Tartan Day 2010 Photos: Depicting Highland Dress

[McClef]

Very smart and love the sprig - a feather in your cap you might say.

[davidlpope]

Great photos as always Kyle and thanks for sharing. I'm curious as to why you haven't posted them in the "Show Us Your Pics" section of the forum though?

I'm sure Kyle can answer for his own reasoning, but it makes sense to me. These photos were submitted as examples of Traditional Highland Civilian Dress (THCD), not just random kilt-wearing. I think it's useful to make this distinction for new folks to the site who don't understand/ recognize the difference between this style of attire and the "get-up" that most folks encounter at their local Scottish festival or Highland Games in the U.S. Putting this under the "Show us your Pics" would just lump THCD in with everything from X-Kilts to the Felidh Mor, without making this distinction.

Cordially,

David

[CMcG]

Thanks David. Makes sense to me!

[creagdhubh]

Thank you David, you are exactly right! That was my intention and reasoning indeed.

Cheers,

[creagdhubh]

Lookin' mighty good, cousin! Cheers, BYU

Thanks cousin!

Creag dhubh,

[creagdhubh]

Very smart and love the sprig - a feather in your cap you might say.

Ha! Quite right!

Thanks,

[creagdhubh]

You look very well put together, as always. You are a great ambassador for the kilt!

As you are too Matt! Many thanks mate.

Cheers,

[English Bloke]

Very smart indeed Kyle, but why the Black Watch and Scots Guards Regimental ties?

[Jock Scot]

Very smart indeed Kyle, but why the Black Watch and Scots Guards Regimental ties?

Quite right EB! Sorry Kyle, I am not keen on you wearing those ties, great though they are.

[creagdhubh]

Gentlemen,

Thank you for your query. I hesitate to discuss, in great detail, that particluar topic again, because I wrote quite a lengthy post explaining why I choose to wear the Regimental neckties pictured, at certain times whilst I wear Highland day attire. The main point of my explanation, posted on XMTS a few months ago, is that I served alongside those Regiments, as an active duty U.S. Marine NCO during Opertaion Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. I also became wonderful friends with many of the soldiers over the many, many months my unit was deployed over there. They certainly do not object to me wearing their Regimental Colours (I still regularly converse with many of them via e-mail and facebook, and have raised this specific topic with them), even with the obvious fact that I am an American and a former active duty U.S. Marine, and I wouldn't object to them wearing the Regimental Colours of the U.S. Marine Corps (we do have Regimental/Armed Forces branch neckties here in the US as well, and in my experience, they are held in the same high regard as they are in the UK), be it through the form of a necktie. In comparison-I am most certainly not, and obviously never would as I have earned my own, wearing their medals; I am honoring my fellow warriors in which I had the distinct honour of serving alongside, and their beloved Regiments (which as you know, are no more due to the unfortunate amalgamation) by wearing the neckties of their time honored Regiments. Though it wouldn't be solely a legitimate reason to wear the aforementioned neckties, I am of Scottish (Highland) descent as well, which the Jocks most certainly respected and were curious about.

I understand that there are people on XMTS that do not like me wearing the Regimental neckties that have been featured in several of my photos, and would rather see me in a generic, striped necktie that has no affiliation or meaning. I do in fact own many of those style of neckties, and wear them often. Sometimes, I prefer to wear the Regimental neckties, especially when I reflect upon my experiences whilst on deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan, and think of the many Jocks I had the pleasure of meeting, becoming life-long best mates with, and fighting alongside. It's an entirely unique and surreal experience, especially when much of my time in the Marines was spent as a very young man. It is an experience only a combat veteran would understand. I shall continue to wear the Regimental neckties, to include my quite handsome U.S. Marine Corps Regimental necktie, which has not been featured in an uploaded photo of me on XMTS...yet. I apologize to the few members of XMTS that are offended (and may always continue to feel so, no matter what I say, but please, do not hold me in any personal discontent, or perhaps be too quick to dismiss my legitimate, honourable actions as dishonourable) by my decision to wear the neckties (some of you may be military veterans yourself-I do not know); I do not mean any disrespect towards you or any other for that matter. I have the blessing of my good friends that are indeed veterans of those specific Scottish Regiments (I can provide additional information if one does not believe me) and they certainly do not think ill of it-especially when they have observed the context upon which I am wearing the neckties. I respect and honour those Regiments, I respect and honour my own unit, I respect all of the brave young men I fought with, and I respect all of you. I thank you for your continued interest, advice, and delightful conversations with regards to traditional and appropriate Highland dress.

Kind regards,