Tiresome Technicalities.

[OC Richard]

People with experienced eyes don't have to think about the technicalities. They've seen thousands of men in Highland Dress and kilts and all the accessories and have the look of everything integrated into a construct or gestalt at almost a subconscious level. At a glance they can see if someone is dressed appropriately/properly.

The newcomer doesn't have that yet.

They can acquire it like some do, by spending a lifetime being around gents in traditional Highland Dress. An eye for detail whether conscious or subconscious and long exposure to properly dressed gents are all that's required.

To speed up the process the motivated newbie applies the tools used to research anything including finding as much source material as possible and asking questions and begin trying to make sense of it all.

Fashion is a visual language, and the acquisition processes are similar to spoken language. The child learns whatever language it's exposed to through constant modelling and trial and error.

The adult second language learner could do the same by moving to a place where everyone only speaks the target language and the learner is forced to use it all day every day, Total Emersion.

But in general adult second language learners desire conscious systematic learning about grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Native Speakers aren't even aware of these rules, and from the not knowing often insist that such rules don't exist. However unconscious of it, their own speech follows all of them, every tiny technicality.

To list all the factors that Jock or you or me instantly process when we glance at a gent in Highland Dress would take a lot of ink! But we do it instantaneously and subconsciously.

Exhibit A:



It instantly looks wrong. But how challenging to put every single thing into words!

[Jock Scot]

.......................

To list all the factors that Jock or you or me instantly process when we glance at a gent in Highland Dress would take a lot of ink! But we do it instantaneously and subconsciously.

...........

Very good, reasonable and understandable thoughts have been voiced by many in this thread and OCR makes a very pertinent point.

However, I have no idea or interest in knowing how my 2 kilts are made. I have no idea what stitches have been used and care little, I have no idea whether they have a selvedge and I am not interested in looking and I have no idea if the waist has internal support and I have no need to find out. Why? They, the kilts, are still going faultlessly after many years, my newest kilt is probably 10 years old and the other is probably 30/40 maybe more years old. That is all I am interested in as far as build quality goes and yes of course the aesthetics are also expected be right.

Likewise I have a lifetime interest in rule 11 stuff, but I am not in the least bit interested in how they work and two of those regularly and heavily used "tools" are happily coming up to their 100th birthday, without a fault. Likewise I have a lifetimes experience of agricultural machinery and I expect them to work efficiently, but I care little in knowing how they were/are built. The same goes for cars and fishing tackle. All I care about is that they hold together until the time to replace them comes, whenever that maybe. In passing, abuse of garments and machines is not encouraged either, although it happens on occasion.

[Lady Grey]

The tiresome details and technicalities means I learn how to make a kilt to last 50 years. I’d be lost without those posts and learning here.

The current kilt I’m working on is a Crime against kilt making… the wearer commits constant Crimes against the kilt.
BUT. If I didn’t know the technicalities I couldn’t make what I am for this crazy man, a kilt that may last 2yrs if I’m lucky.
You have to know the rules to break the rules.

I find the constant discussions on socks/hose, vests & jackets rather tiresome… they’ve been answered ad nauseam.

It’s just horses for courses.

[OC Richard]

I have no idea or interest in knowing how my 2 kilts are made. I have no idea what stitches have been used and care little...

I think whether or not you're conscious of the knowing, you do know, at a glance, a properly made kilt from an improperly made kilt.

You may not know what stitches were used, but your instincts trust that the proper kilt has everything in order.

Exhibit B:



If you could see the bottom edge of these kilts you would see that the upper one has a proper selvedge, the lower one a crude bulky hem, which makes the pleats in the back look wonky.

[Jock Scot]

OCR.

I am not sure that I would asses the quality if the kilt was being worn and I would not be rude enough to risk a close inspection. I am not keen on kilts pleated to the stripe in any civilian circumstance and belt loops on both kilts you use in your examples, lower the tone in my mind.

Close inspection with kilts like you show in your picture then I might get things somewhere near. I certainly am not keen on those embossed straps and buckles, I might not like the feel of synthetic cloth, but having never handled it I could not say. To be honest though, I am not that interested in finding out. To be clear that is not a "snobby/snooty" thing, I am just not interested. I know what I like and I am very happy for others to do their own thing. I don't need a wardrobe of kilts, two is enough for me.