Curious about the "rules"

[kiltedwolfman]

Some very good posts so far, and I give thanks to those who have posted. I am not asking these things for myself as I do have a habit of dressing decently ( at least to me I do hehe )
I am thinking of times when I've heard; or read, that on this type of occasion, or that type of occasion one MUST wear this, or obversely one MUST NOT wear that. And again that makes me beg the question why? Or why not? For example on another thread there is discussion about wearing a dirk. Many replies have stated quite certainly that there are times is must not be worn, and there are times it is acceptable. The same is said about fly plaids, or miniature medals etc. Why do these rules, guidelines, whatever you would call them exist? Is a person sporting a nice well turned out casual set completely out of sorts is he wears a dirk? Ifso why? Or is a person under dressed if they attend a white tie affair and neglect a fly plaid or his/her miniatures? Again ifso why?
It appears to me so far that many ideas on what should be worn and when are a matter of past precedent and insomuch are maintained by the simplest of justifications, it's just the way it's always been done.
I wonder if it isn't time for an onverhaul on convention? Or perhaps an upgrade of the apparatus so to speak since when you look at some highland fashion it often looks like something pulled from antiquity.

* Disclaimer* I thank everyone for their patience, and thoughtful responces. My goal is active and quality discussion, as well as clarification. There are many a newcomer that certainly enjoy a decent exchange of ideas on topics like this.

[tripleblessed]

A lot depends on your definition of tradition, and your understanding of good
taste, and your typical activities. For me, traditional covers more than just the last hundred years. For many on the forum, it seems to mean what they've gotten used to doing over the last thirty to fifty years. Some, it's clear, learned this from fathers who attended many functions and did a good job of teaching what is expected of a " gentleman". Never mind that proper dress and good manners do not necessarily produce gentlemanly behavior, merely well-dressed, civil, well-spoken folks who may be gentlemen or crass boors and crooks with good connections. Traditionally, highland dress was very individual, with interesting results among those not often at court. Any
combination might be seen, and was, and can be again. Spend a bit of time with Jock's point about being invited back. And a bit of wit and flair for the
timely bon mots will gain forgiveness for some indiscretions. On the other
hand, you may spend a lot of time, all alone, dressed precisely as you please.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Why do these rules, guidelines, whatever you would call them exist?

The rules exist to allow a smooth social transition from one set of life's daily events to another. The greatest social benefit of the rules is that they put the "first timer" at ease by placing him/her on the same visual level as everyone else at the event, thus knocking down at least one social barrier that might prevent one from feeling comfortable at that event.

Is a person sporting a nice well turned out casual set completely out of sorts is he wears a dirk? Ifso why?

Yes, he's "out of sorts", and for exactly the same reason he'd be "out of sorts" if he turned up at a casual luncheon wearing a blue blazer, gray flannel trousers and six-inch Buck hunting knife. Belt knives (and that includes the dirk) are only worn on specific occasions and when engaged in specific activities, kilted or otherwise.

Or is a person under dressed if they attend a white tie affair and neglect a fly plaid or his/her miniatures? Again ifso why?

Far more comments would be passed if one showed up at a white tie event wearing a fly plaid... when plaids are called for (attendance at Court, for example) full plaids are are worn by gentlemen, not fly plaids. The wearing of miniatures medals is, as far as civilians are concerned, optional. So, no, they wouldn't be "under dressed" for the reasons just given.

It appears to me so far that many ideas on what should be worn and when are a matter of past precedent and insomuch are maintained by the simplest of justifications, it's just the way it's always been done.

That's right. And the reason that it's done is that the rules go a long way toward eliminating the possibility of making someone feel uncomfortable-- or unwanted-- at a social event. In other words, the rules are about encouraging social inclusion.

I wonder if it isn't time for an onverhaul on convention?

Why? The conventions of dress work just fine for the vast majority of people. Last Saturday I was at a Tartan Ball in Washington DC. This was a "black tie" event attended by about 250/300 people. All the gentlemen were in black tie-- four or five were in dinner jackets, and one gentleman was in his military uniform-- but no one looked out of place, or uncomfortable in their surroundings. Except for one, poor unfortunate who had decided to wear a black four in hand tie with his dinner jacket. Trendy, I'm sure, but unfortunately he just looked like a guy in a black suit and, being mistaken for a hotel employee, several people approached him asking for directions to the toilets...

Or perhaps an upgrade of the apparatus so to speak since when you look at some highland fashion it often looks like something pulled from antiquity.

Might I suggest, as a Scot, that if individuals do not like the way our traditional Highland attire appears, that they are free to wear some other mode of dress? Despite my fondness for mariachi music and regular attendance at the Mexican National Rodeo, I would never presume to suggest that charros should "upgrade their apparatus" because it it looks like something "pulled from antiquity"; rather, if attending a fiesta, I would respect it for what it is-- an on going extension of their culture, not mine-- and dress with as much attention to tradition and conventional detail as possible. Either that or I'd wear some other mode of attire appropriate to the event.

[gary meakin]

As they say in The House of Lords..."hear hear"