Where to get a high quality Ghillie Shirt (100% cotton)

[Panache]

Everything has its time and place.

Sometimes the historically inaccurate but romantic look is just the right thing to wear.

Such as when you are the MC of a Burns Night where all the other gents are wearing a puffy pirate shirt (and they are very comfortable to dance in! )

Life is too short not to have have fun

Cheers

Jamie

[Jock Scot]

Hello Stranger! Great see your post......... even if you are incorrectly attired!

[OC Richard]

Everything has its time and place.

Sometimes the historically inaccurate but romantic look is just the right thing to wear.

...where all the other gents are wearing a puffy pirate shirt, and they are very comfortable to dance in!

For sure in my RSCDS days the pirate shirt & vest was not an uncommon look, especially for the Demonstration Team. It's cool and comfortable for dancing and makes a nice show on stage.

Since we're sharing puffy-shirt photos, in full disclosure, is this... piping for a Renaissance banquet.

[Jock Scot]

Since we're sharing puffy-shirt photos, in full disclosure, is this... piping for a Renaissance banquet.

Fair enough, but to my eye even when considering the event, the outfit looks artificial and unnecessarily theatrical, particularly as there are more genuine choices to be had. Sorry.

[OC Richard]

The outfit looks artificial and unnecessarily theatrical, particularly as there are more genuine choices to be had.

The waistcoat is definitely theatrical- I don't think there's any evidence of anything like that existing historically.

The shirt on the other hand is an authentic 18th century pattern.

Artificial indeed- with the Hollywood waistcoat, 18th century shirt, and ordinary modern kilt, sporran, and pipes it's a mashup.

I will say that it was the most suitable outfit for the occasion I could throw together. Wearing modern Highland Dress would have been completely out of sync with the event- nobody there was in modern clothing.

The most suitable outfit for me to wear at that event would have been this:



It's 17th century, far later than the Renaissance, however it's the earliest clear image we have of Highland Dress, and thus the only responsible starting-point for a Highland outfit of any earlier period.

[jsrnephdoc]

The most suitable outfit for me to wear at that event would have been this:



It's 17th century, far later than the Renaissance, however it's the earliest clear image we have of Highland Dress, and thus the only responsible starting-point for a Highland outfit of any earlier period.

Thanks for that And, I'll submit that to a great extent, much of this debate is a tempest in a teapot. I wear a kilt and other elements of highland dress because they're comfortable, look much better in public than an irreverent teenager broadcasting his stupidity wearing a T-shirt saying "I'm so horny, not even the crack of dawn is safe," and pay respects to my parents' origins. I cannot imagine ANYWHERE one would wear what's in OC Richard's picture except for some sort of re-enactment, without a theatrical or film costumer doing better fact checking than they often do first. And, even the backwards picture of the Royal Family displaying their various badges and awards doesn't provide much insight on what might be "appropriate" to wear today in public for ordinary life.

Certainly I for one can learn a great deal from the collective wisdom of this group about how people dress today and did in the past, but when the issue is "what looks good and wouldn't insult anyone on the street today," I agree with Jock that rules are to be considered but need not be slavishly obeyed to the extent of the "accuracy" of the hemline of one's underwear. (No, I haven't read that from Jock, but claiming that one should NEVER wear a flat cap with a kilt is no more helpful than saying one's socks can never be black or white but otherwise their color should look like you got dressed in the dark!

[OC Richard]

I cannot imagine ANYWHERE one would wear what's in OC Richard's picture except for some sort of re-enactment...

Exactly, and that is what the event I was piping for, a Renaissance banquet, with everybody in Renaissance costume.

Modern Highland clothing would have been unacceptable.

Going forward into the early 18th century we have the first clear depiction of a Highland piper, and of Highland bagpipes.

I've always wanted a reproduction of this set of pipes! But AFAIK no pipe-maker has done such.

So this would have been the most appropriate piper-specific costume to wear.



This is the closest-looking surviving Highland bagpipe



This set, which sat for many years in the window of the Glen shop, had the date "1409" on it, but is assumed to have been a Victorian fake.

[Jock Scot]

The last two posts are absolutely correct , that people can wear what they like, when they like. The problem, yes alright it is my problem, is that it gives the unknowing the opportunity of gaining a false impression. "THAT WONT HAPPEN!" I hear you both say. Really?

What about the Braveheart syndrome? What about the Highlander syndrome? What about the many romantic books and films made about Scotland in the past? What about the misguided posts on this website? They ALL lead the unknowing astray. I am not necessarily blaming them totally for their impressions, but it does get tiresome when a coach load of tourists arrive with starry eyed expectations, gained from films, TV, books and events like yours, of what they expect Scotland to be. I do not exclude the tourist industry from criticism either, as they perpetuate the myths ruthlessly. "No that can't happen!" I hear you say. Oh yes it does and it happened here again yesterday, last week and......and ...... and.... and sadly it will continue!