My New Brogues for Highland Evening Wear

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I wear the Clan Macpherson clansman's badge. My ancestor's (who lived during the 19th-century) crest is based on the crest of the Chief of the Clan Macpherson, but is not exact, though in some cases for other armigers, it may come pretty close. The current position of the Scottish Wildcat, which is the totem and crest of Cluny Macpherson and the Clan Macpherson, is seated with one glove (arm and paw) raised. My ancestor's crest is a Scottish Wildcat-rampant-with one glove holding a dagger. I would love to find a good, Scottish metalsmith to fashion the badge for me, but I have not done so yet, that is why I wear the clansman's badge with one eagle feather-of course I don't wear the feather all of the time-only when I deem it appropriate, suitable, and practical (mainly at games, gatherings, and clan meetings-AGM's-and in Scotland). I hope I clarified my privilege of being armigerous to everyone. I am not breaking any sort of Scottish Law, as I have done the research and have followed the proper procedures to a tee!

Not to downplay any of the metalsmiths already mentioned, all of whom I am sure do wonderful work (I can personally vouch for the work of J. Michael McRae, as I have had the privledge of seeing a lot of his work in person), but simply to present you with another option:

http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/silver_badges.htm

The gentleman who makes our sterling silver badges would be happy to create one for your crest. He also has the necessary molds to do one, two, and three feather badges. Here is an example of a one-feather badge he has made.


The price of the armigers badges are slightly more than the standard clansman badge, mostly due to the addition of the feather(s). Just contact me if you are interested.

[JSFMACLJR]

Point understood and I thank you for your friendship. Let us continue to enjoy one's company on XMTS! I did not intent to "stir the pot." I am, of course, of Highland descent, so I may be tempermental at times! LOL!

Cheers my good man,

You will find, Kyle, that eagle feathers may not legally be worn by armigers in the US. That many do only means that some turn a blind eye or are ignorant as to the origins of the feathers! I may or may not have an eagle feather
I may or may not wear it, but actually find that there is something said for armigers to be understated. My crest badge has a circlet, which is ample evidence of my status. I don't even choose to use a silver feather, as my chief does.

There have been plenty of discussions about feathers in this forum...as well as untold words written on the HSS forum! It is interesting that at the Argyllshire Gathering, the only person wearing feathers is the Duke of Argyll. I was told not to wear one...everyone in the Members Enclosure is an armiger! Maybe an exageration, but the laid back approach has much to offer. I have been to other gatherings and games where many wear feathers. Nothing wrong with that at all. Maybe it's all "location, location, location"!

[creagdhubh]

You will find, Kyle, that eagle feathers may not legally be worn by armigers in the US. That many do only means that some turn a blind eye or are ignorant as to the origins of the feathers! I may or may not have an eagle feather
I may or may not wear it, but actually find that there is something said for armigers to be understated. My crest badge has a circlet, which is ample evidence of my status. I don't even choose to use a silver feather, as my chief does.

There have been plenty of discussions about feathers in this forum...as well as untold words written on the HSS forum! It is interesting that at the Argyllshire Gathering, the only person wearing feathers is the Duke of Argyll. I was told not to wear one...everyone in the Members Enclosure is an armiger! Maybe an exageration, but the laid back approach has much to offer. I have been to other gatherings and games where many wear feathers. Nothing wrong with that at all. Maybe it's all "location, location, location"!

I was not aware of this. Why is it illegal and do you have any documentation to support this? Like I said before, I dictate the location, type of event, and level of formality with regards to the wearing of my actual feather. I do not wear it all the time, as you can see in some of my photos I've posted. More information on the illegality of wearing feathers in the U.S. and beyond???-despite the fact that I rate to do so by the Lyon Court, would be much appreciated indeed!

Aye,

[creagdhubh]

Not to downplay any of the metalsmiths already mentioned, all of whom I am sure do wonderful work (I can personally vouch for the work of J. Michael McRae, as I have had the privledge of seeing a lot of his work in person), but simply to present you with another option:

http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/silver_badges.htm

The gentleman who makes our sterling silver badges would be happy to create one for your crest. He also has the necessary molds to do one, two, and three feather badges. Here is an example of a one-feather badge he has made.


The price of the armigers badges are slightly more than the standard clansman badge, mostly due to the addition of the feather(s). Just contact me if you are interested.

Cheers Matt, thanks!

[JSFMACLJR]

I was not aware of this. Why is it illegal and do you have any documentation to support this? Like I said before, I dictate the location, type of event, and level of formality with regards to the wearing of my actual feather. I do not wear it all the time, as you can see in some of my photos I've posted. More information on the illegality of wearing feathers in the U.S. and beyond???-despite the fact that I rate to do so by the Lyon Court, would be much appreciated indeed!

Aye,

I don't want to dwell on this topic because it is rather OT, but a quick search online will provide you with all sorts of documentation. Try this site:
http://www.search.com/reference/Eagle_feather_law

The XMTS search engine will help you find old threads too!

[creagdhubh]

I don't want to dwell on this topic because it is rather OT, but a quick search online will provide you with all sorts of documentation. Try this site:
http://www.search.com/reference/Eagle_feather_law

The XMTS search engine will help you find old threads too!

Okay, thanks!

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Thanks for the advice regarding the pumps! I was wondering how badly they might slip whilst wearing hose! I have seen many images of Highlanders wearing a dirk, yet no belt can be seen, yet obviously there bust be a belt present in order to affix the dirk to the waist. The obvious conclusion is that it is worn underneath the waistcoat, then the dirk is positioned in front of the doublet giving the effect that it is "just there" almost held in suspension. I like this kind of look better than having the belt worn over the waistcoat. The latter looks a wee bit sloppy and unkept to me, though I realize that it has been done frequently through the centuries. Is this a correct interpretation of the Macleay portrait below?

Actually, if you look just above the pipers left hand you will see his belt plate, and if you look really closely behind the hilt of his dirk you will see the frog suspending the dirk. I suspect that if the piper were to set his "instrument of war" aside for a moment we'd see that in this instance the dirk belt is fastened over his doublet and helps to locate the baldric supporting his sword.

As accurate as these watercolours are, they do not really depict what people wore, rather they show us how people were dressed to be painted for the Queen. A better guide might be the photograph of the Scottish Society of Edinburgh c. 1912, opposite page 32 in "THE KILT, A Manual of Scottish National Dress" by Loudon MacQueen Douglas, published in 1914. Of the three gentlemen wearing dirks only one can be clearly seen. Seated, and with his hands at his side, his dirk belt is clearly visible over his waistcoat.

Likewise, somewhere on this forum is a photograph of the Earl and Countess of Mansfield, c.1960, at the Caledonian Ball in London-- Mansfield is wearing a dirk and his belt is quite clearly seen over his waistcoat. I don't think that Mansfield presents a sloppy or unkempt appearance by the way he's dressed, but then your opinion may vary.

[JSFMACLJR]

Likewise, somewhere on this forum is a photograph of the Earl and Countess of Mansfield, c.1960, at the Caledonian Ball in London-- Mansfield is wearing a dirk and his belt is quite clearly seen over his waistcoat. I don't think that Mansfield presents a sloppy or unkempt appearance by the way he's dressed, but then your opinion may vary.

Here you go!

[Jock Scot]

You will find, Kyle, that eagle feathers may not legally be worn by armigers in the US. That many do only means that some turn a blind eye or are ignorant as to the origins of the feathers! I may or may not have an eagle feather I may or may not wear it, but actually find that there is something said for armigers to be understated. My crest badge has a circlet, which is ample evidence of my status. I don't even choose to use a silver feather, as my chief does. There have been plenty of discussions about feathers in this forum...as well as untold words written on the HSS forum! It is interesting that at the Argyllshire Gathering, the only person wearing feathers is the Duke of Argyll. I was told not to wear one...everyone in the Members Enclosure is an armiger! Maybe an exageration, but the laid back approach has much to offer. I have been to other gatherings and games where many wear feathers. Nothing wrong with that at all. Maybe it's all "location, location, location"!

I agree, understated is the way to go. It is quite undesirable to make too much of these things.

[Asser 1]

I have pumps and have attempted attaching buckles to the bows. I had trouble successfully attaching them with the bows. If you find success let me know. I am sure they could be attached more permanently but I wanted the option of removing the buckles for when I wore saxon black tie.