Ladies Traditional Highland Dress

[HeathBar]

My question is this..what is the PROPER kilt / dress for a lady? What type of footwear is worn?

My wife usually wears a denim skirt. The top and shoes are determined by the weather. At Gatlinburg this year her footwear included pink wellies and a rain jacket. At Stone Mountain she wore a blanket that was strategically wrapped around her. Underneath was a fleece top and hiking boots. She has been doing this nearly all of our 8 year marriage. She does have tartan skirts, but they are reserved for more dressy events such as dinners. But when you are outside for 8 to 10 hours, comfort is the key.

I don't think you have to be decked out in tartan to enjoy highland games. But of course you will not be out of place in the US if you wear something similar as the images above. But just know that these are not traditional scottish dress and they might not even be historically accurate.

[piperdbh]

My wife usually wears a denim skirt. The top and shoes are determined by the weather. At Gatlinburg this year her footwear included pink wellies and a rain jacket.

...because there was about 20 feet of rain that weekend...

At Stone Mountain she wore a blanket that was strategically wrapped around her. Underneath was a fleece top and hiking boots.

...because it was rainy and cold...

I don't think you have to be decked out in tartan to enjoy highland games. But of course you will not be out of place in the US if you wear something similar as the images above. But just know that these are not traditional Scottish dress and they might not even be historically accurate.

Amen. Just as you can enjoy a ball game without being festooned with the team colors, or can fully participate in the 4th of July without painting yourself red, white and blue, you don't have to go all out and dress up the way my Mrs. did above. I'd advise the OP to start small, with maybe a tartan scarf or sash, and then if she wants to add more tartan, have a skirt or pair of slacks made. If she still has the itch (for tartan, not from the wool ), then maybe make a tartan jacket or something.
I hope all this discussion is helping the OP.

[Pleater]

I notice that the arisaid(h) is not worn in the traditional/historic manner but over one shoulder.

The garment, as I understand it, was not normally worn asymetrically but both of the top corners were brought over the respective shoulders, crossed over and fastened at the breast with a round broach - I am sure it has a proper name.

The result was therefore more like a cape with an option for a hood, which resulted in church ministers objecting to it being worn due to women having a snooze under the hood during their sermons.

I wore a single sized blanket like that, once I was up and about after the 'flu' recently, and it is a very cosy garment.

I expect that if the weather was warm the arisaid would be worn 'adapted' - but over one shoulder was not the usual drape of the cloth.

When I used to go the the English Civil War reenactments with John Lilburn's Regiment of Musket and Pike we used to delight in remaining in costume for the whole event, though the Cavaliers used to flaunt their finery through the streets with such pomp and proudness and their women! Painted Jesabeles in such gownes!! and they put on aprones of silks, rybonnes and laces mayd to mayke a mock of they who wore plain and decent garments of simple modesty ... ...

er yes

We used to stay in costume, but anyone who was, was assumed to be taking part, and the spectators wore their normal clothes.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Jack Daw]

I go to several Highland games throughout the U.S., and for both men and women, the colder it gets the more brigadoonery. Which is to say that in Texas, the usual thing I've seen women wear is regular outdoor clothing, plus a small shoulder sash with a clan crest badge pinning it.

[Jock Scot]

I go to several Highland games throughout the U.S., and for both men and women, the colder it gets the more brigadoonery. Which is to say that in Texas, the usual thing I've seen women wear is regular outdoor clothing, plus a small shoulder sash with a clan crest badge pinning it.

Even that is too flash for the ladies of Scotland!

[Dixiecat]

I wasn't really buying that it's the national dress for ladies

Actually it is. Just not it's not quite the national dress that kilts are to men. I'm sorry that Jock and his Mrs. laugh at that, but that dress was 'invented' by some sort of committee of the Aboyne Gathering (or games) for women to wear as wearing the kilt was forbidden to women at that and other games. In 1954, I believe (please don't quote me on that) this costume was standardized for women and was then incorporated into the SOBHD costume rules for female dancers. Which is as follows:

DRESS FOR NATIONAL DANCES
FEMALE
Type 1
Bodice: Velvet, waist length, laced up the front and scalloped or petal design all the way around the bottom. Ornamental buttons may be worn on the front and narrow braid may be used to trim the scallops.
Plaid: Square or rectangular pleated, fastened to the right shoulder with a Scottish brooch. The plaid should be attached to the waist at the back.
White blouse: Full sleeves to the elbow with no frills. No more than four very small tartan bows, on each sleeve may be worn. The location of the bows are optional. Frills on front of blouse are not acceptable.
Skirt: To be a tartan or similar design cloth, not necessarily worsted and should be gathered not circular. Length should be to the knee. Taffeta, satin and lurex are not acceptable.
Underskirt: White cotton with no adornments. A lace edging is acceptable provided it is cotton.
Underwear: White.
Socks: White without frill, ankle or knee high or natural coloured tights may be worn.
Footwear: Black highland dancing pumps.
Hair: No visible hair adornments.

Sorry ladies, if you went dressed up in the outfits, great though they are, suggested in the pictures above to a Highland games in Scotland you would stick out like a sore thumb and it would be assumed that you were part of the performance (in what capacity I am not sure) in the arena.

The female dancers of both Highland and Country dancing have been wearing this costume for over 50 years. You are totally correct though that it would be assumed that a woman wearing this costume would be considered a performer of some sort.

BTW, the ban for females wearing the kilt was lifted a couple of years ago.

[JSFMACLJR]

Dixiecat,
There is a HUGE difference in Aboyne Dress and the photo posted in this thread. Just take a look for yourself. Because the Aboyne Dress has "official" status as the dress worn by women engaged in the national dances of Scotland in competitions does not make it the "national garb" for women.

[Butterfly Aussie]

The garment, as I understand it, was not normally worn asymetrically but both of the top corners were brought over the respective shoulders, crossed over and fastened at the breast with a round broach - I am sure it has a proper name.


Anne the Pleater :ootd:

The brooch is called a penannular. It is one of the things I am sure of from my research/study of this subject.

I do have 2 pictures that are saved on my computer of different Ladies' Scottish Attire/dress that I would like to have your opinions on - whether they are representative or "costumey"; but I have no idea how to upload them. When I click on Insert Image it asks for a http:// address or do I need to email them to someone directly?

[Steve Ashton]

The penannular brooch was a circle of metal that is open in one area. Sort of like the letter "C". There is then a pin that can move around the C. The Pin is stuck through the fabric and then the C is spun under it to hold.

Here is a Penannular brooch courtesy of the The British Museum.

[Mael Coluim]

Courtesy of Linda Clifford here are some ideas. Since as Jock said there is no ladies traditional Highland dress, this may give you ideas what may appeal to you to wear.