What is Traditional Highland Dress?

[Steve Ashton]

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[ThistleDown]

This is "the place to talk about Traditional and Classic Highland Apparel and Style," right? But what does that actually mean?

There is precedent for the discussions to centre around post-WWI civilian attire, though I haven't seen any written rule to that effect. There seem to me to be other types of traditional or classic Highland apparel and style that don't have another home on this site...

When anyone posts in this section about pipers, the military, pre-20th century dress, or contemporary style, they are usually chastised for being off-topic. It seems to me, however, that these are important aspects of Highland attire. At the very least they are important influences.

I'm not talking about fullest, uniform regalia; overblown, Romantic-era, historical attire; or modern, runway fashion, which might go more on the Historical or Modern sections of Xmarks. I mean situations where pipers are wearing outfits that are similar to what their kilted audience might wear. Or some types of mess dress that are also not so different from what civilians wear. Or historical attire that is very nearly the same as modern attire. Or contemporary variations on tradition that don't entirely break with convention.

I recognize that the nature of tradition is conservative but why can't there be room here for broader discussion of all aspects of Highland attire?

In other threads we have addressed the very important issue of the source of our traditions and the influence the Scots/Canadian/Anzac military has had on Highland civilian dress of today. The experts among us (and the many more who are not in this forum) generally agree that what we wear and how we wear it in the 21C is largely attributable to our British military tradition. Those same experts are not, however, in any sort of agreement on how much credance should be given to the "overblown" and "romantic" image of the 19C and its influence on today's manner of dress.

In those other threads we have discussed the difference in attitude and opinion of folk who live Highland culture on a daily basis -- and in so doing absorb its history and its manners through constant exposure, those who visit the culture periodiocally and read voluminously, and those who pick and choose from the myths and snatches of historical fact out there in the wild world.

Each of us must accept where we are in that milieu and look to others to teach from their perspective and place in all of this. The only "right" of tradition, surely, is how Highland dress is worn in the Highlands of Scotland today. Not how it is worn by any individual in Canberra or Saskatoon or Christchurch or Dallas or Atlanta or Oslo or Rome or London -- or, with great respect and some hesitancy, Dumfries or Aberdeen. Not, either, how it is worn by a competition pipe band from any one of those places.

CMcG's point needs to be well taken for discussion, but it needs to be considered not in terms of traditional attire, but only in regards to the manner in which Highland dress is changing in parts of the world outwith the Highlands as it is adopted and adapted in those parts. It is altering at home as a result of international product market pressures and its own internal evolution. That change is crucial to this discussion but is separate from it.

We must be cautious of the tail's great desire to wag the dog.

[Jock Scot]

In other threads we have addressed the very important issue of the source of our traditions and the influence the Scots/Canadian/Anzac military has had on Highland civilian dress of today. The experts among us (and the many more who are not in this forum) generally agree that what we wear and how we wear it in the 21C is largely attributable to our British military tradition. Those same experts are not, however, in any sort of agreement on how much credance should be given to the "overblown" and "romantic" image of the 19C and its influence on today's manner of dress.

In those other threads we have discussed the difference in attitude and opinion of folk who live Highland culture on a daily basis -- and in so doing absorb its history and its manners through constant exposure, those who visit the culture periodiocally and read voluminously, and those who pick and choose from the myths and snatches of historical fact out there in the wild world.

Each of us must accept where we are in that milieu and look to others to teach from their perspective and place in all of this. The only "right" of tradition, surely, is how Highland dress is worn in the Highlands of Scotland today. Not how it is worn by any individual in Canberra or Saskatoon or Christchurch or Dallas or Atlanta or Oslo or Rome or London -- or, with great respect and some hesitancy, Dumfries or Aberdeen. Not, either, how it is worn by a competition pipe band from any one of those places.

CMcG's point needs to be well taken for discussion, but it needs to be considered not in terms of traditional attire, but only in regards to the manner in which Highland dress is changing in parts of the world outwith the Highlands as it is adopted and adapted in those parts. It is altering at home as a result of international product market pressures and its own internal evolution. That change is crucial to this discussion but is separate from it.

We must be cautious of the tail's great desire to wag the dog.

Wise words there Rex.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

In the past I have defined "traditional" as relating to the way things have been done "in living memory." In other words, if I can recall my father wearing the kilt a certain way, and my grandfather doing the same, then that is "traditional" (at least in my family). I think this is a good test as far as it goes.

Another way of looking at the difference between "traditional" and "historic" is that traditional fashion is still in fashion. Historic dress is not. So traditional style might have been worn two or three generations ago but is still contemporary (contemporary in the sense of still viable for current fashion, not contemporary in the sense that we speak of "contemporary kilts"; i.e. Utilikilts, or 21st century kilts, etc.)

A Highland outfit can contain items of historic fashion, such an historic sporran, or an historic cut of waistcoat, and still work well for contemporary wear, and so the overall look would be "traditional." I put the four yard box pleated kilts I make in this category. They are based on an historic pleating style, but can still very much be worn with contemporary Highland dress. They are "traditional kilts."

On the other hand, if one were wearing actual historic Highland Dress the impression would not be of a contemporary man in Highland attire, but rather of someone participating in a reenactment or an educational interpretation, or dressing for a play, etc. In other words the outfit clearly mimics the fashions of an earlier time, not today.

In short:
Traditional = might have elements of past fashion, but still remains a viable fashion today.
Historic = recreates past fashion no longer in current use.

[creagdhubh]

Here's another good thread on the topic started by...
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...16/index3.html

I think it's almost easier to see "traditional highland dress" in photos, instead of trying to define it. It seems that one can have all the "right pieces" but the overall effect may not look right. To that end, I suggest the photo thread which features HRH Prince Charles.

Cordially,

David

Exactly! HRH Prince Charles is at the very epicenter of what traditional Highland dress should look like. Of course, I'd like to say that I do a rather splendid job of it as well!

Slainte,

[OC Richard]

In the past I have defined "traditional" as relating to the way things have been done "in living memory."

Another way of looking at the difference between "traditional" and "historic" is that traditional fashion is still in fashion. Historic dress is not.

In short:
Traditional = might have elements of past fashion, but still remains a viable fashion today.
Historic = recreates past fashion no longer in current use.

Those work for me!

"Traditional" to me usually implies an unbroken usage from when something first appeared till today. This nearly always means that the thing has undergone a process of gradual evolution of form.


"Historical" to me means that the lineage of usage has been broken at some point in the past. So one can, today, go back and make a replica of the historical thing, but it remains a historical thing for now. If the revived historical thing is used continuously for a few generations it then becomes tradtional once again, I suppose.

For Highland Dress, "traditional" for me means the sorts of dress worn from around the 1920's through the 1950's. In another sense it's in the eye of the beholder and relative.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Guys, just remember that this forum is/should be about civilian attire, and not about military uniforms, band uniforms, or Highland costumes worn by performers, etc. which properly belong in other forums.

I think Steve pretty much nailed it when he locked in on the period 1900-1980 as defining what most consider as "traditional" Highland attire, with the real emphasis (in my opinion) being on those classic styles developed in the 1930s and still worn today. To be sure some of us may accessorize with antique military sporrans or contemporary kilt pins, but these are mere fillips to what is traditional Highland attire.

[creagdhubh]

Guys, just remember that this forum is/should be about civilian attire, and not about military uniforms, band uniforms, or Highland costumes worn by performers, etc. which properly belong in other forums.

I think Steve pretty much nailed it when he locked in on the period 1900-1980 as defining what most consider as "traditional" Highland attire, with the real emphasis (in my opinion) being on those classic styles developed in the 1930s and still worn today. To be sure some of us may accessorize with antique military sporrans or contemporary kilt pins, but these are mere fillips to what is traditional Highland attire.

I agree Scott. Well said old chap.

Aye,

[Micric]

Quote from Creagdhubh;
..."Exactly! HRH Prince Charles is at the very epicenter of what traditional Highland dress should look like. Of course, I'd like to say that I do a rather splendid job of it as well!"

Kyle,
This is one area where you are not very traditional old chap. It's not cricket to blow one's own trumpet.
This is meant in the kindest possible way, with the very best of wishes.

Richard.

[McClef]

Kyle,
This is one area where you are not very traditional old chap. It's not cricket to blow one's own trumpet.
This is meant in the kindest possible way, with the very best of wishes.

Richard.

But he knows he has had plenty of praise from others so it's not as self-opinionated as you think Micric.