"Cookie Cutter" Pipe Band Dress

**Semiomniscient** · 16th June 10, 02:23 PM

I've enjoyed this thread. I'm not in a band, but our Caledonian society sponsors one. They have a uniform much like everyone else except right now they wear their own tartan kilts. They've started discussion about getting all matching kilts (possibly Fergusson tartan). I'm not a big fan of the idea, how much of a factor is this type of thing in competition?

**OC Richard** · 18th June 10, 05:46 AM

Thanks Terry for those photos!

What struck me is how many bands have red tartans in ancient or weathered or muted colours. That seems to be the trend, I think.

I see few bands anymore in tartans in modern colours.

Back 20 or 30 years ago most bands were wearing Royal Stewart or MacLean of Duart or MacPherson or Drummond of Perth or other red tartans in modern colours, or one of the blue/green tartans like Gordon or MacKenzie likewise in modern colours.

**wildrover** · 27th October 10, 08:12 AM

I know this is an older thread, but...

Originally Posted by Semiomniscient

I've enjoyed this thread. I'm not in a band, but our Caledonian society sponsors one. They have a uniform much like everyone else except right now they wear their own tartan kilts. They've started discussion about getting all matching kilts (possibly Fergusson tartan). I'm not a big fan of the idea, how much of a factor is this type of thing in competition?

It really isn't. There is no "dress" category on the judge's sheet, and while it's been griped about, it would detract from the real focus, which is the music. D&D (local to me) doesn't have a matching kilt among them, unless two people pulled from the same rack...but they are consistently #1 or #2 in the area, and sound quite good.

**OC Richard** · 30th October 10, 06:05 PM

Originally Posted by Semiomniscient

They have a uniform much like everyone else except right now they wear their own tartan kilts.

Interesting that a band so dressed would/could be disqualified in Scotland, due to the RSPBA rule requiring matching dress.

On the other hand, a band can compete wearing plain trousers in Scotland but such a band would/could be disqualified in the USA due to our PBAs having rules requiring Highland Dress.