A Multitude of Photographical Examples of How I approach Traditional Highland Dress

[creagdhubh]

Great thread. You have a wonderful life and a beautiful wife. God has blessed you. Best wishes. The photos really cheered me up. You are a purist. You wear the kilt perfectly. Thanks.

Very kind words, thank you. I am glad they cheered you up my friend.

God Bless,

[creagdhubh]

Is it just the angle, or does the chief not have his ribbons flying free and untied? It doesn't appear that he does not have ribbons loose in this photo.

On this particular bonnet of his, he has simply cut them off. I have seen him wear other Balmoral's with the ribbons trailing behind. Note: not all Macpherson men leave their ribbons loose, as tradition says, some-just a few, tie them in a bow. I will tie my ribbons in a bow whilst wearing a fawn, lovat blue, or lovat green Balmoral. My darker bonnets are all untied. I don't think Cluny would object with the tieing of my lighter colored bonnets!

[NewEnglander]

On this particular bonnet of his, he has simply cut them off. I have seen him wear other Balmoral's with the ribbons trailing behind. Note: not all Macpherson men leave their ribbons loose, as tradition says, some-just a few, tie them in a bow. I will tie my ribbons in a bow whilst wearing a fawn, lovat blue, or lovat green Balmoral. My darker bonnets are all untied. I don't think Cluny would object with the tieing of my lighter colored bonnets!

That's a clan tradition I've never heard of. I only have one bonnet and I had it made with no ribbons at all so I guess I'm doing alright!

[JSFMACLJR]

I don't think Cluny would object with the tieing of my lighter colored bonnets!

What objections does Cluny have to bows on bonnets? What is the basis for this Macpherson tradition?

Cheers!

[creagdhubh]

Looking at all these photos really makes me want to go out and get a tweed kilt jacket!

Such a contrast, that one photo of you in your lovely Lovat Green tweed jacket and coordination hose, and the piper in the typical modern pipe band look of black jacket and dark hose.

Then as a very nice touch someone posted a photo of Pipe Major Alistair Gillies playing in a Lovat Green kilt jacket!

It's sad, in a way, that pipers have mostly abandoned that very nice look, which was very popular amongst pipers in the old days:



Here's a very lovely photo of a contemporary piper wearing this look:



I used to wear that look but that was 25 years and 40 pounds ago:

Thanks Richard and I agree with you about the dress of "solo" pipers these days. One can always look to Gordon Walker or Roger Huth for inspiration! As far as the photo in which you thought it was Alastair Gillies, is incorrect, it is not Alastair, it's my good friend Matt Pantaleoni-the same chap in the other two photos that include me.

The photo in which you thought it was Alastair, was one I took at a games in Montrose, Scotland. Matt was competing in a piobaireach'd where he took second, playing "The Massacre of Glencoe". He does look a lot like Alastair doesn't he! Matt and Alastair have actually met several times whilst in Scotland-of course you know that Alastair now lives in Pittsburgh, PA, where he teaches piping at Carnegie Melon University. Cheers!

[creagdhubh]

That's a clan tradition I've never heard of. I only have one bonnet and I had it made with no ribbons at all so I guess I'm doing alright!

I'll find the past issue of our clan's annual publication, "Creag Dhubh," where it discusses this tradition, and shall send it to you.

Aye,

[creagdhubh]

What objections does Cluny have to bows on bonnets? What is the basis for this Macpherson tradition?

Cheers!

It goes back to what else, but a clan feud in the 14th-century (specifically concerning the Battle of Invernahavon in Badenoch, circa 1370) between the Mackintoshes, the Davidsons, the Macphersons, and the Camerons. As I told NewEnglander, I will find the story in a past issue of "Creag Dhubh", our clan's annual publication from Scotland, and shall post it on this thread. I think it's in the 1954 issue, if my memory serves me correctly. I own every physical issue since the first one in 1946. You may also view them at the "sonasmor" link below.

Slainte,

[longhuntr74]

Kyle...I opened this thread the other day from work, but it blocks all the pics...darned Government computer networks!!! Anyways...finally got to look tonight and wanted to say that I love the pics and this thread. You definitely have class and style...I look to your pics for examples of what "right" looks like. I love the Regimental Doublet and intend to have one made at some point...though I'm thinking velvet in dark green with purple lapels and cuffs!!! If you're going to go for it...go all the way!!!!

I'm quite jealous of your direct connections with Scottish culture and heritage...and think it's great that you only have kilts with you clan tartan(s). I, unfortunately, cannot claim the same...though I recently was told of Scottish lineage by a distant cousin. I know there is some...but we've all been Americans now in my family for nearly 200 years...most of my lineage being English and Dutch.

[BoldHighlander]

I'm quite jealous of your direct connections with Scottish culture and heritage...and think it's great that you only have kilts with you clan tartan(s). I, unfortunately, cannot claim the same...though I recently was told of Scottish lineage by a distant cousin. I know there is some...but we've all been Americans now in my family for nearly 200 years...most of my lineage being English and Dutch.

Don't let that stop you

[OC Richard]

Thanks for the correction! He's the spitting image of Alastair, even wearing the identical Queens Own Highlanders glengarry.