ancient kilt

[findyourinsanity]

i just dont get why they didnt put em in great kilts, i mean they are basically the same thing except the great kilt is double wide as opposed to single-width.

[macwilkin]

i just dont get why they didnt put em in great kilts, i mean they are basically the same thing except the great kilt is double wide as opposed to single-width.

That would still be historically incorrect. From Matt Newsome's web site:

Despite what you saw in Braveheart the belted plaid was not worn in the 13th and 14th centuries. The belted plaid costumes worn in that movie were not even very good representations of the belted plaids. I honestly do not know how the costumers could have claimed to have done any historical research—they simply designed a garment that they thought looked both Scottish and medieval.

See: http://www.albanach.org/kilt.html

Cheers,

Todd

[Geoduck]

Honestly, I did enjoy the film. The historical inaccuracies were painful at times, but being a historian, I come to expect that. My understanding was that they tried to use kilts that would be as primitive as they could look and with tartan colors that would be available during that period... I don't know why they bothered with this, considering that they overlooked the fact that kilts weren't in existence yet, but oh well...

The story is a good one, and if it had happened on Middle Earth (or something similar) it would have worked nicely. There are so many painful moments ignoring historical fact, that you almost just want to ignore them all and let yourself go.

With that said, I'm with Bubba, too many people take Hollywood for historical fact, and to sound like Michael Moore: "Shame on you Hollywood, for selling out our society for entertainment value."

(Getting off my soap box)...

Back to the original point, we are already paying a pretty penny for our kilts, and going for something that is less than a quality product will eventually become a disappointment. I'm with Hamish, go with something you can truely be proud of...

Thanks,

George

[Matthews]

With historical accuracy tossed aside, I would still place my opinion on the 'nay' pile. Reasoning is that they use Homespun wool which is filled with a lot of imperfections, worst being those little balls that form all over that cats like to rip off. It would actually look, more or less, like if you were to wrap your grandmother's woolen quilt around you. Although if you are a big Renn Faire type you may want to, I know they're historically inaccurate but so is 80% of the stuff people wear there anyways.

Cheers,
T.R. Matthews

[Hamish]

Seems like everyone is of the same mind on this one. I'll just add that, despite the name, no kilt like this was ever worn historically by the Scots. Seems to be a style made up for Braveheart!
Aye,
Matt

Yea that's what i've heard many times and i've wondered, where and why did they make it up if its not what they wore?

It strikes me that Shetland Piper, about whom I know nothing by the way, is just another commercial company out to make a profit, mainly from unsuspecting punters. They have found a niche market and are out to exploit it.

We do not have Renn Faires here in England, but I have to say that 99% of the photos I have seen of American events of that nature, give me the impression that those attending are enjoying the fun of extended fancy dress parties!! That said, I am sure there are some authentic-looking costumes out there, but they have to be very few and far between.

I repeat my advice: unless you are a Renn Faire freak (or a fancy dress party goer), avoid the so-called 'historical' look. Choose something more suited to the present day - something that won't get you laughed at!

Believe me, and I have been there but learned my lesson, buy something inferior and you will very soon, if not immediately, regret it.

[findyourinsanity]

thanks guys

[Verlyn]

Interesting thread, but as a die hard rennie, I would not use that kilt either. I'll be the first to admit that many Rennies are not historically accurate, but most try. I cheat with my kilt; I use my amerikilt because I like wearing it and its the only one I have currently. For the Renaissance period, kilts as we know them didn't appear until very late in the renaissance, but there is some (not much) but some sources that indicate that a single colored kilt was preferred by mercenaries and warriors because it allowed them to blend into the heath. Accurate? Who really knows for sure. But a rough made kilt would such as that would not fit into the period at all since most of the dress of the moneyed at that time was dress to impress; even the poor used the left overs. Too often, many rennie wannabes use the poor/rough construction think, erroneously, that textiles were not advanced at that period in time. I would argue that, in many ways, they were better than the mass produced crap the masses go after today. Most faires are involved in the fantasy aspect, so aren't too concerned with accuracy unless you are cast. In that case, there is some sort of "period police" who will not allow you to wear the kilt if the time frame for that faire is such that kilts weren't considered to be in use then. But that's for the cast, not the patrons. That being said, serious patrons do strive for authenticity; especially those involved with the SCA. And I agree, if you're going to shell out that much money, get something that looks better than that. My 2cents worth as a newbie to the board.