Quote Originally Posted by Panache View Post
After a discussion with a fellow costumer for my Scottish dance group I wanted to share a two final thoughts on the ghillie/pirate/swashbuckler shirt with you, that adds to why their look is so popular.

They are very flattering to a wide variety of body types.

Exceptionally skinny? The pirate shirt hides that.

Waistline expanding? The pirate shirt hides that.

So besides being comfortable (which they are) and having a certain amount of flair (which they do) they are flattering to the wearer in terms of fit.

My last thought is simply that a lot of the really wonderful looks for highland attire require a jacket or doublet to get the top part of one’s ensemble to look as “Scottish” as the lower half. The poofy shirt fits the bill without the far greater cost and completes the look. (Whether that “look” is authentic or not isn’t the issue, it is the perception of completing it that matters.)
This (and probably several other discussions on this forum) distill down to a tension among
  1. What looks good
  2. What's "authentic" (either as contemporary or historical dress)
  3. Where is it being worn


Perhaps, if the justification for (for example, a "Ghillie" shirt that never a Ghillie would have worn is just to have something on above the waist, there probably ARE other alternatives. For example, in my own case I've lost a LOT of weight over the past year or two. One of my kilts has had its straps moved as much as possible, and the only way I can wear it is with buttons on the waistband and suspenders attached to the buttons. Without them, it just falls off my body.

Others have provided examples of "historical" shirts that could pair with the kilt, but that wouldn't hide the suspenders, which I guess are a complete "no no" for being revealed in public. If the rest of the outfit is contemporary, a simple tweed waistcoat can hide the suspenders in settings where a tweed jacket up top would be uncomfortable or "over the top."

And, if your dancing group or Highlands Games gathering is here in the US, probably few people would complain about the inaccuracy of your dress anyway.

JMO