A Lasses Wear Thread

[Ancienne Alliance]

Based on what I have observed, both from personal experience and observing people I know, it is basically a difference in the genders. While men and women can generally agree on what makes a woman attractive, what they focus on is different. Men tend to focus on particular things, like legs, etc., while women tend to go for a more balanced look. Thus, men think an outfit is attractive because it shows off the various parts and women think an outfit is attractive because it "fits" the woman wearing it.

This is all very unscientific and only my own ovservations, so your experience may be different.

I know some fun ladies who are also willing to sacrifice a wee bit of comfort to simply look their best for a few hours. Now, are men willing to indulge in the same "wee sacrificing" ? Well , as a matter of fact, I also know a few...

Basically, I think it's all a matter of time and circumstances. You don't go dancing and formal dining dressed up in the same fashion (ladies and gents alike).

Common sense !

[Cynthia]

Oh yeah, I'll be uncomfortable for a few hours to wear a fun outfit every once in a while, but again, sometimes I just don't think certain things look good.

It's hard to explain. Aside from things like "it shows too much leg" or "too skimpy".... sometimes I just think the actual cut, color, fabric, and construction of an outfit looks bad. It's like some guys hate cheap kilt hose, shoes that don't fit right or are uncomfortable, the fabric of the kilt is wrong, or the drape and fit of the kilt isn't right. The same holds true for women. When I'm talking about being uncomfortable, I mean that it's the garment itself isn't fitting right on me, period. Not that I'm wearing a corset, or heels, or showing a little leg or cleavage. It's that I just can't stand the style, fabric, color, or construction of the garment. Now, I do have "issues" with my image and I can't really help that. Honestly, I've gotten much better over the years with having more confidence, but there are still things I can improve and things that I just flat out don't show off to the general public. So I just don't see myself wearing a micro-mini skirt. But if I could find just the right mini skirt outfit that complements me, especially once I've lost a little more weight and feel a bit better about myself? Sure.

Now, would I be a little more playful and wear something that shows more than usual? Yes, if I liked the outfit and it worked with my body type. I'm guessing certain colors would not look good on me, tartan or not, and so even if a guy absolutely adores an outfit and wishes I would wear it... simply put, if it's not to my tastes, I won't.

I guess the other thing is that -- and I'm sure I could be wrong, since I'm new to all this -- I'm wanting something that gives me the feeling of traditional clothing similar to kilts, and not fashion wear. Since I don't wear a kilt and kilt hose, I want the next best thing. I'm not my husband's tartan accessory. I want to embrace my heritage and wear things that have meaning to me. That's why some of us gals are ignoring the skimpy or runway fashion photos.

Regardless of some of our personal image issues (or not), we have different body types and we are used to dressing a certain way for them. Just because a dress looks hot on a model, doesn't mean it's for every girl out there. And I'm not necessarily talking about models being skinny. There are TONS of different skin tones, body shapes, heights, and not to mention even proportions (two people with the same height who have slightly different leg lengths or torso lengths, etc).

Hopefully I'm not babbling... just explaining the issue a little from my side at least Hey, it can't hurt to show your lady an outfit and say "I think it looks nice". Maybe even point out why or discuss it with her. Maybe there's a compromise, or she might even find an outfit that you both like even better ;)

[Ancienne Alliance]

I'm wanting something that gives me the feeling of traditional clothing similar to kilts, and not fashion wear. Since I don't wear a kilt and kilt hose, I want the next best thing. I'm not my husband's tartan accessory. I want to embrace my heritage and wear things that have meaning to me. That's why some of us gals are ignoring the skimpy or runway fashion photos.

Right on !

There is a lot of creating to be done. It's all in our (your) hands !
On another thread I was mentionning the fact that even for men (!!!) we have to invent new jacket lines etc. Inspired by the tradition, of course ! But new stuff ! Mind you, the younger ones didn't wait and went straight on wearing Doc Martin's etc. and that's my point : Not seeking only for comfort ,but personal style as well ...adapted to each individual's figure (but that seemed so obvious to me).

[Cynthia]

Oh good! Someone was able to read past my babbling and figure out what I was saying... I was worried I wouldn't make sense

I guess the thing is, I'm new to this. I found this board for my husband because he always wanted a kilt. About that time, I started back on my genealogy searching to see where this Irish ancestry supposedly was in my family. I haven't found it, but have found hints of Scottish ancestry. Imagine my shock. Now, even though my father always told me about his mother going on about Irish this and Irish that, there was nothing to really celebrate that in our family. Just rumors or talk. No cultural information or anything like that. I've done more than my family really has to truly find out what it's about and have a little "taste" of my roots, so to speak.

So, I have no clue what ladies wear, or if there even are rules for us. I know about the Kilt Do's and Don'ts for guys and that there are even differing opinions on what is worn and how. I guess what I've been trying to do is find out what women typically wear that's a little "traditional", if there even is such a thing. I can look at clothing websites, but sometimes it's only hints of tartan or they'll have the model in everything available through their store (I'm thinking overkill with accessories, but I could be wrong). And sometimes it's only a generic look and I wonder if that might be overdone. I guess the focus is on guys and kilts, and that's fine, but I'd like to know what ladies can do

So far, I've really gotten some good information from this thread and I'm sure I'll be able to add a little bit of my own tastes and personality to things as well. Not to mention a little variety, but for starters, I want to stick with something "kilt-like" for ladies

[Thistle Stop]

I have no clue what ladies wear, or if there even are rules for us. I know about the Kilt Do's and Don'ts for guys and that there are even differing opinions on what is worn and how. I guess what I've been trying to do is find out what women typically wear that's a little "traditional", if there even is such a thing. I can look at clothing websites, but sometimes it's only hints of tartan or they'll have the model in everything available through their store (I'm thinking overkill with accessories, but I could be wrong). And sometimes it's only a generic look and I wonder if that might be overdone. I guess the focus is on guys and kilts, and that's fine, but I'd like to know what ladies can do

Hi Cynthia (I'm a Cynthia too!) -- You're right, the guys get most of the attention in the world of "traditional" Scottish dress. But we ladies have a few good options for wearing the tartan, too.

Historically, women wore a tartan garment called an arisaid. Here's what I have on that in my Glossary:

arisaid [air uh saydch] 1 (n.) a traditional woman's Highland garment, essentially a long, belted tartan cloak or over-dress, fastened in front with a brooch.

It was similar to a man's Great Kilt (féileadh mór) -- basically just a big piece of tartan cloth. No one wears the arisaid these days except in a Ren Faire or re-enactors milieu, of course. But a modern cape, cloak, ruana, or other sort of wrap is one attractive way to wear tartan.

The most "traditional" tartan garment for ladies today is a tartan skirt. It's usually a below-the-knee kilted skirt for daytime/business/casual occasions, with any sort of coordinating solid-colour top or blouse, worn with stockings or tights (NOT kilt hose and flashes! -- though girls' knee socks might look OK for a sporty effect), and heels, flats, or boots -- whatever fits the desired degree of "dressiness". You can add a matching tartan sash on the right shoulder, fastened with a brooch, for events with a Scots-heritage focus.

For evening parties or semi-formal affairs, the traditional look is a full-length tartan skirt, which could be wool and kilted (a "hostess kilt"), or wool or silk and pleated or gathered, worn with a white blouse with a lace jabot and cuffs (made into the blouse, rather than separate like a man's jabot and cuffs). A matching tartan sash can be worn on the right shoulder. A solid-colour jacket or wrap in a suitable fabric (wool, velvet, etc.) is good to have in cold weather.

For a ball or other white-tie event, a modern evening gown is worn. A tartan sash or stole will complement a solid-colour gown with simple styling. You can have a tartan (or part-tartan) ball gown custom-made, which can be very lovely -- we sell one with a full skirt and a strapless, corseted bodice with back lacing that is just gorgeous. We've even had customers order it as a wedding gown.

The traditional ensemble for Scottish Country Dancers is a white dress (below the knee, like ballet length), cut full enough for comfort in dancing, worn with a tartan sash on the left shoulder.

You can have a number of garments made-to-measure in tartan, or buy yardage to sew your own. Why not buy just a little tartan fabric to embellish ready-made clothes, like adding tartan cuffs to a jacket, tartan pockets to a pair of jeans, or a tartan belt to a dress? The main thing is to enjoy yourself with it, so use your imagination!

Slainte!

Cyndi