What is Traditional Highland Dress?

[MacLowlife]

I think you are right, Jock, about the blurring. Many gentlemen I know in Scottish Heritage circles ( of which I am on only the very outer edge ) are either military men or formerly so. Matt Newsome and others ( Even Charles Thompson, I think) have commented on the tendency towards pin and badge wearing with otherwise civilian clothing. And, like white hose, it seems to be something that nobody much praises, but a lot of people do.

But here is something to think about: Unless one wears a uniform, (i.e., identical clothing to everyone else) one can only be "typical" ( of a type) which means A LOT LIKE, BUT NOT IDENTICAL TO others. That means your shirt may vary slightly from your neighbor's, or your hose, or the cut of your jacket, or the placement of the buttons, or whatever the variation is. But it has to be one or the other- identical, and thus uniform, or varying within a range and thus typical ( and I might add, Traditional). All of this means, to my mind, that Traditional Civilian Dress must vary, must have some inconsistencies, must deviate from time to time from other examples. And, thus, like a running average, the "type" at one point in time may ( and probably SHOULD) vary a little from the type at another point, earlier or later. That is, it evolves, or at least does not remain entirely constant. Or have I missed something?

[creagdhubh]

Interesting discussion gents. I rather enjoyed the conversation between Jock and MacLowlife. Thanks for making me think constructively and at a deeper level with regards to traditional Highland civilian attire versus Highland regimental (and piper's/drummer's) uniforms.

Kind regards,