Highlanders Discuss Highland Attire

[Jock Scot]

PART TWO (for the third time)

So there I was, surrounded by a hoard of youngsters(to me) with reinforcements arriving all the time, what was I to do? Think of England? Well no! I know thought I, think of Xmarks!

So your gallant scribe turned to the ladies! Ye gads I thought, those mini skirts could not get any shorter if they tried! Marvellous thought I! In fact I am not at all sure that they were appropriate for the occasion and the ladies wearing long dresses, or long skirts and a blouse looked more the part particularly with the weather we are having at the moment.Not a piece of tartan to be seen and as one group of girls pointed out that they see too much tartan about in Scotland to be bothered to wear any more. A fair point.

On to the men and I am glad to say that the same old mix of attire was on show. Some fitted, some too big, some too small, some old(very in some cases), some new, some hired, some borrowed. I rather fancy that there were a few of Jock's things being worn! No matter, all were turned out in the best fashion that they could muster and all in appropriate dress.I was also delighted to note, there was not a plaid in sight. They knew the form well enough that if they could not find the correct gear, then they would not go.

Interestingly those that had hired their attire had all chosen to dump the issued white hose and used their own coloured hose.

So where did the knowledge on "how to wear the kilt " come from. Well they all had Scots connections so if advice was needed it was readily available. One very smartly turned out gentleman openly admitted that his, very pretty, young lady had to help him with some advice on the finer points of kilt wearing.

One fascinating conversation with two "gay" men has given me considerable food for thought.The fact that they were there at all, is a sign that times are a changing. Anyway they were firmly of the opinion that the "gay" world has hi jacked the kilt and in consequence non "gays" were being put off wearing the kilt. I did mention that they were wearing the kilt and their logical reply was that they were highlanders well before they became "gay"! A fair point. I wonder if they are correct with their "hi jacking" theory? I think that perhaps they might be and they should know.

Anyway, on the whole kilt wearing in the highlands of Scotland has not changed much in my nearly seventy years on this planet, and I am delighted to say so.