Solid Color Great Kilt?

[beloitpiper]

I wouldn't be too worried about historical accuracy at a Renn Faire. Let's face it, belted plaids weren't from the Renaissance, so wear whatever color you want!

[gilmore]

Belted plaids came about long after the Renaissance was over.

[RadioKen]

I wouldn't be too worried about historical accuracy at a Renn Faire. Let's face it, belted plaids weren't from the Renaissance, so wear whatever color you want!

Yeah, I've definitely considered that. The earliest literary reference to a definite belted plaid is from - what? the late 1500's? So for a festival depicting the first half of the 1500's the great kilt might be a bit post-period, though I think it's close enough for most people to overlook it, if they are aware of it at all.

Okay, so I think there's a definite historical precedent for wearing solid color wools; red, at least, and probably other natural wool colors, like brown, off-white, black and gray. Uncommon, perhaps, but practiced nonetheless. What other solid colors might be correct? Like Beliotpiper mentioned, historical accuracy is played somewhat fast and loose at most ren-fests, so I'm not overly concerned as far as that goes, but I'd still like to go with something that I can feel is at least reasonably correct. If nothing else it will give me an informed answer to those who might criticize my choice to wear a solid instead of a pattern.

~Ken

[Nick the DSM]

Saffron would be a cool color to do and i think any fabric would do.

[Woodsheal]

Grays, browns, and tans would be your best bet. The Scots weaved (wove?) wool fabrics in these colors without the use of dyes by mixing natural colored yarns. Mixing black and white yarns yielded the famous "hodden gray" for example. Simple checked "tartans" were similarly produced with undyed yarns....

[beloitpiper]

Saffron would be a cool color to do and i think any fabric would do.

I was going to say saffron too.

[sharpdressedscot]

Solid black?

[Farlander]

Solid black?

I particularly like the look of black kilts. There are sheep with black wool, so, a black wool kilt could exist using period methods.

The natural dying processes of the period made black a very difficult color to make and maintain (it would typically quickly fade). This is at least the reason given for why many Ren Fares reserve black for the nobility only.

[Jack Daw]

Yeah, I've definitely considered that. The earliest literary reference to a definite belted plaid is from - what? the late 1500's? So for a festival depicting the first half of the 1500's the great kilt might be a bit post-period, though I think it's close enough for most people to overlook it, if they are aware of it at all.

Okay, so I think there's a definite historical precedent for wearing solid color wools; red, at least, and probably other natural wool colors, like brown, off-white, black and gray. Uncommon, perhaps, but practiced nonetheless. What other solid colors might be correct? Like Beliotpiper mentioned, historical accuracy is played somewhat fast and loose at most ren-fests, so I'm not overly concerned as far as that goes, but I'd still like to go with something that I can feel is at least reasonably correct. If nothing else it will give me an informed answer to those who might criticize my choice to wear a solid instead of a pattern.

~Ken

The first recorded reference to wearing the GK was in fact in the late 16th C, but that does not mean that it wasn't worn before that. (I wore the great kilt several months before I was ever photographed in it.) Wear it with confidence. I'd go with a wool in 13 oz. Anything lighter and you'll have to worry about the wind blowing the pleats up. I have a 13 oz wool GK and I'm glad I didn't get anything lighter or heavier.