' with implications about the hero's under-kilt garmenting. It's just too corny.

I hate that. I know, I get teased ALL the time at critique groups. But I write for the inspirational market, so it's not like that. He has to be attractive to the heroine, inside and out. Far from perfect, but trying to be more. I end up with a lot of my husband in there since he's the closest example I have. He doesn't seem to mind--too much. He's been VERY sportive. He does let me know when I have my hero think or do something a man generally wouldn't. i.e. like over thinking things in the way a woman might. He told me my hero should act more(this can mean saying nothing at all, because he's shut-down under the heroine's feminine over-analyzing of his every word) and monologue less.

[neloon]

OK, I'm just suggesting that, however you play the aspect I mentioned you may get into hot water - with a Scottish readership, anyway.
Perhaps the exact when and where would help us to comment more. There is a tendency, especially on this site, to suppose that the stereotype of "Highlanders" applied throughout the Highlands and was constant over time and social class. For example, if your hero was sufficiently well-to-do to own a horse then he would not have worn the kilt, possibly not even at his wedding. If he lived near the periphery of the "Highlands" (including the Western Isles) he would often have worn Lowland garb. So much had to be imported into the Highlands that itinerant peddlers did a good trade in all sorts of goods, including clothing. The portraits of assorted kilted gentlemen covered in bling are not really the "whole truth".

[Arrowyn]

OK, so are you saying that only lower class men wore plaids? (my time frame is 1599-1603).

[EagleJCS]

OK, so are you saying that only lower class men wore plaids? (my time frame is 1599-1603).

Ah, here's where we get into the difficulty of the written word...

By the word 'plaid' do you intend the word pronounced 'plad', meaning the pattern of the colors on the cloth (or the weaving itself), often misused by people who intend to refer to tartan - or do you intend the word pronounced 'played', meaning the garment that is often worn draped over the left shoulder*?

If the former, then I would venture to guess that people of all classes would wear some tartan (or 'plad') on occasion, though the woven cloth would be finer in the higher eschelons of society - not the coarse weave of common woolens. The higher eschelons would also probably not wear the great kilt (the precursor to the modern kilt), which may or may not have actually been in existence in your time frame - from what I've read on Xmarks and elsewhere about the subject, there's not a lot of historical evidence one way or the other.

If the latter, then I would venture to guess that more lower-class men wore plaids ('playeds') than the middle- or upper-class, using them as both garment and 'field blanket', but that it wouldn't be entirely unheard-of for the "gentry" to wear them, especially if those gentry spent time 'in the field' (hunting, fishing, etc.) with their clansmen/kinsmen.


* There are, generally speaking, four varities of the latter: the 'piper's plaid', the 'belted plaid', the 'laird's plaid' or 'day plaid', and the dreaded 'fly plaid'.

The piper's plaid is the closest approximation to the original 'great kilt' - it's wrapped around the torso and draped over the left shoulder - much more to it, but I'm trying to be brief.

The belted plaid looks similar, but doesn't have all the material going across the chest - again, more to it but I'm being brief.

The laird's plaid is essentially just a folded tartan blanket, draped over the left shoulder.

The fly plaid is a relatively recent affectation - it's just a square of tartan cloth, fringed on one corner/end, pinned to the front of the left shoulder and left to hang freely off the back of the left shoulder (some might describe it as an over-sized tartan hankie).

[neloon]

Arrowyn,
Just to add to my earlier post (#18) this is typical of a sea of stuff that is full of rubbish in a whole variety of ways.
http://carinapress.com/blog/2013/01/...der-that-kilt/
I appreciate that such nonsense may sell well but it really, really does no favours to Scotland or our National Dress. You can see that from the "responses". It must surely be possible to write a good commercial novel without resorting to incorrect history or worn-out cliches.
Alan

[Arrowyn]

Arrowyn,
Just to add to my earlier post (#18) this is typical of a sea of stuff that is full of rubbish in a whole variety of ways.
http://carinapress.com/blog/2013/01/...der-that-kilt/
I appreciate that such nonsense may sell well but it really, really does no favours to Scotland or our National Dress. You can see that from the "responses". It must surely be possible to write a good commercial novel without resorting to incorrect history or worn-out cliches.
Alan

I agree. I want to be respectful to the culture. I respect the culture. I guess what I mean is that in areas like bathing, for example. My main characters are probably cleaner than was typical for that era, but if I make everyone stink... well, people loose their lunch when they read, and that just isn't good marketing! Sometimes one can be TOO realistic in a historical. I have a non-fiction book here that states that outsiders described the Scots (of that era) as reeking of fish. If I introduced my hero character as reeking of fish.... well... you get the picture.

[neloon]

Sorry, Arrowyn, but I think you're really responding to Chas (#10) rather than me. Of course you don't need to make everyone stink. But your original question did suggest a level of detail accuracy that I hope you can in honestly maintain throughout the story.
Alan