The Piper's Wardrobe

[Dall_Piobaire]

Very often, it seems, the question arises as to what is proper for the piper to wear, and when, and when I say "proper", I mean above and beyond proper and appropriate Highland attire."What should I wear for this wedding or that funeral, or the odd ceremony?" Now, I mean this outside of any band or regimental dictates. There is the Piper's plaide, and the "Piper's sporran.", both of which, I think, are really associated more with regimental requirements?

What makes the piper's sporran, just that? Is there any other traditional wear that is singular to the piper?

Other than the awesome pics I have seen here, most pics, sketches, arwork, seem to lend themselves to be romanticized, stylized as it were, posed! Does that matter? Isn't that what the paying public has come to expect the piper to look like?think:

, and that's other than the pipe's on one's shoulder for you comedian's in the crowd

[macwilkin]

Shouldn't this thread be in the traditonal section? :mrgreen:

T.

[Dall_Piobaire]

Shouldn't this thread be in the traditonal section? :mrgreen:

T.

Darn it you're right!!! That's where I thought I put it?????

Mod's please to move thread!

[george7]

That's really a question of what type of performance the piper is there for.

There's anything from a bar gig to a wedding.

I've worn anything from a contemporary kilt with flip flops to my prince charlie with all of the odds and ends to match.

Then there are band gigs. You wear what the pipe major tells you to.

[beloitpiper]

When piping solo, I've worn everything from full No.1 regimental uniform to a kilt and t-shirt. Like George said, it depends on the occasion. But I do agree that when somebody hires a piper, they expect them to look a certain way.

[NorCalPiper]

It has been my experience that the "Crowd" loves the full #1 dress. I personally hate it, and find it almost impossible to really enjoy playing when it comes to the full military garb (Thank GOD for the new cotton doublets-That helps 1000 X!!!!!). I find myself now doing a formal dress-kilt/fly-plaid/argyll hose.black jacket-this seems to draw praise as well (No where near the reaction as to the full miitary) and its much more comfortable!

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Aside from a few dinners at Edinburgh Castle, I can't ever recall being piped in to dinner by someone in a military uniform. My friend Leslie Peter of Lee had his own pipe band, and dinners at Lee Castle were always piped in by one of the bandsmen-- usually in Peter of Lee kilt and waistcoat, black Argyll and glengarry. I've been to other dinners (and hosted a few myself) with pipers, and I can honestly say I've never given their attire a single thought; to me it's the pipes that matter-- I wonder if "the look" is something more important in North America that back home in Scotland?

BTW: Can one of you gentlemen recommend a source for a pipe banner? Mine's gone walkabout.

[Dall_Piobaire]

Aside from a few dinners at Edinburgh Castle, I can't ever recall being piped in to dinner by someone in a military uniform. My friend Leslie Peter of Lee had his own pipe band, and dinners at Lee Castle were always piped in by one of the bandsmen-- usually in Peter of Lee kilt and waistcoat, black Argyll and glengarry. I've been to other dinners (and hosted a few myself) with pipers, and I can honestly say I've never given their attire a single thought; to me it's the pipes that matter-- I wonder if "the look" is something more important in North America that back home in Scotland?

BTW: Can one of you gentlemen recommend a source for a pipe banner? Mine's gone walkabout.

You could try the Toneczar, he is in Maryland, and the Piper's hut, Ohio, both are about the best around!

You have a great point, as always! To those who know pipe music, and appreciate it, the tune and the playing matter the most. To those who like the sound and only recognise the usual suspects, as far ast unes go, I think both the appearance and the sound matter most. For you, it would matter what medly I played, for someone else, if it has the right rythm, it works, blanket statement but you get my meaning I am sure!

The piper had a privledged, and esteemed, role in both the clan and town enviroment. If he could play well, that was all he had to do to be well rewarded. But it seems as there is nothing distinctive about the proper dress as time has gone on

[piperdbh]

For funerals, I wear my kilt (of course), a white shirt with striped tie, converted navy jacket (because that's what I have, so far) black Buzz Kidder "Ribbed Highlander" sporran, white or dark hose with contrasting flashes, and ghillies. If the weather is cool enough, I belt on my half-plaid. For a wedding or party, I might wear my bright red hose.
This past Saturday, at my family reunion, I wore the kilt, my 'coon sporran, a reunion t-shirt, my new "dress" Keen shoes, and my new dark green Balmoral, with the dandelion, of course!
I'm not in a band, so I don't have a uniform.
I recently made myself 4 sets of drone ribbons, but I haven't had any gigs since then to show them off.

By the way, Mac of Rath, Lee Castle once belonged to my Lockhart chief, who now lives in the hunting lodge. I hope you enjoyed dinner there, and someday I hope to visit it myself.

[davidlpope]

Post deleted.