Great Kilt rental

**rsvpiper** · 18th July 17, 12:36 PM

Ok Folks I've an event coming up next month and for the evening I'd like to go in a great kilt.
As this would be a one off I'd rather not shell out and buy one, so does anyone know if anyone rents them? To make it even harder I'm UK based

Thanks In advance
Andy

**Jock Scot** · 18th July 17, 12:59 PM

I await the replies with interest. I have never heard of an establishment that hires out great kilts. When all said and done, great kilts are a rarity in Scotland even when worn by the re-enactment and theatrical crowd. I wish you luck.

**rsvpiper** · 18th July 17, 01:17 PM

Honestly think I've more chance of finding hens teeth Jock but thought I'd ask

**Liam** · 18th July 17, 04:29 PM

A great kilt is just a piece of tartan cloth. While it should be wool, for a one only event see if you can buy some inexpensive tartan in cotton at a fabric store.

**figheadair** · 18th July 17, 11:01 PM

As Jock says, it's unusual to see anyone wearing a feileadh mor in the UK. What sort of evening event are you planning to attend?

**rsvpiper** · 20th July 17, 03:23 AM

Originally Posted by figheadair

As Jock says, it's unusual to see anyone wearing a feileadh mor in the UK. What sort of evening event are you planning to attend?

Military Oydsseyl a lady friend is going to the evening bash in an 18th century Outlander style dress. While I've my own kilt and most bits to go 18th cen a great kilt would have just been better.

**figheadair** · 20th July 17, 05:43 AM

Originally Posted by rsvpiper

Military Oydsseyl a lady friend is going to the evening bash in an 18th century Outlander style dress. While I've my own kilt and most bits to go 18th cen a great kilt would have just been better.

At risk of being pedantic, there was no TV in the 18th century and therefore no such thing as an 18th century Outlander style dress, as opposed to an 18th century style dress as depicted on Outlander. If you wanted to wear a feileadh mor in same style then some double width Rapier loom cloth of a non-descript tartan with the edges unfinished and bucket boots would be in order. As this is very definitely dressing up and not accurate historical re-enactment then I'm sure no-one will really mind.

**rsvpiper** · 20th July 17, 06:21 AM

Ok...it was just the simplest way to explain her dress as most will have seen that show! and yes I'm aware of the lack of TV in that century.. but thanks for the info anyway.

**Taskr** · 20th July 17, 10:35 AM

I'm wondering the same as Liam, isn't a great kilt just a length of tartan cloth? If so, its rather unlikely that any shop is going to rent out 8yds of cloth. Perhaps, though, a costume shop might have for rent what you're looking for?
Mind you, you have mentioned you've your own kit already. That might be even more smashing than what others come up with

**OC Richard** · 22nd July 17, 06:52 AM

Originally Posted by figheadair

As Jock says, it's unusual to see anyone wearing a feileadh mor in the UK.

Or here.

The only time I see them is with the Renaissance Fair people.

Back when I started going to Highland Games (1970s) all you saw there was ordinary modern traditional Highland Dress, exactly like the Games I've attended in Scotland.

If you went to the Renaissance Fair you'd see people in historical Highland costume, great kilts etc.

At some point the Renaissance Fair people began showing up at our various Highland Games, began staking out a corner somewhere and setting up their tents etc just like they do at the Renaissance Fair. By the 2000s they were to be seen at most or all of our Highland Games.

So you do see great kilts at our local Games, but only worn by those people as part of their specific costume.

As for Outlander costume, it's been discussed here at some length. You can use the search function to find the quite lengthy thread on the authenticity of the costume.

What it comes down to, in a nutshell, is that a person has two discrete choices:

1) Dress in the costume of a character in a modern TV show, movie, or video game, which is a popular hobby called "cosplay". Dressing as a character from Outlander is cosplay. I've seen it at various Comic-Cons.

2) Dress in historical 18th century Highland Dress.

The two have different purposes and would require almost entirely different outfits.

Here is some Outlander cosplay (at DragonCon in Atlanta)

Here is mid-18th century Highland Dress

and a modern re-enactor so dressed; it's a world away from the costumes in Outlander