Historic Highland Attire

[josephkirkpatrick]

So I'll be attending a renaissance festival in August and I want to look the part.

It's Celtic weekend, so of course I'll be wearing the kilt... However, the time period for the fair is 1585 so I want to be as accurate as possible. Suggestions for the accessories?

I'll be wearing a feile beg (short kilt with sash) because that's what I have and cannot afford a great kilt at this time. That aside, what type of shirt/jacket/footwear/weapons/etc would be appropriate? I appreciate the help!

[raibeart_dubh]

I think you should pick up Early Highland Dress by Matt Newsome here:

http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/books.htm

[Bigkahuna]

Go barefoot with the biggest sword you can find!!

[pdcorlis]

This may be of help.

http://www.albanach.org/kilt.html

[gilmore]

You might do a search of this forum, or the internet, but as I recall, the great kilt was first seen sometime after that date, and the felie beg some 2 centuries or so later.

[JSFMACLJR]

So I'll be attending a renaissance festival in August and I want to look the part.

It's Celtic weekend, so of course I'll be wearing the kilt... However, the time period for the fair is 1585 so I want to be as accurate as possible. Suggestions for the accessories?

I'll be wearing a feile beg (short kilt with sash) because that's what I have and cannot afford a great kilt at this time. That aside, what type of shirt/jacket/footwear/weapons/etc would be appropriate? I appreciate the help!

I would reaccess the situation. The kilt was not worn prior to the 16th century. Even if you had a great kilt, that would be an anachronism.

As others have suggested, please read Matt Newsome's article.

[The Guy in the Kilt at UC]

I would reaccess the situation. The kilt was not worn prior to the 16th century. Even if you had a great kilt, that would be an anachronism.

As others have suggested, please read Matt Newsome's article.

But 1585 is in the sixteenth century.

[josephkirkpatrick]

As I understand it, the belted plaid was first worn during the late 16th century, which would make it appropriate for 1585. I do understand that the short kilt wasn't worn for more than a century and a half later, but you do understand financial constraints... maybe next year I'll hammer it down a bit better.

I guess my main concern is just looking the best that I can. I'd also like some advice for my wife.... I think I forgot to mention that.

Thanks for the link to Albannach, that definitely helps.

[Zardoz]

Well, I love me some ren faire, but I don't worry so much about "historicaly accurate" dress, If you get right down to it, 95% of folks you see dressed up at fair, the ones in kilts particularly, are not close to accurate. Or no moreso than the folks one sees dressed as fairies, Capt.Jack, bellydancers, Robin Hood or clone troopers! I just think of it as a fantasy dress-up party.
I wear one of my modern trad kilts and one of those ghillie/jacobite/pirate/whatever lace-up shirts, the rest of the kit is stuff I would wear any other day. Honestly, I would pass on the sash, it just doesn't look right to me. but your call. Likewise the weapons, I carry a sigan dubh in my hose, but dirks and swords just get heavy after a while.

[JSFMACLJR]

But 1585 is in the sixteenth century.

How true! What I meant to say was...