Even in the Hebrides

[Nathan]

This thread illustrates something important. There is a longing among some members for the kilt fashion to reflect the "way it used to be done", but be careful because some of the same folks will tell you that going back to "the way it used to be done a long, long time ago" isn't traditional but is costume. So a dirk and plaid is out cause they're too old fashioned while more contemporary choices like tartan flashes are out because they're too newfangled.

I don't raise this to single anyone's taste or perspective out, but to show the inherant difficulty in defining a term like "traditional" when it comes to Highland attire.

I started the thread because although I've been kilted most of my life, I've been told you have to be in Scotland to "get it". So I posted pics from Scotland that would generally meet with derision on this board. It turns out, it's not about being Scottish or Highland, it's about being a regular kilt wearer of a certain socio-economic class and age group.

I posted this thread to show that this perspective, while valuable and smart looking, is not normative.

When does something cross the line from traditional to historical and when does it gain widespread enough popularity to move from contemporary to traditional?

As the old lady from Skye referenced in a previous post proves, these are matters of clothing and taste and are by their very nature, subjective.

We should take care not to impose our own personal or generational aesthetic as the only way to wear the kilt "correctly". At the same time, we should look to previous generations for a reference point so that we are being faithful to the tradition even if we are pushing the style into the next millenium, Highland dress is a fashion that progresses slowly.