Other shirts besides Jacobite style.

**BBNC** · 25th December 12, 01:20 PM

What shirts were worn by the kilted everyman besides the Jacobite style? I'm looking for something of a more historical bent, rather than modern. What about something like a light wool or linen tunic?

**Dale Seago** · 25th December 12, 02:04 PM

Actually the "Jacobite style" was NOT worn.

Something like this was, though, and you can get it in several different fabrics:

http://jas-townsend.com/product_info...roducts_id=492

**Woodsheal** · 26th December 12, 08:48 AM

I have to put in a plug for these:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/59915601...shirt-colonial

My period shirts were starting to get pretty ratty, so I ordered two of these shirts. They arrived quickly, and are just great! 100% linen, lots of hand-stitching, she'll make them extra long if you want (great for wearing with kilts). Highly recommended!

**Nighthawk** · 26th December 12, 11:23 PM

Originally Posted by Woodsheal

I have to put in a plug for these:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/59915601...shirt-colonial

My period shirts were starting to get pretty ratty, so I ordered two of these shirts. They arrived quickly, and are just great! 100% linen, lots of hand-stitching, she'll make them extra long if you want (great for wearing with kilts). Highly recommended!

Oh!! Those are nice!! I'll second that, and the Jas Townsend ones Woodsheal linked to. I have one of the Townsend ones myself, and I absolutely love it. Here's my Christmas picture this year with me wearing the Townsend one:

**BBNC** · 27th December 12, 05:38 AM

Nighthawk, I'm building a leather sporran. Is yours held by it's own strap, or hanging from your belt? I'm very interested in hanging mine from the kilt belt.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 27th December 12, 06:16 AM

Originally Posted by BBNC

What shirts were worn by the kilted everyman besides the Jacobite style? I'm looking for something of a more historical bent, rather than modern. What about something like a light wool or linen tunic?

When? The kilted everyman from 1790? Or the kilted everyman from 1860? Or the kilted everyman from 1930? How about the kilted everyman from 2012?

The answer in each case would be "the usual shirt of the era." Remember that the kilt is not an artifact of historical dress worn only be reenactors. It is an article of clothing with its origins in the Scottish Highlands that has been worn for over 400 years, itself changing with the fashions and styles of the age. (The kilt as worn today is not the same as the kilt worn c. 1600).

So if you are looking to recreate the look of a Highland male in a particular era, say 1745, then you will need to find a shirt appropriate to the first half of the 18th century -- and you'll also want a kilt, bonnet, doublet, etc., from the same time period.

But if you are looking for a shirt to wear with your modern kilt here in the early 21st century, then you probably don't need to look further than your own closet.

Some of my shirts for every day dress...

If you are looking for a modern shirt that has a bit of an "historical flare" to it (without looking like a reenactor), I like the J. Peterman shirt. I have one, but I confess I don't tend to wear it all that often, because it still looks a bit to historical to me for everyday regular wear.

**OC Richard** · 27th December 12, 06:24 AM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

When? The kilted everyman from 1790? Or the kilted everyman from 1860? Or the kilted everyman from 1930? How about the kilted everyman from 2012?

The answer in each case would be "the usual shirt of the era." Remember that the kilt is not an artifact of historical dress... It is an article of clothing... changing with the fashions and styles of the age.

Precisely!

I don't know why, in this country (the USA), it's so common to view the kilt as "an artifact of historical dress" and wear Jacobite shirts etc etc.

This mindset is so strong that even Utilikilts, which are as overtly modern and un-historical as they could possibly be, can be seen worn with full Renaissance regalia at any Ren Faire, and sold by Renaissance clothing shops, etc.

**OC Richard** · 27th December 12, 06:27 AM

(EDIT: double post)

**BBNC** · 27th December 12, 07:43 AM

Matt, I think you have summed it up quite nicely.

I'm amazed by the amount of misinformation out there, about how a kilt should, or shouldn't be worn. Since I got onto Xmarks a short time ago, this thought keeps crossing my mind...it would appear that unless one is reenacting, the kilt is more akin to a pair of pants, which can be dressed up or down as the situation demands.

**Nighthawk** · 27th December 12, 07:53 AM

Originally Posted by BBNC

Nighthawk, I'm building a leather sporran. Is yours held by it's own strap, or hanging from your belt? I'm very interested in hanging mine from the kilt belt.

I made a set of hangers so I can suspend my sporrans from my belt. I'm a bigger guy and the more normal way of hanging a sporran doesn't work well for me.