What is Traditional Highland Dress?

[artificer]

The baseball cap has now been reduced to "ballcap" has it? May I suggest that that moves it somewhat closer to being accepted as tradtional US attire ...
Rex

You, good sir, may suggest anything that you like. I, for one, would take great issue with that suggestion. It's 'tradition' is that of ball-parks, truck (lorry) drivers*, and a certain baggy-pant-ill-mannered set. I'm not the most formal of men (I try never to wear more than a linen shirt and shorts. I'm slowly trying to phase the shorts out for the kilt, but that's taking some work), but I draw the line at my **** hanging out of my pants as if I were wearing my father's trousers, or some giant, foam-fronted, cap.

*No offense intended for those whose profession is to shift everything we need in life around on our roads, my uncle drove for almost 20 years... but you must admit, drivers aren't usually the most 'stylish'.

[davidlpope]

Do Americans actually "usually blur the lines between appropriate and inappropriate traditional dress and attire"?

In my experience, the answer is "yes." A few examples:
-Prince Charlies worn with t-shirts in 90 degree heat at GMHG.
-Suede knee-high moccasins worn with the kilt, usually with Native American pouches, necklaces, etc.
-"Jacobite/Clansmen" shirts worn with tweed jackets.
-swords, dirks, two-handed claymores worn with day dress, sometimes accompanied by "facepaint".
-A homemade furry sporran with a rack of whitetail antlers mounted on it.
-Veterans sporting every geegaw, doodad, and fourragere ever stocked at the Exchange on their SAMS "uniform".

I chalk it up, though, to the general ignorance of many people wearing kilts at "highland games" events, rather than a conscious decision to rebel against good taste. There just aren't very many examples of "traditional highland dress" at the "Scottish" events in North Carolina. Without good examples of traditional highland dress, I'm not surprised when we Americans get it so dorked up...

David

[davidlpope]

A bit OT, but it struck me that if we here in the US have difficulty correctly understanding Highland culture, perhaps the Scots have a hard time understanding ours, as well. I wonder what critiques our resident Texans would make of these folks:

http://tranquilitytown.yolasite.com/

I can almost see the posts now: "Nice spurs and chaps! You wear it well!"

David

[MacBean]

In my experience, the answer is "yes." A few examples:
-Prince Charlies worn with t-shirts in 90 degree heat at GMHG.
-Suede knee-high moccasins worn with the kilt, usually with Native American pouches, necklaces, etc.
-"Jacobite/Clansmen" shirts worn with tweed jackets.
-swords, dirks, two-handed claymores worn with day dress, sometimes accompanied by "facepaint".
-A homemade furry sporran with a rack of whitetail antlers mounted on it.
-Veterans sporting every geegaw, doodad, and fourragere ever stocked at the Exchange on their SAMS "uniform".

I chalk it up, though, to the general ignorance of many people wearing kilts at "highland games" events, rather than a conscious decision to rebel against good taste. There just aren't very many examples of "traditional highland dress" at the "Scottish" events in North Carolina. Without good examples of traditional highland dress, I'm not surprised when we Americans get it so dorked up...

David

Fair enough, David. I've never been to an American "Highland Game", don't own a PC or a Jacobite shirt; and have little experience with kilts. I can certainly understand how micturating on someone else's tradition in the way you describe offends. However, "hollow arrogance ... largely based on insecurity as much as it is a lack of social understanding." ... that's a bit elitist, no?

[ThistleDown]

Perhaps I misunderstood; please correct me (I often do misconstrue)?

Do Americans actually "usually blur the lines between appropriate and inappropriate traditional dress and attire"?

If you have heard something like, "we're not in Scotland so we can wear what we want", does that mean the person in question was trying for traditional attire? I think that would be strange.

Does someone wearing what they want imply that they (and many folk here on this forum) display hollow arrogance, insecurity, and lack of social understanding?

Frankly, I'm shocked and disappointed. I have been quite careful to follow the traditional highland dress esthetic and custom, but why would I want to anymore? If I lose friends over this, well so be it.

I won't try to re-word what Rathdown wrote, Mark, but perhaps I could put something along the same line in my own words? Friend to friend? This thread is attempting to address the OP's question "What is Traditional Highland Dress" in a section of the forum dedicated to Traditional Highland Dress. Many have said that the "tradition" is that of the Scottish Highlands and, therefore, what is traditionally worn in the Highlands is the quide by all who want to be traditionally dressed. That would be you.

But there are others who say that they are traditionally dressed when they wear Highland dress as it is not worn in Scotland, but as they choose to interpret it; further, that because there are many (in the United States) who deviate from the Highland tradition that makes some sort of new tradition. I agree with you: that is very strange.

It is the tail wagging the dog.

There is a degree of arrogance, I think you will agree, when someone who lives somewhere in the world other than the Scottish Highlands tells the natives that he/she knows more about the culture and its clothing than the natives do. (Before someone rises to that hook I'll cut the line by saying that there are some pretty knowledgable folk out there )

Rex

[ThistleDown]

A bit OT, but it struck me that if we here in the US have difficulty correctly understanding Highland culture, perhaps the Scots have a hard time understanding ours, as well. I wonder what critiques our resident Texans would make of these folks:

http://tranquilitytown.yolasite.com/

I can almost see the posts now: "Nice spurs and chaps! You wear it well!"

David

644 visitors from the UK, David. Popularity wins the day and Tranquility moves from myth to reality.

[davidlpope]

644 visitors from the UK, David. Popularity wins the day and Tranquility moves from myth to reality.

I guess it's only a matter of time before Scottish cowboys start explaining why Olathe boots "really aren't traditional"!

David

[MacBean]

It is the tail wagging the dog.

There is a degree of arrogance, I think you will agree, when someone who lives somewhere in the world other than the Scottish Highlands tells the natives that he/she knows more about the culture and its clothing than the natives do. (Before someone rises to that hook I'll cut the line by saying that there are some pretty knowledgable folk out there )
Rex

Thank you for the reply Rex; I slid off the deep end; ready to sell my kilt!

The danger of the tail wagging the dog I understand. That American disrespect and parodying of traditions is offensive I also appreciate.

However, because someone is uneducated, untravelled, or poor, and attempts to find joy in imaginary role play as Mel Gibson, ... well, more joy to them. Looking down our noses at the less fortunate is something to avoid, bad form, unwelcoming. America was founded on a dream of freedom from elitism, and that perhaps it's its saving grace, no matter how ugly it sometimes appears. It keeps me here.

[artificer]

http://tranquilitytown.yolasite.com/

David

Ouch! Nevermind the fact that the 'olde west' rocking chair on the far left is, in fact, a repro Thonet bentwood & cane rocker that wasn't produced until the 1880's, and then certainly wouldn't be found in the podunk west... Maybe in San Francisco, but only in the nicest of places.

Probably a bit like the 'colonists' wearing a Jacobite shirt and PC

[ThistleDown]

You, good sir, may suggest anything that you like. I, for one, would take great issue with that suggestion. It's 'tradition' is that of ball-parks, truck (lorry) drivers*, and a certain baggy-pant-ill-mannered set. I'm not the most formal of men (I try never to wear more than a linen shirt and shorts. I'm slowly trying to phase the shorts out for the kilt, but that's taking some work), but I draw the line at my **** hanging out of my pants as if I were wearing my father's trousers, or some giant, foam-fronted, cap.

*No offense intended for those whose profession is to shift everything we need in life around on our roads, my uncle drove for almost 20 years... but you must admit, drivers aren't usually the most 'stylish'.

No? You reject the idea that a bit of head gear could be adopted as traditional -- a symbol for a nation -- because it is a fashion among some folk in another nation? Or is it because it looks culturally inappropriate when worn with a suit?