Curious about the "rules"

[Jock Scot]

Alright this is not going to be easy to explain, there are no rules, only conventions, traditions and expectations. We are talking civilian wear here in general and Scots civilian attire in particular. There are most certainly books that are there to help guide people through these conventions and I suppose "So you want to wear the kilt" is one that is often read by those needing some guidance, there are others. However there is not a book of dress regulations(rules) as far as I am aware that has ever existed for civilians.So where and how these assorted forms of civilian dress and the accompanying conventions emerged from I really don't know, but I suspect that the civilians were trying to keep up with the military who most certainly did and do have regulations.

Right, what needs to be understood right from the start that you can wear what you like to any event you choose, providing it is within the realms of decency, I suppose. Whether you will be invited back to a particular function ever again is another matter entirely!

Let us go back say a hundred years where grand dinners, balls,grand social events were nearly all private events, so if you had the privilege to be invited you made damn sure you towed the line, not only in respect to your host and hostess, but to your fellow guests and to yourself. If you did not keep within the conventions any further invitations were unlikely to be forthcoming and this not only could, it did effect your future prospects . It was that simple.

These days dinners, Burns nights, etc. are quite often (More often than not probably) a commercial affair where a ticket to the function is often paid for, and of course if some one has paid hard earned cash they do feel that they have a certain right to question the dress code. Which on the face of it, they have a point!

But guests still do have a responsibility, to the occasion(not so much their hosts in this case)and other guests of the event with not only their dress but also their behaviour too. You are in the public eye and make no mistake, people will be forming an opinion. If you don't, maybe next year all of a sudden there will be no tickets for YOU to purchase. In other words wear what you like just don't expect to come back!

There is still room for individual flair and Highland attire gives greater scope than some, but there are limits.