Too Traditional?

[JSFMACLJR]

In my efforts to be more traditional over the years, I have made an effort to be less concerned about matching. Well, I'm now getting a remark or two each kilted outing about not matching to my growing annoyance. Perhaps for Americans, not being "too traditional" is to avoid not matching.

Why do you allow yourself to get annoyed? Just ignore them.

[artificer]

In my efforts to be more traditional over the years, I have made an effort to be less concerned about matching. Well, I'm now getting a remark or two each kilted outing about not matching to my growing annoyance. Perhaps for Americans, not being "too traditional" is to avoid not matching.

Why do you allow yourself to get annoyed? Just ignore them.

I had the same thing happen last year at one of the local games by the woman selling admissions. I had on a tattersall shirt (2-tone blue on white) my unofficial X-marks tie (blue and yellow regimental stripe) and my kilt.
Her exact comment was (please read with a very nasal Wisconsin accent) "Boy, you sure do have a lot of patterns on!". I said "yes, thank you, I do" took my ticket and was off.

ith:

[auld argonian]

I had the same thing happen last year at one of the local games by the woman selling admissions. I had on a tattersall shirt (2-tone blue on white) my unofficial X-marks tie (blue and yellow regimental stripe) and my kilt.
Her exact comment was (please read with a very nasal Wisconsin accent) "Boy, you sure do have a lot of patterns on!". I said "yes, thank you, I do" took my ticket and was off.

ith:

Well, it's not like you were mixing PLAIDS or anything like that...that's been a fashion no-no since as long back as I can remember...unless, of course, you're a hipster.

Best

AA

[creagdhubh]

Why do you allow yourself to get annoyed? Just ignore them.

I agree!

[Jack Daw]

Error in posting.

[Jack Daw]

Why do you allow yourself to get annoyed? Just ignore them.

I have been, but it's still annoying because it's coming unabated from an inner-circle friend.

[David Thorpe]

I have been, but it's still annoying because it's coming unabated from an inner-circle friend.

I submit that it comes from an acquaintance and not a real friend. A friend would respect your tastes and reasons for doing what you do, even if he disagreed.

[Jack Daw]

I submit that it comes from an acquaintance and not a real friend. A friend would respect your tastes and reasons for doing what you do, even if he disagreed.

Or, he's a friend who just doesn't know any better.

[CMcG]

...For the first time with my time on this website I think the message is actually getting through! I am delighted.

I have said enough now and I will take a back seat on this thread.

Cheers Jock!

This has been a very enlightening discussion and I think the answer to my original question is at hand, though it is not clear cut. Is it possible to be too traditional? Yes and no

Just because one has an extensive knowledge of Highland attire and a wardrobe to match it, one doesn't necessarily have to put every thing they have into each outfit. On the other hand, Highland attire isn't exactly known for its subtlety and some kilt adepts are just more comfortable dressing to the limit of tradition

I say "no, one can't be too traditional" because it is good to try to wear the kilt in as proper, correct, and traditional a way as possible. One can't be too traditional in their desire to stick to THCD.

That is not to say that there is one, single, universally agreed upon way to wear the kilt in any given situation. On the contrary, there is a tremendous range of options and plenty of room for personal flair. I think, perhaps, there is a happy, middle ground that is appropriate for the event, location, crowd, and allows one to simultaneously be part of the "herd," while also standing out as an individual endowed with excellent sartorial sensibilities

I say "yes, one can be too traditional" because there are so many ways to go wrong... but this isn't black or white. If our ideal THCD range is at the centre, imagine a sliding grey scale that can go in several directions.

It hardly needs to be mentioned at this point that blindly following examples from retail/rental catalogues, movie stars, pipe bands, historical portraits, or even sometimes chiefs/noblemen isn't going to work. Avoiding over-dressing by fitting one's attire to the level of formality is also important. From there, things get a bit more complicated.

Personal flair seems fairly key and yet, can also become a slippery slope. Some people have the confidence, wardrobe, and experience to pull off very bold looks using only traditional items. The problem is that the combination might end up being traditional in an overly exaggerated way. Having recourse to pleading individual choice doesn't ensure that an outfit can't become too traditional. If that is what you like, then wear it! But if it borders dangerously on a costume, it isn't necessarily a good idea for everybody

I like MacLowlife's idea of a "budget" for personal flair and it might just be wise for people to consider being thrifty with that budget; perhaps just one or two items of flair, rather than a kitchen sink approach. Furthermore, I think some things are worth more "points" than others i.e. a full mask sporran has a bigger impact than a plain leather one, though both are equally traditional. To this end, sometimes taking a few things away can help balance an outfit and make room for "heavier" accessories.

Function is an important factor too. A cromach just looks silly if one is out to a nice dinner with their partner but is quite germane to a kilted hike. Civilian spats (like Tobus') are too historical for many situations, but are actually rather reasonable to protect one's shoes at a dusty Highland Games.

Above all, for me, this is coming down to a question of aesthetics. Small flourishes of personal flair help to distinguish oneself as an individual, but excessive flamboyance becomes, at best, idiosyncratically too traditional and, at worst, brigadoonery. There is a fundamental difference between trying not to match at all (dogs breakfast) and freely mixing patterns/colours (THCD). A pinch of historical or modern influence (e.g. an older style of sporran or a black shirt) can go a long way; this variety of personal touch can quickly pull a look away from THCD.

Finally, there is the question of circumstance and context. If one is making a public appearance as the bearer of some sort of title, is a groom about to be married, is an official at a Games, or is otherwise meant to be the centre of attention, then they get a special dispensation for full tilt kilt swagger. A Scottish event (Burns Supper, Highland Games, etc) is a better time to dress with a bit of extra Highland verve than on an occasion where one might be the only one in a kilt. THCD isn't meant to be a costume and part of that is, for better or worse, determined by the rest of the people at an event.

[David Thorpe]

An excellent distillation of 29 pages of enlightening discussion. Thank you for asking the question!