What's This Then?

[macwilkin]

Like many things in Highland attire, what was once practical is now today ceremonial and symbolic; the rosettes are really no different than the kilt pin, which reportedly had a practical function and are today, largely ornamental. Before the introduction of kilt straps, regular pins were used to fasten the kilt together, and frequently in the field, a Highlander would go through a bramble bush, hedge, abatis and find themselves without their kilt. (Reid, Wellington's Highlanders)

Personally, I think the rosettes give the kilt a bit of...dare I say it...panache and are a nod back to the early history of the kilt and Highland attire.

Regards,

Todd

[thescot]

. . .Personally, I think the rosettes give the kilt a bit of...dare I say it...panache and are a nod back to the early history of the kilt and Highland attire.

Regards,

Todd

Right on. The Argyl panels might be a bit too much, but the rosettes are a bit more subtle, and you can order one from the Black Watch shop online if you're interested.

I agree about the panache thing (sorry, Panache; he started it). I saw the site originally mentioned above and thought that when and if I go ahead and order that Saffron kilt I'd get the shamrock rosettes as well. Might as well go whole hog if you're gonna do it at all. I think it would look great at the St. Paddy's prarade next month, and there's no one around here to even know the difference between the green and the orange!

[macwilkin]

I wouldn't wear them with casual attire, but in full formal, I think they would look sharp.

I do like the green ones with the saffron kilt, especially with the traditional green hose/saffron flashes and green jacket, a la the RIR and other Irish regiments.

T.

[thescot]

Argyll Officers & NCO's wear a kilt panel, not rosettes:

http://www.calgaryhighlanders.com/kiltpanel.htm

The Calgary Highlanders are an affiliated regiment of the Argylls, so they have adopted many of the Argylls' regimental customs and traditions.. . .

Actually, it appears that they wear both a kilte panel and a rosette. You can see both in the photo, and the instructions at the bottom of of the page address the alignment.
"When the kilt panel is attached to the front of the kilt, the small rosettes can be lined up; the head of each small rosette should line up with the head of the large rosettes. These small rosettes get stitched to the 3rd pleat on the back of the kilt, again, on the wearer's right hand side. The heads should be firmly stitched down, with the tails free to dangle."

You can even order Black Watch rosettes from the Black Watch shop at http://www.blackwatchshop.co.uk/prod...products_id=52 . Theirs is more of a bow than is the Argyl/Sutherland version which is more of what I think of as an actual rosette.

This is way too much information, isn't it? I've never even seen a rosette on a kilt in person. Cheerio!