Light bulb moment?

[IsaacW]

I can not think of one particular thread that was a light bulb moment but rather many. This forum is likely the ultimate lightbulb for me. Prior to joining this forum I had gone from wearing a kilt a few times a year (starting when I was a U. student in Scotland) to eventually a once a year (if I was lucky). This forum has encouraged me and inspired me to wear a kilt more often. The networking within this forum has led to some great friendships and great opportunities. My understanding of "Traditional Civilian Highland Dress" has grown greatly (as has my wardrobe).

To the members... I raise glass to you and toast you with a drink of your choice...

A pint...




Or a dram...


Slainte

Isaac

[IsaacW]

Oops... I should also raise a glass of something less alcoholic for those that do not partake!

A cuppa...



Again, Slainte!

[CMcG]

Since Jock posed this question, I've been mulling over what my light bulb moment might have been. There have been many interesting and helpful posts here over the years, some of which I've participated in, and others that I merely read through. Ultimately, the thread that feels the most significant to me is the THCD guide that Nathan and I put together:
Traditional Highland Civilian Dress: A Definition and Guide with Visual Examples

We couldn't have done it without the thousands upon thousands of posts that came before! Nonetheless, the personal effort required to compile, write, and organize that THCD definition and guide represents several years worth of learning and experience distilled into a single thread. Putting it together helped to give me a stronger grasp and broader understanding of Highland attire by forcing me to consider a wide range of cultural and sartorial issues all at the same time.

[Dagnarr]

I would say that its been a light bulb moment on just how many people all over the world wear kilts and appreciate them and the culture behind them.

In my ignorance I did assume that some Scots in other lands did indeed still wear them but non-Scots ,, not so much .
However , to see non-Scots as well ,, Brilliant !.

David , Cheshire, England.

Cheers!.

[Cavalry Scout]

I have to second David's comment about just how many people around the world embrace this part of our heritage. Also, the various ways that folks look at highland dress from their own cultural standpoint is a topic that fascinates me to no end. There's this shared heritage from before the diaspora, and it seems that each of us has their own lens to view our history. So, my lightbulb moment is basically the entire forum!

All the best, Mark

[OC Richard]

If I go back over my 40 years of kiltwearing, I'd say the most impactful (don't you just hate that word?) things have been:

1) c1975: getting the catalogue from The Scottish Shopper (Seattle WA).

Before that, my impressions of kiltwearing were disorganized glimpses, say from an old movie (Tunes Of Glory) or a pipe band in the Rose Parade.

That catalogue changed everything. Here was a list of six or seven styles of jackets, with photos, and their names. Here were photos of 30 or so different sporran styles, with their curious coded designations. I was perhaps most intrigued by a full-page photo of sterling kilt pins.

Nearly all the kiltwearing I encountered at local Games corresponded with the things I saw in that catalogue. It was, more or less, a compendium of modern Traditional Civilian Highland Dress.

2) c1976: getting the book Scottish Regiments and Uniforms 1660-1914 by A. H. Bowling (Almark, London, 1970).

This did for my knowledge of military dress what the Scottish Shopper catalogue did for civilian dress.

3) c1995: getting the book The Highlanders Of Scotland (Haggerston, London, 1986).

This opened my eyes to the enormous variety of Highland Dress in the mid-19th century, a situation so utterly different from today, when one sees a roomful of identical Prince Charlies, white hose, and ghillies at an event. At a similar event in 1870 each man's jacket would have a unique cut, each man's shoes would be slightly different from the others, and so forth. It made me realise how much had been lost.

4) and of course joining this site!

[Profane James]

I'd say the most impactful (don't you just hate that word?)

LoL, my teeth and colon do, yes.