What do you call these kilts?

[Woodsheal]

The band members are wearing their plaids in various, authentic ways:

[Chef]

Deleted

[Nighthawk]

I call that Albannach. they can do whatever the heck they want. They're just that bad!! I love Albannach. Best celtic band EVER!!

[ccga3359]

I'm only helping to run this off-topic, but... As pathetic a history lesson that Braveheart (the movie) is, it is incredible how much the Scots love that film. I asked about it several times while I was there, and everyone agreed that it is a great movie in their eyes. The main reason is apparently because they enjoy watching anything that shows the Scots kicking the collective arses of the English.

Actually my wife hit me after that scene because what the English did to her Mel, I'm English born. You have to understand she once said she'd leave me for Mel, I responded don't bother asking his name just leave...

The Braveheart tartan is a favourite of mine. Here is a thread of one members quest for a kilt in it. And a follow up.

[Jack Daw]

The outfit in Braveheart is in NO WAY connected to the one in Rob Roy.

They both came out in 1995 and were NOT connected.
Rob Roy has VERY accurate costumes, created under the supervision of Peter MacDonald, tartan and kilt expert. http://www.scottishtartans.co.uk/ (Peter's site)

Braveheart's costumes were made by someone who had NO IDEA what belted plaids were supposed to look like, that Scotland wasn't a "third world" 13th/14th century nation, and that the nobles of that period were a tad fond of FULL BODY ARMOUR.
I think they enjoyed the Scotch and shortbread WAY to much . . .

NEVER compare the accuracy of the 2.


Back to topic . . .
Albannach wears belted plaids from a fabric that they liked and picked up on a GREAT deal in Scotland.
I have my info FROM THE BAND ITSELF! Confirmed by their ROADIE (as to the tartan, which I forgot to ask in person at the games).
It is a BELTED PLAID!
Also known as a "Great Kilt."

The costumes in Rob Roy ALSO include BELTED PLAIDS and were mentioned as a visual cross reference (several methods of using the upper part can be seen in the movie).

Braveheart's costumes have NOTHING to do with the REAL belted plaid as seen being worn by Albannach AND Rob Roy.

Spot on.

[Jack Daw]

Well, here's the thing.
Quite often they stripped off their kilts and just fought in their shirts.
But I don't imagine that anyone really wanted to show that in the films.

This is very true of wearing, or should I say not wearing, the belted plaid. In use during the early Jacobite rebellion, the belted plaid was commonly stripped off before a charge. But, I will say that when I was with the re-enactment group, The Reddshanks, I had no trouble charging in my belted plaid, but we didn't engage in serious close combat, either.

[Highland Logan]

I'm only helping to run this off-topic, but... As pathetic a history lesson that Braveheart (the movie) is, it is incredible how much the Scots love that film. I asked about it several times while I was there, and everyone agreed that it is a great movie in their eyes.

Funny you should say that. All I spoke to about it hated it, because of all of the liberties that took with the facts. The statue of Wallace which was added to the base of the trail which leads to the Wallace Monument has also caused problems. It looks like Mel! When we were over for our wedding I have a picture of it, and I guess shortly after it was put behind a cage (irony) to protect it from backlash, and it's now for sale because no one wants it there.

Frank

[Woodsheal]

This is very true of wearing, or should I say not wearing, the belted plaid. In use during the early Jacobite rebellion, the belted plaid was commonly stripped off before a charge. But, I will say that when I was with the re-enactment group, The Reddshanks, I had no trouble charging in my belted plaid, but we didn't engage in serious close combat, either.

Actually, there is only one (or perhaps, two) recorded instances of Highlanders removing their plaids prior to a fight - one, a battle that took place on a particularly hot summer's day at Loch Lochie (3 July 1544). It was so noteworthy that it was called the Blar na Leine, or "battle of shirts." It was a clan fight between the Frasers and the MacDonalds of Clanranald. Also, some accounts state that Montrose's clansmen at Kilsyth (Aug 1645) cast off their plaids on another very hot day.

From these two incidents it has somehow been concluded that stripping off the plaid was the normal precursor to any and every battle....

[Roan Carter]

"Great Kilts". I love them and have two. Phillabegs lack the extra fabric.

Great Kilts do have pleats in the rear though, even if you can't see them because of the upper portion hanging down over them. And you have to fold them in yourself, unless you have your vender sew the pleats in which defeats the versatility of this wonderful garment.

Just buy an apropriate length of tartan. Fabric size is up to your taste, but I like betwen 4 and 8 yards' length, 55+ inches wide. Ebay sells this stuff all the time for cheap. Fold the pleats on the floor, and run a belt under the fabric. Lay on top and belt yourself up. I used to do it with my bedsheet when I was younger. You can change the length of the kilt by how you fold it, makign it perfect for covering your knees in the cold. You can also fold the kilt vertically in half before pleating to make a regular little kilt, like I've done here.
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/n...x.html?t=29728

Versatility is the Great Kilt's best feature. This pdf file has instructions on a few folding methods.
http://www.kilts-n-stuff.com/Documents/great_kilt.pdf

Also, if you want to buy one, here is one option. (Though I find better deals for fabric on ebay.)
http://www.kilts-n-stuff.com/Kilts/great_kilts.html

[Jack Daw]

The statue of Wallace...it's now for sale because no one wants it there.

Frank

I saw the thing in 2003. It does look like Mel and I'm glad it's for sale and leaving.