The origins of the Ghillie / Highlander Shirt

[Panache]

I have found myself discussing with a few kilted gents and ladies the origins of the infamous Ghillie / Highlander shirt

The consensus has been that these shirts have very little to do with actual historical garb.

I wish to put it out to our re-en actors, our historians, and our various kilt vendors to uncover the origin of these shirts.

What I am looking for is

What type of shirts did the Jacobites (and earlier Highlanders) wear?

When did the modern Ghillie / Highlander shirts first appear?

Cheers

Jamie

[DWFII]

I think something like this would be correct both here in the colonies and in Jacobite Scotland...

http://tinyurl.com/5m6m5b

[Howard Clark]

Basic pullover was pretty common, from what I have always been told, many places, and for a pretty long time. Usually a simple woven cloth of whatever was available to the locale. I have period shirts from the Buckskinner world that are certainly period correct, and not much different, save that there are no cuffs or buttons at all.

[McMurdo]

When did the modern Ghillie / Highlander shirts first appear?

Cheers

Jamie

Douglas Fairbanks wore one in 1921 The Three Musketeers




Lloyd Bridges wore one in 1952 for High Noon


Of course Errol Flynn wore something similar in the Adventures of Robin Hood

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

As a part of (North American) Scottish attire I think these first made their appearance in the 1960s when "hero shirts" were part of the look of the well dressed (oxymoron?) hippie. I know people wear them, but to me they always look very much like a costume accessory and detract from the over-all look of the kilt.

[Bugbear]

Yes, I've been told by a living, breathing hippie (who was there, but does not remember too clearly) that they look like hippie shirts from the days of the hippie.

[Piper]

The shirt sold by Townsend is a good example, although I believe the collars were generally smaller, closer to a band type collar for the common man. A lot of reenactors make our own. It's a fairly simple procedure, the pattern is all rectangles.
I was there for the 60's as well. My memory may have been dimmed a bit by time, but I was never a big fan of "better living through chemistry". I'll 'fess up to having had a couple of the "Ghillie" style shirts in the closet. One was even velour, heaven help me.

[vmac3205]

The shirt sold by Townsend is a good example, although I believe the collars were generally smaller, closer to a band type collar for the common man. A lot of reenactors make our own. It's a fairly simple procedure, the pattern is all rectangles.
I was there for the 60's as well. My memory may have been dimmed a bit by time, but I was never a big fan of "better living through chemistry". I'll 'fess up to having had a couple of the "Ghillie" style shirts in the closet. One was even velour, heaven help me.

Mine had no coller, had a slit opening for about 6 inches down the front, there were no cuffs, and there was embroidered trim on the neck opening and where the cuffs would have been.

[Thunderbolt]

I don't think there's anything wrong with them. I don't wear them personally, but they look fine on others.

One thing I always seem to remember is a line in Thompsons' book about how the kilt is perfectly normal modern wear for anyone who is Scottish, shottish descent or simply enjoys Scottish things.

The point is "modern". Now that we have the kilt right where we want it, should style stop evolving? Or should we have a staunch traditionalist position?

I don't know. The "highlander" shirt isn't 'period' wear. But is it quasi-modern? Should it be put in the contemporary catagory like kilts worn low on the hip, scrunched hose and hiking boots?

I rather stick to what is more traditional, then venture out from there a bit. YMMV.


T.

[Macman]

One was even velour, heaven help me.

You brought back a memory! My brother and I each had one of those; mine was chocolate brown, and his was dark blue. I think we called them Ponderosa shirts back in the 60's. I remember most guys having them in cordouroy, but no, we had to have velour.