"Brigadoonery"? "TCHD"? Who decides?

[Tobus]

I'm sorry you rarely use your pipe. I had hoped I had found a fellow kilted briarman. My time with my pipes are a much needed respite from a hectic world. I need it for my sense of well being quite as much as I need time in prayer with my Maker, or time with the Missus. Is there something in particular you find objectionable?

No, nothing objectionable. I enjoy smoking my pipe. I just rarely have the time to do it, and I'm normally a cigarette smoker anyway (having failed thus far to adequately submit to society's shame and guilt for that particular pleasure). Since smoking is no longer an acceptable indoor activity, I am generally limited to a quick dash out-of-doors for a quick ciggie. For a while, I was smoking my pipe on my hour-long commute home each day, but I quickly learned that pipe smoke really lays a thick film of tar all over the inside of a vehicle, no matter how much I vent it with my windows. It just wasn't practical.

But I do occasionally find the time to sit on my front porch of an evening with an adult beverage to smoke my pipe and watch the sunset and the critters that come out at dusk.

[BadenochWolf]

When we talk about traditional highland dress there was no great rule book that every highlander followed to the letter. There was a spectrum of things that people wore. There were conservative dressers, flamboyant dressers, and those who fell somewhere between.

Picture for a moment two modern gents that often wear highland attire, Sir Jackie Stewart and Prince Charles. They have very different takes on highland dress and exist on opposite ends of the spectrum between conservative and flamboyant. Yet their outfits are part of the same spectrum.

In the picture I just posted above you could complain "Well that horsehair sporran is far too formal for daywear! A true traditional highlander would have worn a simple leather cantled and brown horsehair sporran…"

You could...

Except...

A true highlander would probably look at his kit and the horsehair sporran he was given / inherited and say "Guid enough" and not rush out to buy a new one that was a perfect match ("match-matchy" ?) for his daywear ensemble.

I love traditional highland attire, but have come to realize that I am not trying hit a bullseye of "perfect outfit", but dress along a spectrum where I probably fall more toward the flamboyant than conservative.

And that is OK by me, the world needs staunch conservative traditionalists as well as tartan peacocks.

ith: Cheers

Jamie

This was quite a good reply! I wish it could be added as a Post-Script to the many photo-essays on kilt wear here. I don't think there's anything bad or wrong about making a statement with one's outfit. I'm just trying to figure out the nuance of why certain things are considered good or traditional. Namely so I can find ways to bend/break those rules tastefully.

[BadenochWolf]

No, nothing objectionable. I enjoy smoking my pipe. I just rarely have the time to do it, and I'm normally a cigarette smoker anyway (having failed thus far to adequately submit to society's shame and guilt for that particular pleasure). Since smoking is no longer an acceptable indoor activity, I am generally limited to a quick dash out-of-doors for a quick ciggie. For a while, I was smoking my pipe on my hour-long commute home each day, but I quickly learned that pipe smoke really lays a thick film of tar all over the inside of a vehicle, no matter how much I vent it with my windows. It just wasn't practical.

But I do occasionally find the time to sit on my front porch of an evening with an adult beverage to smoke my pipe and watch the sunset and the critters that come out at dusk.

I once smoked in mostly-closed-compartment vehicle, and had much the same experience as you. The Missus lets me smoke in her convertible with the top down, provided I give it a good airing-out during and after. A good toddle down back roads with a wind cap sets me up nicely.

Let me know when Texas cools down enough to make kilted porch-sitting a tolerable activity. I used to spend my off-duty time working in a tobacco shop, and have some goodies squirreled away.

[BadenochWolf]

* Plus it has added F-H.C.A.G. appeal!

Is there a guide to board abbreviations somewhere?
WWDWOA?!

What
Would
We
Do
With
Out
Acronyms

[Nathan]

When we talk about traditional highland dress we must understand that there was no great rule book that every highlander followed to the letter. There was a spectrum of things that people wore at different times. Things came into and out of fashion.

Why is this written in the past tense as if the era of traditional highland dress has passed?

[Theyoungkiltman]

F-H.C.A.G. stands for "flame-hair celtic amazon godess" correct me if I'm wrong though.

[Jock Scot]

Brigadoonery? THCD? Who decides?

You do! It all depends on the context and what an individual chooses to wear for that particular occasion.

[James Hood]

Back-ish-oid on thread-track, personal fave lids for hot and sunny days are ecru-colour Tilley with flat top, venting mesh beneath it or alternate; wide brim or similar Equator, slightly less-wide brim, but tuck-it-in- or leave it out, drop-down back "apron" to cover neck.

Oh, and SPF-50 sunblock...pasty-afs-skinned Northern Euro heritage.

And re the "Brigadoon-y-ish-oid" tape-collar, laced shirt; it does not faze this observer in any way whatsover. Kinda what Rhett told Scarlett, but with much less conviction or strong opinion....

It's just a flippin' shirt.

[Panache]

Why is this written in the past tense as if the era of traditional highland dress has passed?

It is written about previous eras (I'm not going to touch where the "Historical" versus "Traditional" line is with a ten foot pole) where there was only one basic style of highland dress. Type into Google images "Kilts in Scotland" and you will find a myriad of different takes on highland dress that exist today.

Cheers

Jamie

[Nathan]

It is written about previous eras (I'm not going to touch where the "Historical" versus "Traditional" line is with a ten foot pole) where there was only one basic style of highland dress. Type into Google images "Kilts in Scotland" and you will find a myriad of different takes on highland dress that exist today.

Cheers

Jamie

I'm not sure what comes up in that particular Google search is how kilts are worn in the Highlands by Highlanders. I think the line between historic and traditional is clear and requires no pole of any length.

As I said above and the THCD thread illustrates, traditional Highland attire is the attire passed down from generation to generation by kilt wearing Highlanders in the Highlands. While there are a myriad of approaches to kilted attire, not all of them are traditional.

To be clear, anyone who wants to dress in a manner that is more unconventional, imaginative, theatrical or evocative of their own unique personality, social scene or circumstances should feel free to do so. Will some people call it Brigadoonery? Yes. No matter what you wear, there will be people who don't like it and there will be people who do. If you make the decision to depart from convention as an educated choice rather than just out of ignorance, you should have thick enough skin to dismiss those who don't applaud.

That said, notwithstanding the fact that I sometimes choose to dress unconventionally, I'm grateful to know when and why I'm crossing the line.

Traditional
Nathan MacDonald at Beach Celt fest.jpg

Traditional style, borderline colour
IMG_2355.jpg

Nontraditional (or at least far less traditional)
NContemporary tartan tuesday.jpg