Historic Highland Attire

[Woodsheal]

I believe Matt's article states that the first recorded instance of the great kilt was around 1594. Assuming the recording of history lags behind the actual practices being recorded, I'd be inclined accept a 10-year window.

At least! Given the non-literate, oral-tradition status of the Scottish highlands of the time (all descriptions are from "foreign" travellers and such), I'd suspect that belted plaids were worn for decades before they appear in a period document....

[McMurdo]

I was at a Ren fair today, this was a first for me but as I wear a kilt on a daily basis, I thought I would go ahead and wear one. I was toying with the idea of a great kilt as I have 5 yards of tartan here that I could do that with. However I decided that as it was rather hot out today a 4 yard box pleat would be a better bet, at least it is an older style of pleating. People absolutely loved seeing the kilt, I was asked a few times for directions within the castle, I was asked to have my photo taken, many people took me for one of the actors in period garb. Normally I find the Ghillie shirt a bit theatrical, however for this setting it's simply subdued. So here are a few photos of what I wore.





Now was it historic? Well parts of it are but no it is more a feeling of history than history itself, I hope this helps a wee bit.

[josephkirkpatrick]

You guys have been totally helpful... I think I'm just going to wing it and pick up a big sword sometime before then... now I'll just have to figure out what they mean by "Peace Tying."

[Ryan Ross]

You guys have been totally helpful... I think I'm just going to wing it and pick up a big sword sometime before then... now I'll just have to figure out what they mean by "Peace Tying."

You'll need a scabbard and a zip tie or two...not real easy to do with a claymore.

[Ron Murray]

May I suggest that befor you go to the expense of buying a sword tha you check to see if thay will allow it in. I know that the Kansas City Ren. Fest. fest do's not allow non-particapents to carry wepons.

[Woodsheal]

You guys have been totally helpful... I think I'm just going to wing it and pick up a big sword sometime before then... now I'll just have to figure out what they mean by "Peace Tying."

Which Faire are you going to? The last time I went to Sterling, NY, they didn't allow any weapons to be worn, peace-tied or not. Over-caution carried to a pathetic degree. Little kids couldn't even carry wooden toy swords!

Anyways, getting back to the "historic accuracy" issue, great-kilts vs. philabegs, etc. Sure, RenFaires are hardly beacons of authenticity. The same can be said of many Civil War events, but would you wear a WWII uniform to the latter...?

[macwilkin]

Anyways, getting back to the "historic accuracy" issue, great-kilts vs. philabegs, etc. Sure, RenFaires are hardly beacons of authenticity. The same can be said of many Civil War events, but would you wear a WWII uniform to the latter...?

I've avoided posting to this thread until now, but Brian's comment above allowed me to give my own "devil's advocate" opinion to the majority already expressed.

I think Brian raises a very valuable point in the comparison of wearing a WWII uniform to a Civil War reenactment. As Brian states, RenFaires generally are not comparable to other reenacting/living history venues which require more stringent standards of authenticity -- yet while this may be the case, it should be pointed out that the public visiting said RenFaire generally does not know this.

I have no problems with the RenFaire community in general, but what bothers me, as a professionally trained living historian, is the possibility that a member of the general public will believe the event to be "100% authentic". If you're going to be "casual" in terms of authenticity, then hold a closed event where the general public is not allowed, so that way there will be no issue with misinformation.

And in case someone should believe me to throwing stones in glass houses, I have seen a similar situation before at reenactments and living history events I have attended.

Again, this is just my observations and opinions. No offence is meant or intended, but even though we may believe it is all right to wear anything and everything to a RenFaire because everyone knows they're not authentic, that may not necessarily be the case.

[Zardoz]

Well, One thing I know is that if you attend a faire in costume, the average patron thinks you must be part of the faire, moreso if they have been at the King's Budwieser all day. They will ask you where the bathroom/ATM/cheap food/Pub/bonfire etc.. is, a lot! I always help, but sometimes give them the most complicated directions possible! But, like most costumed faire goers, I'm not a Renaissance clothing or history expert. I will be pleasant to the mundanes if they talk to me about anything, but that's more my responsibility to the fair I love, to not run off the paying customers! If the danes are under the impression that the dress or existence of fairies, kilted clone troopers, Conan style barbarians, sayters, dragons, centaurs, live garden gnomes, the greenman, ol' Zardoz, or anything else they see at the average ren faire has anything to do with historical facts, I submit it is too late to help them education-wise!

In ren faire vernacular, there are basically 3 types of folks at the fair;

1. "Participants" someone who works at the faire, generally as Cast, Performer, Merchant or support personnel. At most faires the the Cast is expected to be dressed, and speak and act as accurate as is reasonable to the time period and area the fair represents. The Performers and Merchants, less so. They do represent the fair, their employer, to the patrons.

2. "Playtrons" the term "playtron" has been coined to describe patrons who come in costume and interact in varying degrees with cast and non-costume patrons. These are generally long time faire goers. Most faires encourage patrons to come in costume (however, rumors that patrons who come in costume don't have to pay admission or pay a reduced admission are generally urban legend). Being in costume changes the faire experience: a costume moves you from the observer side of the fence to the participant. Donning that costume, no matter how full of anachronisms, shows that you want to be part of the faire experience rather than simply watch it unfold around you.

3. "Patrons" these are the non costumed, unwashed ticket buying public, generally called "Mundanes" by the ren faire community. We often say it would be great hold a closed faire where the general public is not allowed, like Cajinscot said, but don't get the idea they are resented! The danes cash makes our faires possible.