Clan Farquharson Gathering Photos

[creagdhubh]

This thread got me looking in the "box under the bed" where I have a number of old games programmes. I found one from Ballater which has a portrait of Invercauld and a foreword, I was thinking about scanning it, but, to be honest he is wearing the same kind of clothing as in the previous pics, so it's not really of any value.
As to belts worn over waistcoats, this was once very common indeed, and can be seen in many Victorian era portraits. In more modern times the likes of John D Burgess still favoured the look;



I imagine that in the days when people hung dirks, etc, from their belts then wearing the belt over the waistcoat was sensible. When dirk wearing became associated only with full No.1 military uniform, the need was no longer there.

Quite right, MacSpadger. Excellent photos of P/M John D. Burgess - a superb example of traditional Highland dress with the addition of personal flair!

Cheers,

[Ancienne Alliance]

Belt over the waistcoat...








Best,

Robert

[creagdhubh]

Well done! You look very smart (and dashing) Robert, as always!

Slainte mhath,

[Riverkilt]

Great pics for sure!

And HOPE!....someone, somewhere, makes a tartan necktie long enough to tuck in the top of the kilt...now I just need to find out where to get those long tartan ties...vendors only carry the short ones...

[davidlpope]

An analogy: We've remarked on multiple occasions that both Gordon Walker and John D. Burgess are worthy of note because they have their own personal flair, rather than just blending in with the rest of the "normally dressed pipers". Is their style of dress an affectation?

In the same way, a kilt jacket in a nice brown or gray tweed with overcheck is preferable to me than being one more torso in the sea of lovat green and black that one normally sees...



Perhaps it's a cultural distinction- Do Americans prefer to stand out but Scots prefer to fit in?

[creagdhubh]

Great points, David. I specifcially chose to upload the above photo for the precise reasons you brought to the rabble's attention. I have never seen so much Lovat green together in one place! And even though there is certainly nothing wrong with the colour, as I own a tweed jacket and waistcoat in Lovat green from Kinloch-Anderson, but like you, I do prefer more 'earthy' tones of brown and tan with a nice, subtle overcheck in a windowpane pattern for my daywear jackets.

Cheers,

[davidlpope]

On another note, if these gentlemen were carrying cromachs they wouldn't all be walking around with their hands clasped behind their backs!

[CMcG]

... Invercauld’s Highland attire is somewhat different than that of his clansmen; however, I do believe some of the members of the Clan Farquharson are also well turned out in their day attire – what do you think?

Do you think Invercauld's attire is too tradtional, or perhaps absolutely spot on? Now keep in mind, this is what he prefers to wear and what he likes - ...

I think Ivercauld's attire is spot on and definitely not too traditional; it looks great. He is a chief and dresses every bit the part. His personal "preferences" (belt over waistcoat, tartan tie, waistcoat/sweater tucked into kilt) and right to wear eagle feathers aside, I think that if I tried to copy his style, I would look like I'm trying to hard to be traditional. He truly has an enviable wardrobe with all those different jackets, kilts, hose, sporrans, etc

Ivercauld's clansmen are also well attired and might make a better model for someone like me. I resonate more with the simpler outfit of the chap in the picture I quoted, though my preference would be for a more plain, two prong belt buckle and black shoes. I'd also probably go with a plain leather or hunting sporran, instead of a semi-dress like his.

[MacSpadger]

A Perhaps it's a cultural distinction- Do Americans prefer to stand out but Scots prefer to fit in?

There may well be something in that, David. William Donaldson, in his book "Pipers" says something along the lines of describing daywear solo pipers as resembling a meeting of bank managers, with their subdued greys and lovat greens and weathered tartans, rather than representing a cultural music.
I have attended a great many games and comps and I would agree that, in the main, no-one really wants to stand out. There may even be a self conciousness about the whole thing. There are always exceptions, of course, Gordon and John D being two, but that's far more to do with their personalities than anything else. Both of these men are ex-soldiers as well. There is a different set of traditions there. My own experiences are limited, TA and as a volunteer civilian in a TA pipe band. Dressing for the occasion has an entirely different set of rules from civvy street. I have dined from regimental silver in the mess on special occasions, and you can get snowblind from the flash of all the bling around you. Gordon and John D took that tradition onto the boards when playing, but remain part of a fairly small group that's done so. That's just my observations, of course, and anyone is free to disagree.

A good American friend of mine, now sadly deceased, used to delight in sending me pics from US games and gatherings that he knew would make my jaw drop. I can certainly say that, judging from those pics, there are kilt wearers in the US that wear clothing that would be seen as garish, attention seeking or even plain outlandish over here. Personally, if I was wearing clothes that I would feel uncomfortable going to the shops to buy a pint of milk in, I probably would not wear them as daywear. Of course, that also depends on where I was going to buy the milk; Ballater, yes, no problem; East End of Glasgow, no, I'd stick with breeks.
Often if someone is wearing bright colours or feather hackles or such at Scottish games, they are either tourists or landed gentry flown up overnight from Belgravia. Ironically for the tourists, they have often spent a fortune on those clothes assuming they will fit in, but it's the very thing that makes them stand out as being "not from around here".

[CMcG]

Great points, David. I specifcially chose to upload the above photo for the precise reasons you brought to the rabble's attention. I have never seen so much Lovat green together in one place! And even though there is certainly nothing wrong with the colour, as I own a tweed jacket and waistcoat in Lovat green from Kinloch-Anderson, but like you, I do prefer more 'earthy' tones of brown and tan with a nice, subtle overcheck in a windowpane pattern for my daywear jackets.

Cheers,

You, of all people, need a "Cluny" tweed jacket, if you don't have one already