Highland Games

[Jock Scot]

Knoxy10. A word of caution!

I have just looked through Alex's(CessnaT) pictures and they do give a very good idea of what people wear in America to a Highland Games. That is perfectly fine, but, But, BUT if we exclude the bands and dancers who do sail under rather more strict parameters than the normal civilian kilt wearer does, then you need to be very aware that very few (2, I think and one of those was the collie dog!) in the pictures are dressed as a traditional Scot would wear. Does it matter? Not one jot.

However you do need to be aware of this, while you are on your upward learning curve. Should you wish to note the subtle and not so subtle differences in thinking, then go to the traditional kilt wearing section here on this website and look at the pictures there. You will of course choose your own route through the kilt wearing minefield, but it is as well for you to be aware of the differences.

[GrymJack]

Thanks for the pics. I really enjoyed them!

Jack

[Knoxy10]

Knoxy10. A word of caution!

I have just looked through Alex's(CessnaT) pictures and they do give a very good idea of what people wear in America to a Highland Games. That is perfectly fine, but, But, BUT if we exclude the bands and dancers who do sail under rather more strict parameters than the normal civilian kilt wearer does, then you need to be very aware that very few (2, I think and one of those was the collie dog!) in the pictures are dressed as a traditional Scot would wear. Does it matter? Not one jot.

However you do need to be aware of this, while you are on your upward learning curve. Should you wish to note the subtle and not so subtle differences in thinking, then go to the traditional kilt wearing section here on this website and look at the pictures there. You will of course choose your own route through the kilt wearing minefield, but it is as well for you to be aware of the differences.

I appreciate the help. I decided to try here to get ideas from both the traditional as well as the casual kilt wearers. But I'll find an outfit to wear at the Highland Games. I appreciate all of the help. And I'll be sure to message you when a more traditional Scottish outfit! thanks again for the help!

[Barb T]

The NH Games at Loon Mountain are my absolutely favorite games - our band goes every year to compete, and the mountains are always gorgeous and starting to show fall colors. Lots of people attend the games, and there is a huge variety of events going on, and you can take the gondola up to the top of the ski area as well.

I even met Cessna at Loon when he was there in 2010!

[EagleJCS]

I do actually have Sperry Boots, haha and they're comfortable as can be!

If the conditions are muddy, the sperry boots would probably be OK. Similar to wearing wellies (Wellington boots). Wear some kilt hose or long socks (not knee high athletic/tube socks, though).

I don't have any shoes for the kilt and it's going to be muddy there. I want to dress casual with a kilt but not look stupid how much are brogues? I will see where I can buy them!

Ghillie brogues are a style of dress shoe worn with the kilt. They look like wingtips, but have very long laces and no tongue. The cost will vary some, but like dress shoes, most run about US$100 and up. The shoes are absolutely not necessary for wearing with the kilt. Any regular dress shoe will do, when you're dressing up with the kilt. You'll find in reading through the threads on here, even in the traditional section, that most kilt wearers don't wear ghillies (or even like them), outside of the pipers and a few others. There is an art to tying the laces without looking like you're a Roman gladiator with the long sandal thongs (?) running up your legs. I've written a couple of posts describing how I do it, but then, I'm a piper in a pipe band.

Most folks I've seen dressing 'casually' in the kilt will still wear some type of shoe a little dressier than cross-trainers or other athletic shoes, though some do go for a low boot/hiker with scrunched-down socks/hose. In hot weather, I've seen sandals worn, without hose (if it's hot enough to wear sandals, it's hot enough to go without the hose). Done that myself on occasion when temps go north of 90F and the humidity is close to the same number.

Best thing is to get out there and not worry too much about what other people think about your choice of footwear.

[Knoxy10]

If the conditions are muddy, the sperry boots would probably be OK. Similar to wearing wellies (Wellington boots). Wear some kilt hose or long socks (not knee high athletic/tube socks, though).



Ghillie brogues are a style of dress shoe worn with the kilt. They look like wingtips, but have very long laces and no tongue. The cost will vary some, but like dress shoes, most run about US$100 and up. The shoes are absolutely not necessary for wearing with the kilt. Any regular dress shoe will do, when you're dressing up with the kilt. You'll find in reading through the threads on here, even in the traditional section, that most kilt wearers don't wear ghillies (or even like them), outside of the pipers and a few others. There is an art to tying the laces without looking like you're a Roman gladiator with the long sandal thongs (?) running up your legs. I've written a couple of posts describing how I do it, but then, I'm a piper in a pipe band.

Most folks I've seen dressing 'casually' in the kilt will still wear some type of shoe a little dressier than cross-trainers or other athletic shoes, though some do go for a low boot/hiker with scrunched-down socks/hose. In hot weather, I've seen sandals worn, without hose (if it's hot enough to wear sandals, it's hot enough to go without the hose). Done that myself on occasion when temps go north of 90F and the humidity is close to the same number.

Best thing is to get out there and not worry too much about what other people think about your choice of footwear.

I appreciate the tips! That's so cool you're a piper. I'll remember what you said and just wear what looks right and just wear wha r I feel. Hopefully you'll be in New Hampshire sometime soon! Thanks again!

[Terry Searl]

If the conditions are muddy, the sperry boots would probably be OK. Similar to wearing wellies (Wellington boots). Wear some kilt hose or long socks (not knee high athletic/tube socks, though).



Ghillie brogues are a style of dress shoe worn with the kilt. They look like wingtips, but have very long laces and no tongue. The cost will vary some, but like dress shoes, most run about US$100 and up. The shoes are absolutely not necessary for wearing with the kilt. Any regular dress shoe will do, when you're dressing up with the kilt. You'll find in reading through the threads on here, even in the traditional section, that most kilt wearers don't wear ghillies (or even like them), outside of the pipers and a few others. There is an art to tying the laces without looking like you're a Roman gladiator with the long sandal thongs (?) running up your legs. I've written a couple of posts describing how I do it, but then, I'm a piper in a pipe band.

Most folks I've seen dressing 'casually' in the kilt will still wear some type of shoe a little dressier than cross-trainers or other athletic shoes, though some do go for a low boot/hiker with scrunched-down socks/hose. In hot weather, I've seen sandals worn, without hose (if it's hot enough to wear sandals, it's hot enough to go without the hose). Done that myself on occasion when temps go north of 90F and the humidity is close to the same number.

Best thing is to get out there and not worry too much about what other people think about your choice of footwear.

To me a kilt or any part of kilt attire is not a costume. So I would never try to make it so . Those on the other side of the Atlantic may have a difference of opinion and wear a kilt in a certain fashion and for the most part only at certain events, but we are on this side of the pond and as long as you wear the kilt respectfully and proudly, I am sure there is no reason to doubt your own choices Like all of your clothing you wear to a special event wear it proudly but wear it as YOU would like.....it is after all an article of clothing and NOT a costume and you are not trying to dress as someone you are not!

[Jock Scot]

You are absolutely right Terry, the kilt and its attire are not a costume, unless worn on a film set or some such. I seem to recall seeing somewhere in a 1920/30/40's kilt attire catalogue from some well known Scottish tailors where their attire was described as "costume" and the description was not well received by their customers and the description was dropped in later editions.

Where you appear to have the wrong impression is who wears traditional kilt attire in Scotland. On the right occasion the dustman, farmer, Duke or anyone may and do wear the same style of kilt attire. That is perfectly traditional and no one is pretending to be anything.

[EagleJCS]

To me a kilt or any part of kilt attire is not a costume. So I would never try to make it so . Those on the other side of the Atlantic may have a difference of opinion and wear a kilt in a certain fashion and for the most part only at certain events, but we are on this side of the pond and as long as you wear the kilt respectfully and proudly, I am sure there is no reason to doubt your own choices Like all of your clothing you wear to a special event wear it proudly but wear it as YOU would like.....it is after all an article of clothing and NOT a costume and you are not trying to dress as someone you are not!

I didn't intend to imply that I was wearing the kilt as part of a costume (or fancy dress, as the terminology in the UK). If that was the impression, I apologize. As a piper in a pipe band, the kilt is part of the pipe band uniform, and the kilt-wearing guidelines for individuals don't apply. The goal is uniformity in appearance.

As I stated, I've worn sandals on occasion with the kilt, but only when the temps were north of 90F (32C) and the humidity was in the same range - 90% or better. It happens from time to time here in the Ohio River Valley in the summer. When I wear sandals, it's before or after a competition/performance with the pipe band on those kinds of days. I arrive wearing the sandals, change into the hose/brogues for the competition/performance, guzzle water while I have them on, then change back into my sandals when I can. If doing so means an onlooker gets the impression I think the kilt is a costume, then they're quite mistaken, and shame on them for making the presumption they know what I'm thinking!

[Knoxy10]

The NH Games at Loon Mountain are my absolutely favorite games - our band goes every year to compete, and the mountains are always gorgeous and starting to show fall colors. Lots of people attend the games, and there is a huge variety of events going on, and you can take the gondola up to the top of the ski area as well.

I even met Cessna at Loon when he was there in 2010!

That's really cool! This is my first time ever to the games, but I used to ski at loon all of the time. I'm excited to check it out when there's no snow on the ground and also see my first ever Highland games. Hopefully I'll see you around there! If not, enjoy the weekend there!