Need an Opinion Burns Dinner Apparel

[MacAngus]

I agree with Chas why is everybody hatin on the plaid. Burns night is the night of nights to wear a plaid.
I think they look great and add a little bit more to the attire.
However I play the pipes and usually am wearing the full plaid or my fly plaid which some think is acceptable for a piper to wear.

[McClef]

If one kept in with "the spirit of Burns" then maybe one should not wear a kilt either MOR

(Rabbie didnae wear wun himsel!)

[McMurdo]

If one kept in with "the spirit of Burns" then maybe one should not wear a kilt either MOR

(Rabbie didnae wear wun himsel!)

Trefor
I really must disagree with that idea, this is taken from the Immortal Memory I gave a couple of years ago and it explains why:

There is a myth that one should not wear the Kilt at Burns Suppers, and I thought given the audience I would bring this up. The Truth is that this fallacy has arisen because Burns never wore the kilt himself. It was an outlawed form of dress after the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745. However as Burns was a fervent Scot he wrote about the philibeg or little kilt

With his philibeg an' tartan plaid,
An' guid claymore down by his side,
The ladies' hearts he did trepan,
My gallant, braw John Highlandman.

He also goes on to talk of the injustice dealt out to John Highlandman.

They banish'd him beyond the sea.
But ere the bud was on the tree,
Adown my cheeks the pearls ran,
Embracing my John Highlandman.
But, och! they catch'd him at the last,
And bound him in a dungeon fast:
My curse upon them every one,
They've hang'd my braw John Highlandman!

Burns understood the prevalent view that John Highlandman's crime was to wear highland dress and be loyal to his clan. This resulted in John Highlandman being deported. The establishment had decreed that it was illegal to wear a uniform signifying membership of a proscribed clan, carry a weapon and be disloyal to the crown. All through Burns works he revived an interest in Scottish traditions and also in human rights. Highland Dress is also mentioned in Charlie he's my Darling. Let us have no more argument on this and, for those who wish, let us wear the kilt with pride and with honour.

[Heming]

Well, I'd probably not wear a fly plaid myself, for all the reasons already mentioned and because I don't own one.

But I do understand fly plaids are being worn more often in the States than in Europe, and that dress formality levels aren't the same here and there. So I guess if I were in the States, and had a plaid, I'd ask around and find out if other guests were wearing one.

Or bring it and put it on if "everyone else" is wearing one.

It's not nice to be underdressed, but I feel more silly looking like a peacock dancing among geese...

[davidlpope]

But I do understand fly plaids are being worn more often in the States than in Europe, and that dress formality levels aren't the same here and there.

I think this has been covered before, but (my personal opinion) it doesn't seem that the "fly plaid" ever had a place in traditional highland attire. It appears to me that they are a recent invention (as opposed to a true evening plaid/ piper's plaid, etc.) and marketed to customers (disproportionately Americans?) by some highlandwear suppliers as part of "getting the total package", hence their seeming popularity. Since they use less material, they are much cheaper to produce than a true plaid. Aesthetics vary, so to each his own, but I'd not wear one.

If you really want to "snazz up" your Burns Night attire, I'd suggest an interesting horsehair or goat hair sporran or argyll/diced hose instead.

Cordially,

David

[McClef]

Glen,

My reply to MOR was in reaction to the logic of his argument about what constitutes proper attire for a Burns Supper:

"Burns Suppers rarely, if ever rise to the status of "white tie", and hardly ever are "black tie" events. In keeping with the "spirit" of Burns, ordinary dress is usually called for-- in other words the level of formality is usually "jacket and tie", nothing overly fancy and certainly not formal enough to warrant the wearing of a fly plaid."

It was not a criticism in any way of what Burns wore or what his views on the kilt were. I certainly have never subscribed to the notion that kilts should not be worn - far from it!

I am sure that he would not mind people celebrating him dressed for a special occasion if they want to. The above would appear to rule out PCs and Montroses etc as well as plaids and I therefore applied that logic to kilts also as Devil's Advocate...

I am doing The Immortal Memory at Ferintosh next week which is a new venture for me!

[Paul]

I would certainly wear a fly plaid to a Burns Supper!

[McMurdo]

Understood Trefor
As for me I will be reciting Tam O'Shanter I've got someone to do the Address and someone to do the Immortal Memory, so barring any disasters I'll just be reciting Tam, and perhaps To a Mouse.

Best of luck with your Immortal Memory.

[Paul]

Glen,

My reply to MOR was in reaction to the logic of his argument about what constitutes proper attire for a Burns Supper:

"Burns Suppers rarely, if ever rise to the status of "white tie", and hardly ever are "black tie" events. In keeping with the "spirit" of Burns, ordinary dress is usually called for-- in other words the level of formality is usually "jacket and tie", nothing overly fancy and certainly not formal enough to warrant the wearing of a fly plaid."

It was not a criticism in any way of what Burns wore or what his views on the kilt were. I certainly have never subscribed to the notion that kilts should not be worn - far from it!

I am sure that he would not mind people celebrating him dressed for a special occasion if they want to. The above would appear to rule out PCs and Montroses etc as well as plaids and I therefore applied that logic to kilts also as Devil's Advocate...

I am doing The Immortal Memory at Ferintosh next week which is a new venture for me!

McClef! Are you attending either of the Ferintosh Burn's suppers this year with your fly plaid?

[thescot]

Badabing, badaboom....to heck with the naysayers...it's just their opinions. Who the heck are they, anyway? Go for it! Just because someone says no, I always like to go the opposite direction just to tick them off. I bad; I a rebel! Have fun doing what YOU want to do.

To quote: who the heck is denmcdough, anyway?

Leave it home.