SCA & RenFaires

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Yes, the SCA "Game' is pre 1600. Not only does that leave out great kilts (OMG Braveheart and Rob Roy movies were wrong)

Actually, the 1995 Rob Roy film got it quite right, in terms of the clothing depicted. Remember that Rob Roy lived from 1671-1734 and so we are looking at a later period in this movie. The kilts, as worn in the film, are accurate for the time period -- this is one of those few occasions where we can say Hollywood got it right in terms of Scottish clothing.

[Tartan Tess]

Glad to hear that Matt. Thank you, as Rob Roy is one of my favorite movies!
I think the best point is to remember to have fun with it....and also that 8 yards of double width will be 16 yards!
Lots of good threads on making and wearing great kilts around here.

[Oberu]

Good Point Tartan Tess! My first go at a great kilt was 9 yards of double width fabric.. it was a truly "Great" kilt and I looked like a bowl of soup in a sandwich after a few minutes. I've found that 4 1/2 or 5 yards of double width fold up quite nicely for me (32" waist)

[Woodsheal]

The first definitive description of a belted plaid does indeed date from 1594. There are a couple of earlier quotes that "might" refer to the garment. Anyways, lets stretch out the possibility of "great kilts" back to 1550 as the earliest start point. (I doubt some highlander first belted his mantle in 1594, and some scribe was standing by to record the occasion! Literate recorders of daily life were not growing on trees in the 16th C. Highlands, so the practice of belting plaids must have been going on for some time before someone set the fact down on parchment.)

Bottom line, "great kilts" are fine for RenFaire dress...!

[Alan H]

Agree'd..... but probably not OK if you're playing the role of a guard or noble in Mary, Queen of Scots court. Remember that Mary's lifetime was December 1542 – February 1587. So great kilts were probably in use during her lifetime. It's not "documented" for sure, but it's "likely". However, Marys court would be a *very* unlikely place to find a Great kilt.

However, if you want to play the role of some low-class peasant, or maybe a third-rank local "laird", then a great kilt is probably just fine.

If you're just attending the Faire for fun, and not part of a re-enactment Guild, then wear any flippin' thing you want.

[Gryphon57]

If you're just attending the Faire for fun, and not part of a re-enactment Guild, then wear any flippin' thing you want.

Alan has the right of it. If you are going to an official SCA event, then by all means be as period correct as possible. Depending on the event, some of these people will quibble over your choice of buttons. On the other hand, if you are going to a RenFaire for fun, wear your great kilt, your modern kilt, dress like a pirate, but have fun. At faires I've seen everything from reenactors that were totally period correct to folks dressed as fauns, fairies, and things I've yet to figure out. It's a big costume party with a theme. And not everyone wears a costume. It's all for fun.

[Woodsheal]

Right, Alan! The seperation that existed between Highlanders and other Scots at the time should not be forgotten. Highlanders were remote mountain-dwellers wearing odd clothes and speaking a foreign "Irish" language! Lowland Scots inhabited an entirely different culture and as Alan says, Scottish courtiers, knights, townsmen, etc. would not have been seen in belted plaids or other elements of Highland dress....