Curious about the "rules"

[Pyper]

The "rules" for wearing highland attire are pretty much like the rules for any other sort of attire. You wear what you wear because you want to fit into a group.

So if you want to wear Highland attire, you should find out what the "rules" are, and then decide how you want to follow -- and/or break -- them.

Certainly one of the rules used to be that kilts are wool and kilts are tartan, but today at any Highland games in the USA you'll see plenty of people wearing kilts that are neither. Opinions will vary on that, and this thread really isn't the place for that discussion -- the point is, those people are doing the same thing as the others -- they're wearing a certain garment a certain way to show they are part of a particular group.

It's all very tribal.

Contra-intuitively, one also signifies being part of a particular group by not following the rules of a group (if you dress unlike those in the group then one is part of the group called "outsider"). Frank Lloyd Wright was a great example of this. He deliberately set himself apart as not being part of the group (the group called "normal") by designing clothing for himself that was unique.

[wildrover]

Certainly one of the rules used to be that kilts are wool and kilts are tartan, but today at any Highland games in the USA you'll see plenty of people wearing kilts that are neither. Opinions will vary on that, and this thread really isn't the place for that discussion -- the point is, those people are doing the same thing as the others -- they're wearing a certain garment a certain way to show they are part of a particular group.

Isn't it? Emphasis mine.

That discussion has been attempted before, and generally goes nowhere. My own personal opinion is that our forum is on one hand too open-minded about what constitutes a kilt, and on the other hand too reluctant to post the strong opinions that may eventually be refined in to meaningful and intelligent discussions...or perhaps unable to move past them.

Even within our community, people wear certain garments certain ways to show inclusion in cultural and social groups, to demonstrate their individuality within a group, or to show their decision to exclude themselves from a group. I took the time yesterday to thoughtfully read this entire thread, as well as another which did not seem related at first:
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...sle-3-a-62611/

The simple act of asking about "The Rules" comes about by a desire for inclusion. People judge based on appearances...it is human. Our ability to set appearance aside requires conscious effort, and there is certainly no shame in admitting to it. Whether you are wearing a suit, kilt, or duck cloth and boots, your appearance suggests that either you are of, or desire inclusion in, a particular group. Appearances different from or in contrast to another group might even result in hostility between groups...or respect, or indifference, or amusement.

Even the advice of Pete's granddad can find itself out of place...but the sentiments behind it apply to punk shows as well as whatever opera house might assume music to be best appreciated while wearing spats.

-Sean

[Pyper]

Isn't it? Emphasis mine.

My thinking is that this thread (per the original poster) is primarily about the nature of the the rules, not the content of the rules.

Of course threads do tend to drift, but it seems like if we went off and started discussing the rules themselves we'd quickly loose sight of the topic the OP is interested in.