Highlanders Discuss Highland Attire

[Jock Scot]

Thanks to everyone who has replied so far. I really appreciate your observations.



Fair enough. Perhaps some specifics?:

1. How many kilts does the "kilt-wearing Highlander" own?
2. What tartan/tartans does he choose to which events? Does he wear Dress tartans?
3. What color schemes/ fabric weight are most commonly seen?
4. Does he wear a kilt pin? What's it look like?
5. Is his kilt pleated to the line or the sett?
6. Does he wear a kilt belt with his kilt?
7. Does his kilt have belt/sporran loops? If so, does he use them?

Cordially,
David

1. Until my kilts shrank I had four kilts(one my father's, and one my Grand Father's) in my wardrobe, all of the same tartan and a dress clan tartan. I now have one and my sons have the others along with jackets, sporrans etc.. They may have three or four all of the same tartan each.I suspect that most kiltwearers up here might have two kilts, one they bought and a family one. It never occurs to us to ask. Kilt wearing is not a common thing, even here.

2. I wear one tartan for all events and in another life I had a clan dress tartan that was only worn for formal evening events. I was probably unusual in having a dress tartan.

3. I6 oz or heavier would be the norm.I doubt that many would ask the weight and would assume it was heavyweight. Modern would be the normal(common) colour, ancient would be regarded as new fangled. Don't forget many kilts are over 50 years old.

4. Yes a kilt pin is usually worn, the "blanket pin "type is the norm. Mine is my Grand father's Gordon Highlanders silver one made in, I think, in 1913 by Hamilton and Inches.

5. Normally, unless you ask, the kilt maker will make the kilt pleated to the sett. I doubt that many would even know that there was a choice.

6. Oh yes a belt is worn without a waistcoat. Brass buckled during the day, silver for some evening wear.

7. I doubt that many have ever heard of such things.

[Paul]

Kilt wearing is not a common thing, even here.

I agree with Jock here. From my experience of wearing a kilt in Inverness, I received as many stares as I do in Glasgow.

Fair enough. Perhaps some specifics?:

1. How many kilts does the "kilt-wearing Highlander" own?
2. What tartan/tartans does he choose to which events? Does he wear Dress tartans?
3. What color schemes/ fabric weight are most commonly seen?
4. Does he wear a kilt pin? What's it look like?
5. Is his kilt pleated to the line or the sett?
6. Does he wear a kilt belt with his kilt?
7. Does his kilt have belt/sporran loops? If so, does he use them?

Cordially,
David

I have Highland great grandparents and, as far as I know, none of the males owned, or wore kilts.
As far as the other questions, from my experience of pictures - Highlanders do seem to wear the kilt a little better than elsewhere in Scotland. This is probably because the tradition is more authentic and less "Prince Charlie and cream hose for your wedding"-ish.

[creagdhubh]

1. Until my kilts shrank I had four kilts(one my father's, and one my Grand Father's) in my wardrobe, all of the same tartan and a dress clan tartan. I now have one and my sons have the others along with jackets, sporrans etc.. They may have three or four all of the same tartan each.I suspect that most kiltwearers up here might have two kilts, one they bought and a family one. It never occurs to us to ask. Kilt wearing is not a common thing, even here.

2. I wear one tartan for all events and in another life I had a clan dress tartan that was only worn for formal evening events. I was probably unusual in having a dress tartan.

3. I6 oz or heavier would be the norm.I doubt that many would ask the weight and would assume it was heavyweight. Modern would be the normal(common) colour, ancient would be regarded as new fangled. Don't forget many kilts are over 50 years old.

4. Yes a kilt pin is usually worn, the "blanket pin "type is the norm. Mine is my Grand father's Gordon Highlanders silver one made in, I think, in 1913 by Hamilton and Inches.

5. Normally, unless you ask, the kilt maker will make the kilt pleated to the sett. I doubt that many would even know that there was a choice.

6. Oh yes a belt is worn without a waistcoat. Brass buckled during the day, silver for some evening wear.

7. I doubt that many have ever heard of such things.

I am working on getting a kilt in the dress Macpherson tartan. For my clan, the dress Macpherson is the norm for evening dress-it is a very popular tartan amongst our clan. It is naturally recorded as "Cluny Macpherson" tartan and is one of the oldest recorded setts out of all the Clan Macpherson tartans. It looks very handsome with the black and silver of evening attire, since the prominent colors of the tartan are black and white, with thin lines of burgundy and yellow.