Old Rules for Wearing the Highland Dress

[MACKAY]

I was doing some research and reading a copy of the 1898 edition of the Celtic Monthly, and found a really interesting article on "The Old Rules for Wearing the Highland Dress". As this is long out of copyright, I am reproducing the article in it's entirety.

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The Celtic Monthly: A Magazine for Highlanders, 1898 Edition Page 155

We are indebted to Lord Archibald Campbell for the following useful rules regarding the wearing of the Highland dress and arms. - Editor

1- Bottle and Pistols on the left side.

2- Powder horn -- mouthpiece to the front -- is worn under the right arm.

3- Kilt is worn shorter than now, worn showing whole of the knee pan and some way above it, of old. The 42nd wore it thus at Waterloo; in 1745 -- also worn pretty short.

4- Sporran to hang comfortably, neither too high nor too low.

5- Plaid to be the last thing to be put on and the first to be taken off, either in peace or war. It was made to protect the body and the fire-arms against wet, etc. In fighting is was the first thing to be laid aside often enough, but at times it was worn in battle.

6- The Stocking Knife is worn on the outer part of right leg, in a hallow between two bones.

7- Bonnet cocked, should just touch right ear.

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I love number 4 --- indeed mine does hang "comfortably".



Brian