What Goes with the Great Kilt?

**jrmiller** · 23rd September 09, 06:43 AM

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!

**jeremy j starche** · 23rd September 09, 07:37 AM

I have a very heavy tweed great kilt that I got to wear for a winter event. It kept me warm when the temps hit -7F.

It currently serves as my winter blanket. Stretch it out lengthwise and fold it back on itself for two layers and its kept me warm many a cold night.

**BroosterB1** · 23rd September 09, 10:23 PM

A very large Sword?

**Nick the DSM** · 24th September 09, 01:37 PM

Originally Posted by BroosterB1

A very large Sword?

Duhdum...CH!

**Strings** · 24th September 09, 02:33 PM

Fries?

I guess the next question would be "white or red wine?"

**sirdaniel1975** · 26th September 09, 07:45 AM

1st off.... lets stop calling it a "Great Kilt."

Please visit :
http://albanach.org/generations.html

2nd..... Not to be mean or anything, but lets point out that those sleeveless kilt shirts are a play on what "Mel Gibson" wore in a certain movie and are not accurate.

To add to that shirt, any so called re-enactment group wearing that just plain makes me laugh. It's even worse when folks refer to them as "Spot on" in the area of historical accuracy. Actually, those groups are part of the problem for continuing the mass confusion on facts that so many people just plain have.

It's actually really sad; to mix an inaccurate movie and/or TV, with fantasy barbarianism, Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque.

The feileadh-mor/breacan-an-feileadh period really lands right in the Baroque period 1600 -1750. Being The Life of Red Hugh O'Donnell (1594) - Act of Proscription (1747) being the main time frame for the belted plaid. Perhaps a knew term should be created.. I suggest "Highland Baroque." Like there is German Baroque, Italian Baroque, English Baroque, etc.....

Yes, I know the belted plaid was worn further into 19th century, the heart of it's period ends with the Act of Proscription.

**NewGuise** · 26th September 09, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by sirdaniel1975

1st off.... lets stop calling it a "Great Kilt."

Please visit :
http://albanach.org/generations.html

Not to be contrary, but ... why? The cited article gives no cause for avoiding the phrase, which seems an adequate translation of feileadh-mor in parallel with the standard translation of feileadh-beag as "little kilt" - a translation found as early as 1746 (according to the Oxford English Dictionary entry on filibeg. I like the term "belted plaid" but have found that some folks, at least, think that means the piper's plaid worn under the crossbelt. No confusion with "great kilt."

**jrmiller** · 27th September 09, 02:21 PM

If it bothers you that much, then the question is the same, what goes with a "feileadh-mor"? It's the same thing, a giant wrap-skirt that has so much left over, you can drape it over your shoulders!

I have made one out of a fine plaid, I don't think the plaid is "registered" -- perhaps I should simply call it a "JoAnn" Tartan since it came from JoAnn fabrics. However, I think I will call it a Miller Hunting Tartan!

At this point, it is too large, need to cut it down, way to much overlap at the shoulders. Overall length works (4 yards) and it actually looks damn authentic.

I have a rustic leather belt and a shirt which is perhaps authentic -- more or less. I plan to wear sandals, my preference would be barefoot, but I don't trust the grounds of the Ren Festival -- too much stuff discarded -- an yellow jackets -- they like to eat the discarded stuff.

I will post a photo soon. Thanks for all your help!

**Jack Daw** · 27th September 09, 04:28 PM

Originally Posted by sirdaniel1975

1st off.... lets stop calling it a "Great Kilt."

Please visit :
http://albanach.org/generations.html

2nd..... Not to be mean or anything, but lets point out that those sleeveless kilt shirts are a play on what "Mel Gibson" wore in a certain movie and are not accurate.

To add to that shirt, any so called re-enactment group wearing that just plain makes me laugh. It's even worse when folks refer to them as "Spot on" in the area of historical accuracy. Actually, those groups are part of the problem for continuing the mass confusion on facts that so many people just plain have.

It's actually really sad; to mix an inaccurate movie and/or TV, with fantasy barbarianism, Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque.

The feileadh-mor/breacan-an-feileadh period really lands right in the Baroque period 1600 -1750. Being The Life of Red Hugh O'Donnell (1594) - Act of Proscription (1747) being the main time frame for the belted plaid. Perhaps a knew term should be created.. I suggest "Highland Baroque." Like there is German Baroque, Italian Baroque, English Baroque, etc.....

Yes, I know the belted plaid was worn further into 19th century, the heart of it's period ends with the Act of Proscription.

Yus, yus. You're preachin' to the choir.

**jrmiller** · 14th October 09, 07:24 AM

I wore the outfit to the Ohio Ren faire as planned (I was there last Sunday). I was basically wearing a "blanket" 12' long x 5' high, belted at the waist. The portion above the belt was pulled up the front and rear of my left shoulder and fastened with a very long hat pin (5" or so). I was wearing wooly gray knee-high socks and sandals.

I will post a pic soon, the gal that took pics hasn't sent them to me yet.

Question: since my "blanket" was soooo big, there was a lot of fabric to pin together at the shoulder. The 5" pin worked. I would like something a little nicer and have looked at several metal brooches. Frankly, the "pin" part of most of these are just too light-weight for the job. Hence, do you know of a heavier brooch that is reasonably authentic that is actually made for a kilt of my design?