Slightly confused.

[Dirka Skene]

Recently, at the Carolina Renaissance Festival, I met a lady piper. She played solo and was phenominal by the way. She was dressed in a kilt ensenble. I didn't expect to see a lady in menswear. Is it normal for female pipers to wear men's ensembles?


P.S. I'll eventually get around to posting pics from the festival. I got a very handsome picture of a nice Stewart couple very nicely dressed in tartan attire, and a peasant woman fishing out of a garbage receptical.

[Paul Henry]

I think this one should be directed towards Barb T!! but I don't really see what the problem would be

[McMurdo]

We met the same woman, and had a great talk with her.

Yes if you are a piper whether you are a male or female, the uniform is the same.

[Dirka Skene]

Not saying that she shouldn't, I've just never met a lady piper and I was just surprised. I expected a tartan skirt and sash.

[Dirka Skene]

That's her! Okay, I didn't know. Thanks a bunch Mcmurdo.

[OC Richard]

In the Pipe Band world women wear the same uniform as the rest of the band: mens kilt, sporran, kilt hose, ghillie brogues, jacket, Glengarry, everything.

It wasn't always so. When I started playing pipes back in the 70's it was still fairly common to see "Ladies" pipe bands. They wore different uniforms than mens pipe bands. Specifically, they often did not wear sporrans, wore lace jabots rather than neckties, and wore special buckled shoes.

When more and more women played in (formerly) mens' pipe bands, what to do? Many bands back in the 60's and 70's maintained seperate dress for the men and women. In our band, up until the mid-1980's, the women wore kilt skirts, pantyhose, women's shoes, blouses with lace jabots, and did not wear sporrans.

But in the 80's more and more bands shifted to a more uniform appearance, putting women in the traditionally male kilt, sporran, kilt hose, ghillies, shirt with necktie, and Glengarry. I haven't seen women pipers dressed in any other way for many years.

Spanish pipe bands, and Breton pipe bands, who wear their native dress rather than Highland dress, still maintain seperate costume for men and women.

Well I like photos and here we go! First a "ladies" pipe band from 1970 showing their typical dress:



A decade later, 1980, we see a group of top-level pipers. Note the dress of the women, those special shoes:



Here's an old album cover showing a Scottish band with mixed dress:



But nowadays everyone dresses alike, giving bands a more uniform appearance:

[MacLowlife]

I suspect the black velcro ankle brace is hers alone, though...

[McFarkus]

Thanks for the history lesson.

[Rex_Tremende]

Alex posted some photos of a lady piper some months back, and I recall that she had her own feminine style, while remining also distinctly a piper. Would love to see those posted here again for reference.

Regards,
Rex.

[Chas]

A decade later, 1980, we see a group of top-level pipers. Note the dress of the women, those special shoes:

That is really a smart doublet the man in the middle is wearing. Is it a military jacket of some kind or just the band uniform? Do you know which band? I wonder what type of cuffs it has?

Regards

Chas