It's nice to know the rules but....

[Will Macadam]

Hi Everyone,
As a newbie, I hope I'm not sticking my neck out here but in the spirit of "out of the mouths of babes", and all that I'd just like to share some personal conclusions -so far! :mrgreen:

For the last few weeks I've been reading furiously and what a learning curve!
It seems everyone has an opinion on variours rules, and certainly, 'the guardians' of Highland Dress have expectations that the heritage rightly be preserved, and as such, respected.

However, as in all of modern life, from language to recipies to erotica, there are universal boundaries in decency, social acceptability and good taste that are constantly being tested, pushed, and over time re-defined.

I was taken aback recently to hear a work colleague speak enthusiastically about a black-coloured kilt he was planning with precisely three pleats either side of the waist, then I thought -why not? If he is out there promoting kilts, in ANY form, good on him!

I come from a military family, and it has been hard to overcome that innate and sometimes irrational sense that everything in life be regimented.

The original Highlanders were rebels by all accounts, and we should be careful not to let fashion fascism bury that spirit under the banner of 'traditions' which, given Scotlands significantly repressed and then repackaged dress history, have certain origins which are murky at best, just research the story of Tartan if you have any doubts.

My personal feeling so far is that, short of aligning oneself with any Caledonian group that insist on a fixed standard of dress, that individual flourishes should be encouraged. It has been said that Highland Dress is not a Costume, and that is true, but it is not a Uniform either.

Having said that, I agree that one should not 'punk out' or degrade Highland dress to the point it descends to costume, niether should one offend the sensibilities of others by wearing badges, plumes and decorations without entitlement.

Two things are worth bearing in mind when approaching this issue, the first is that there is a distinct line between wearing a kilt, and wearing full 'Highland Dress' anyway. Even Kinloch Anderson, the 'Royal' kiltmakers have introduced the Breacan 'kilt' for knocking around the glens of a weekend.

The second is that Highland Dress itself, like it or not, and in spite of THE RULES, like language, will evolve.

A glaring dress 'issue' that I noted early on in my reading was the wearing of White hose.
Just about every leading kilt outfitters choose to model the most formal eveningwear teamed with white hose, and yet one learns, reading further, that of all the solid colour hose, WHITE HOSE are NOT CORRECT eveningwear at all, and owe their popularity to being inexpensive and therefore pushed with rental outfits.
Wearers of owned outfits (most of us here?) wear white hose as a dressy-looking and cost effective alternative in comparison to the silly prices asked for the even the cheapest nylon diced and tartan hose.
Who can deny white hose are rather spiffy with a black Ghillie Brogue, and the glitzy appointments of formal Highland wear? But according to THE RULES, they are NOT evening wear!
It was this very 'white hose debacle' that freed me from the constraints of THE RULES to experiment with footwear and one or two other small details.

For example, the rather odd persistence with the uncomfortable (and kilt destroying) sporran chain. There are leather alternatives, and for the sake of my kilt alone, I'm going to be wearing one with my dress Sporran.

Next, The Brogue, Ghillie, Oxford, or otherwise.
Why this has become a standard for eveningwear, is beyond me, after all, who wears brogues with a tux? (Uh-Oh rules again, and tuxedo rules at that, but it drives home a valid point, about rules as much as about fashion!)
To my mind, tartan, diced, or dark solid colour hose teamed with a 'Mozart' or, if you will, 'George Washington' type buckle shoe (To recreate this effect, I bought and installed Highland dancers shoe-flaps to a flat-toed lace up shoe) makes a far more toney, not to say individualized, evening choice.

As for day footwear, I discovered a European made 'street' shoe in the town of Mainz, Germany (of all places). It features a black rubber toe and sole, chocolate suede and leather uppers, with black laces that thread across the shoe into black nylon straps, instead of eyelets, giving this ultra modern shoe a retro 'Braveheart' moccasin look, the only modification was to cut off some small yellow tabs on the heel and tounge. I thereby 'created' a unique and very personal version of Highland 'Ghillie' shoes, that can actually handle damp grassy outdoor conditions, and that make stuffy old Oxfords look stuffy, old, and -Ahem- English!
My 'Maccasins' are perfect for ultra-casual kilt outings and even cut the grade worn with an Argyll jacket and tie.

Photo when site is fixed -you be the judge!

Long live Highland Dress -and creative thought! They can co-exist in harmony and -if you know what you're doing- look damned good besides! ;-)
Will Macadam.