What Goes with the Great Kilt?

[jrmiller]

Hi,
Planning on attending "kilt weekend" at our local Ren Faire, I made a "great kilt" for the occasion. What is typically worn with a great kilt? In particular, I am looking for an appropriate shirt, shoes, bag (I assume great kilts predate sporrans), etc. Won't need a coat, the weather should still be warm.

Thanks!

[Alan H]

That's really tough to answer, because what the men wore changed pretty drastically from 1594 through the 1740's. Much also depends on the part of society you are trying to represent.

If you're trying to represent a poor Highlander in 1620, then belt the plaid with a leather belt and simple buckle, find a very simple cloth of leather pouch with a simple drawstring, put on a simple linen shirt (NOT the fancy poofy-sleeved fantasy shirt) and go barefoot.

That's reasonably historically accurate. If you're trying to portray a Clansman Soldier in the 1715, complete with weaponsry, well, then it's gonna be a whole lot more complex and expensive.

If it's Fantasy Faire and forget accuracy, then wear whatever you bluidy well want up to and including thigh-high Pirate boots.

[jrmiller]

Alan,
Thanks -- I was going for the lower end of the scale -- thus, the linen shirt sounds about right. Probably will wear sandals to this thing, however... Barefoot at a Ren Festival doesn't sound appealing!

Any idea who supplies simple linen shirts?

[Jack Daw]

For shirts, get Missy to make you one in yellow-saffron. They're $45.

http://www.barkertownsutlers.com/

And, since it will be warm, you could go barefoot.

[Woodsheal]

If you want to go "whole-hog" and get a proper knee-length linen shirt, I recommend one of these "hunting shirts" which come in various weights of linen, and colors (natural, walnut-dyed, etc.):
http://www.trailhd.com/shirts.html

For inexpensive poor man's "shoes" you can get a moccasin kit and sew up some simple highlander's "cuarans":
http://smoke-fire.com/moccasins-1.asp

[Farlander]

A plain Irish leine (roughly pronounced LANE-yeh) makes a great knee-length shirt for a great kilt. Linen is quite traditional, but cotton is fine and a bit more affordable. You should be able to find someone at the Faire selling these.

[Zardoz]

Any idea who supplies simple linen shirts?

http://www.renshirts.com/index.html

http://www.kilts-n-stuff.com/Highlan...ts_rustic.html

[turpin]

I have a sleeveless knee-length shirt of black monks cloth from http://www.weescotlass.com that works very weel with a great kilt.



It laces up at the neck.

[Ancienne Alliance]

I think you knocked at the right door !


Best,

Robert

[jrmiller]

Thanks guys, I purchased a black shirt from RenShirts.com. If this outfit comes together well, I will post a photo. If it doesn't, hmm, maybe I will turn the "great kilt" into a bed spread!