What do you call these kilts?

[BoldHighlander]

So, since there were no time outs at Stirling Bridge, she doubts their accuracy.

Accuracy and Braveheart are two completely different animals

[MacWage]

No, it was definitely something unknown outside of the movies.

I remember coming across an article not long ago on a historical dress site written by a woman knowledgeable about such who tried to put together the kilts as worn in "Braveheart." She had some one wear one and exercise vigorously as if he were fighting a battle. She reported that he couldn't go more than a few minutes without having to stop the battle and readjust his strap/plaid/whatever it was in order to prevent its falling off. So, since there were no time outs at Stirling Bridge, she doubts their accuracy.

The outfit in Braveheart is in NO WAY connected to the one in Rob Roy.

They both came out in 1995 and were NOT connected.
Rob Roy has VERY accurate costumes, created under the supervision of Peter MacDonald, tartan and kilt expert. http://www.scottishtartans.co.uk/ (Peter's site)

Braveheart's costumes were made by someone who had NO IDEA what belted plaids were supposed to look like, that Scotland wasn't a "third world" 13th/14th century nation, and that the nobles of that period were a tad fond of FULL BODY ARMOUR.
I think they enjoyed the Scotch and shortbread WAY to much . . .

NEVER compare the accuracy of the 2.


Back to topic . . .
Albannach wears belted plaids from a fabric that they liked and picked up on a GREAT deal in Scotland.
I have my info FROM THE BAND ITSELF! Confirmed by their ROADIE (as to the tartan, which I forgot to ask in person at the games).
It is a BELTED PLAID!
Also known as a "Great Kilt."

The costumes in Rob Roy ALSO include BELTED PLAIDS and were mentioned as a visual cross reference (several methods of using the upper part can be seen in the movie).

Braveheart's costumes have NOTHING to do with the REAL belted plaid as seen being worn by Albannach AND Rob Roy.

[IndianaGentry]

So... belted plaid seems to be the popular answer here. I figured as much, but thought it was worth asking. Thanks for the input!

I don't know about the garment but I saw that group perform in the Rocky Mountains and they were quite good. Their energy level was crazy.

Indeed... I was at the top of the Scott Monument when they started playing, and I kept looking around from my bird's eye view, trying to figure out where the music was coming from. I couldn't see them performing because they were at the foot of the very monument! I picked up their CD (Eye of the Storm) after watching this performance, which is a simply fantastic CD. One word of advice- don't listen to it when you are driving, or you'll find that the drums tend to make you drive faster than you realize.

[MacWage]

Accuracy and Braveheart are two completely different animals

Agree . . .
There was a William Wallace that fought a war of Scottish independence against Edward I of England.
He won a Battle of Stirling Bridge, lost at Falkirk (which is actually just a tad down river), and was hung, drawn and quartered . . . SEVEN YEARS LATER!
There WAS a noble named Robert the Bruce that took up where Wallace left off.

ALL else has LITTLE to NOTHING to do with the real history. It is almost ALL wrong (as has been discussed here many times).

The ONLY connection of that film to Albannach is a spirit of Scottish pride, independence, and strength. Also, they sing some songs in the SPIRIT and BASED UPON the HISTORICAL Wallace and Bruce.
Not their clothing . . .

So, let's leave that alone here.

[MacWage]

. . . One word of advice- don't listen to it when you are driving, or you'll find that the drums tend to make you drive faster than you realize.

BUT . . . It's my FAVORITE driving music . . .
It pretty much STAYS in my CD player.

[IndianaGentry]

I'm only helping to run this off-topic, but... As pathetic a history lesson that Braveheart (the movie) is, it is incredible how much the Scots love that film. I asked about it several times while I was there, and everyone agreed that it is a great movie in their eyes. The main reason is apparently because they enjoy watching anything that shows the Scots kicking the collective arses of the English.

If you make it to Stirling and visit the National Wallace Monument, be sure to check out the statue near the parking lot- Wallace's face looks just like Mel Gibson's. No kidding. I was told that the statue has been vandalised many times because of this. Many of the souvenirs in the gift shop (at the bottom of the hill, not inside the monumnet) also resemble Mel. Funny stuff...

Also, there are 2 statues at the entrance to Edinburgh Castle- Robert the Bruce, and William Wallace. Neither man ever stepped foot inside the castle.

I nearly brought back a bolt of tartan, but spent my money elsewhere. There is a "Braveheart" tartan available around Edinburgh that is quite attractive- mostly various shades of brown and "earthtone colors" that look quite nice. I was told that it actually started with the Rob Roy tartan as the "base," and was altered from there. I still might order a length of it one day.

[BoldHighlander]

I'm in concordance with everything you've said on the subject MacWage.....'nuff said from me on it

Agree . . .
There was a William Wallace that fought a war of Scottish independence against Edward I of England.
He won a Battle of Stirling Bridge, lost at Falkirk (which is actually just a tad down river), and was hung, drawn and quartered . . . SEVEN YEARS LATER!
There WAS a noble named Robert the Bruce that took up where Wallace left off.

ALL else has LITTLE to NOTHING to do with the real history. It is almost ALL wrong (as has been discussed here many times).

The ONLY connection of that film to Albannach is a spirit of Scottish pride, independence, and strength. Also, they sing some songs in the SPIRIT and BASED UPON the HISTORICAL Wallace and Bruce.
Not their clothing . . .

So, let's leave that alone here.

[David Dalglish]

I call them "Crap"

[Arlen]

No, it was definitely something unknown outside of the movies.

I remember coming across an article not long ago on a historical dress site written by a woman knowledgeable about such who tried to put together the kilts as worn in "Braveheart" and I believe "Rob Roy" as well. She had some one wear one and exercise vigorously as if he were fighting a battle. She reported that he couldn't go more than a few minutes without having to stop the battle and readjust his strap/plaid/whatever it was in order to prevent its falling off. So, since there were no time outs at Stirling Bridge, she doubts their accuracy.

Well, here's the thing.
Quite often they stripped off their kilts and just fought in their shirts.
But I don't imagine that anyone really wanted to show that in the films.

[McClef]

I wonder if they did that because they didn't want to get their kilts ruined?