traditional vs. classic

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

MoR,

Generally thinking men are supposed to look good without really standing out in their clothes.

Absolutely-- that's why dressing like a burlesque comic is to be avoided at all costs. Conservative dress in style and colour is always the best way to go.

In my life most of the fellows I know wear things that blend in with what everyone else is wearing and "dress up" only when required to. Being "Dressed up" is not something they enjoy on the whole and Heaven forbid they might look like they spend too much time or effort on their appearance.

I think there is a difference between sloppy and casual dressing, and that those who are sloppy dressers are just plain lazy. Since it takes no more physical effort to put on a polo shirt than a tee shirt, or to put on coloured socks than white socks, or to draw on slacks rather than sweat pants, the only two possible excuses for not being casually well-dressed are ignorance or laziness. The same applies to when one dons a collar and tie...

For many who don the kilt, the simple act of putting on a skirt and wearing it out in public is a pretty risky thing. They don't want to stand out anymore than that! Therefore options for individuality disappear and highland formal wear becomes something of a uniform. Now I do think that most fellows do enjoy their highland finery when they don their Prince Charlie Coatee and such, but they are also reassured that it is a "safe" look. This is to say that they know that they will fit in with what everyone else is wearing. For a lot of men, no matter what the type of dress that is all they want of their attire.

I'm sure price has its place in the equation as well, but I think that the general shift in fashion away from anything that makes a fellow stand out in the crowd has more to do with it.

Cheers

Jamie

Order of the Dandelion, Order of the Gin and Tonic, Order of the Tartan Peacock

Jamie,

Choosing a Prince Charlie coatee over a dress Argyll, or any doublet, isn't done for reasons of sartorial safety-- to "blend in"-- it is done because the first time buyer inevitably has virtually zero options, other than (possibly) a choice of colours. It's like living in China in the 1960s-- "does sir want a grey, or gray, Mao jacket?" Of course no one stands out, they don't have the option to stand out, they have no choice to stand out, because they have little or no choice in what's on offer.

If you were to attend the annual tartan ball of the St. Andrew's Society of Washington DC dressed in your finest evening attire you wouldn't stand out, you'd blend in with all the other well-dressed gentlemen who would be wearing everything from the ubiquitously boring Prince Charlie coatee to bespoke velvet doublets that would cause Sandy to swoon. You would also be discretely approached by gentlemen in "Price" Charlie coatees quietly asking for an introduction to your tailor.

Yours in foppery and a well cut sleeve...

Scott

[CMcG]

It seems then that supply and demand in regards to sales and rentals of Highland wear have had a flattening effect on options. Part of this too probably has to do with what Riverkilt wrote about a lack of sewing being done at home. People rely increasingly on retailers, and less frequently on tailors, for things they don't have the time or knowledge to make themselves.

I imagine the situation also has something to do with information though; the unfortunate newbie who wishes to be kilted, but hasn't discovered resources like Xmarks, doesn't know that there are other options than a PC and white hose...

Before Xmarks, I learned a bit from my dad, who learned a few things from playing in a pipe band as a youth. I also gleaned small pieces of advice from an aunt with a more cultivated relationship to Scottish heritage than the rest of the Canadianized family. From the internet, I found much more information from sources like Matt Newsome and eventually XMTS but I've also had to parse through the advertisements from retailers and rentals. I then got my hands on Thompson's book and looked at lots of pictures online because I don't have much of a family, association, piping, or local tradition and no military background to draw on... I'm still learning and trying to sort through such a great variety of positions and approaches!

This brings me back to curiosity about where other members of the rabble, especially the aficionados of Highland apparel and style, know their stuff from? Inherited tradition or cultivated sense of classic?