I don't remember exactly when I wrote my review (and yes I'm being lazy and not clicking on the link to find out) but I still love my ECW Heritage shirt. I have looked at maybe getting another traditional (i.e. standard) "Ghillie Shirt" for Scottish Country Dance but the ones offered at the games seem pretty wimpy and costume-like compared to Kevin's shirt.
Cheers
Jamie
Last edited by Panache; 23rd June 08 at 12:48 PM.
-See it there, a white plume
Over the battle - A diamond in the ash
Of the ultimate combustion-My panache
The thing that puzzles me the most about this conversation is the use of the word "costume" or "costumey."
By some definition all clothing that has a somewhat fixed stylistic theme is costume. A grey business suit with an oxford shirt and a red tie is costume.
It seems to me a pretty slippery slope...especially for us who are not Scottish citizens...to adopt the kilt and then suddenly start worrying about "costume." The kilt is not native nor traditional to those of us who are US citizens, for instance. We can go on and on about honouring our ancestors but wearing a kilt is no less a costume if the majority of people around you--in your society--don't dress similarly...or even recognize it as anything but eccentricity.
And where do you draw the line? Is it in what is historically "Jacobite?" Or is it in traditions? If so, how old does a tradition have to be to be a tradition?
If my intent is to honour my ancestors, I wonder if wearing clothing that they probably would not recognize...or be seen dead in for that matter...is really honouring them. Similarly, I wonder if wearing something that has its roots in modern fantasy (Hollywood) is honouring anything short of crass and cynical commercialism. On the other hand, take it far enough and the oxford shirt and the ghillie brogues are just as inappropriate as the ghillie shirt if you are seeking to honour your ancestors and/or tradition.
All that said...and hopefully food for thought...I'd wear a ghillie shirt...in any venue except where it was being presented as Jacobite. I think you wear it because you like it...or feel comfortable in it--no harm no foul.
But it probably should be reiterated, time and time again, until it sticks or becomes part of the cultural subconscious, that the ghillie shirt is not Jacobite, not historically correct, and not honouring an ancestor unless your ancestor happens to be Errol Flynn and/or some counter-culture maven at an early hippy Ren-Faire.
Just one opinion...free for all...take it for what it's worth.
DWFII--Traditionalist and Auld Crabbit
In the Highlands of Central Oregon
Originally Posted by Tattoo Bradley
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