A possible dancing myth?

[M. A. C. Newsome]

My article dealing with this subject has already been linked to, and I encourage those interested to read it; but here is the pertinant quote:

One of the first references to be found on women wearing the sash is from The Kilt: A Manual of Scottish National Dress, written by Loudon M. Douglas in 1914. He writes, “It is desirable that ladies who wish to encourage the Scottish National Dress should wear sashes of tartan, with evening dress. These should be preferably worn over the left shoulder and fixed by a circular brooch. Other applications of the tartan in connection with ladies’ costume must be left very largely to personal taste.”


And I think it should be left at that. When women ask me whether someone might criticize them for wearing their sash the wrong way, I always ask what boar would dare tell a lady how she ought to dress!

[Kiltman]

My article dealing with this subject has already been linked to, and I encourage those interested to read it; but here is the pertinant quote:

Spot on, Matt. Always good advise from you, thanks.

[Bob C]

[QUOTE=M. A. C. Newsome;487756]When women ask me whether someone might criticize them for wearing their sash the wrong way, I always ask what boar would dare tell a lady how she ought to dress! [QUOTE]


Or boor, for that matter.

[gilmore]

Yes, most boars I have come across have little to say about sashes.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I don't understand why a single sentence in a book published 94 years ago in London should be construed as license to disregard the norms of "highland" dress for ladies. There are accepted customs for how people should dress, and wearing the sash on the "proper" shoulder is one of them. These customs actually are "rules" for military wives, and for ladies in the RSCDS when dancing.

Will anyone say anything? Well, in Scotland, probably not.-- That would be boorish. But you can bet your bottom dollar that it will not escape notice, nor will it go without comment. Especially by the "sows" who play by the rules.

[Sketraw]

The Wearing of Sashes by Ladies in Evening Dress - Lyon Court Leaflet 4

The Actual Leaflet No 4 from Lyon Court

The pdf can be downloaded from the foot of the page above

[Arlen]

I don't understand why a single sentence in a book published 94 years ago in London should be construed as license to disregard the norms of "highland" dress for ladies.

All I'm really saying is I am interested in how the 'rules' came about.
In my time dancing I have heard all sorts of 'rules' about what colour of hose men are permitted to wear and exactly which hip you should turn your sporran to while dancing.
But those, like this, are just things that people have been told year by year is the way it is done.
I am an interested in finding out WHY it is done.

What exactly are the 'norms' of highland dress, anyway?
In my whole life I have been told more norms and rules and reasons to do with highland dress than I can count. From what kilts I can wear to what colour shirt I am allowed to wear with what tartan.
I wear highland dress because it is comfortable, it is clothing that fits with my day-to-day life, and it, for me personally, reflects my love of the place I was born.
When the kilt was first worn there were no set rules for tartan or what to do at what kind of dance.
I am just interested in finding out when these things changed, who decided they should change and what reasons they had for the changes?

[Sketraw]

Oh its probably another one of Skenes 'A History of Scotland' 1837 fantasy history books, written for Victorians & read by Victorians and approved by Sir Walter Scott in good old Victorian Waverley Novel fashion.

OK I am cynical!

Slainte

[Arlen]

Oh its probably another one of Skenes 'A History of Scotland' 1837 fantasy history books, written for Victorians & read by Victorians and approved by Sir Walter Scott in good old Victorian Waverley Novel fashion.

OK I am cynical!

Slainte

Unfortunately I think I am a bit of a cynic, too.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Oh its probably another one of Skenes 'A History of Scotland' 1837 fantasy history books, written for Victorians & read by Victorians and approved by Sir Walter Scott in good old Victorian Waverley Novel fashion.

OK I am cynical!

Slainte

Every school boy knows it was Porter's "THE SCOTTISH CHIEFS".
Lyrically cynical, too!