Quote Originally Posted by Ivor View Post
It is reported that Albert’s descendants continued to converse among themselves in German until fairly recently although they did change their family name after World War I due to negative feedback at the time. So all in all perhaps not the best of examples when discussing things Scottish.
By all accounts, this speaking German thing is quite true and well-documented.

There is a famous interview with a former member of the Royal Household staff, who records in amusing terms how the various members of the Royal Family would turn up speaking English, but that their German accent would come out almost immediately in their conversation, and they would then soon relapse into their natural German.

Despite his distinctive clipped tones, the late Duke of Edinburgh is understood to have been brought up speaking German, and English was his second language - which is the excuse he used for his frequent awful gaffs that the tabloid media loved so much.

Using the Royals as sartorial role-models is all very well, and sometimes they dress very well - but the charge has been often levelled at them for failing to dress like a gentleman. So care needs to be taken when following their example - particularly when using 19th century German-origin Royals holiday-making as your example.

Using illutrations and photographs to show certain garments - shoes, hats, etc - being worn with Highland dress does not make those items elements of Highland dress as it is understood. If English styles of footwear and headwear are seen as authentic Scottish Highland dress (as opposed to items being worn simply for their convenience) because they are seen in old photos, then the same is true of baseball caps, fleeces, flat-caps and everythig else that is seen with the kilt.

Here is a test: if you see English country boots or a baseball cap being worn with, say, a Japanese kimono outfit, or Indian kurta, are the boots and cap traditional Japanese and Indian forms of dress? You see plenty of this sort of thing being done, and can be seen in historic photos, too.

If your answer to the test question is no, why is it different for Scottish Highland dress?

When I started this thread, I was not seeking views on the percieved antiquity of ghillie-brogues, or their historical authenticity, but why so many seem to dislike them with a passion.

The responses have been interesting. Rejecting them for reasons of comfort or fit is understandable, but shying away from them through fear of others' dislike is questionable. Denying their 200 or more years of history in favour of more modern 'cultural appropriation' alternatives seems very curious.

Having been developed from ancient styles, along with all other forms of post-Revival Highland dress, if ghillies are not traditional Highland dress, what are they?