"Jacobite" garb

[Captain_Cogle]

Have you worn the belted plaid much?

I am just wondering because I have yet to get it to work when it is simply pinned to the jacket. The weight drags the jacket into a horrible pulled position.

I did put everything together in that order (saving the dirk belt which I put on after pinning the plaid.)

And since I gave away my Rob Roy sporran I was left with that or a more modern design.

Thanks for the comments though.

Well you either want help or you dont.

Woodsheal has indeed worn the belted plaid a great deal. I have to laugh a little at this because I think its fairly clear you havent even read the first post of this entire thread.

I would even say Woodsheal is being exceptionally gentle with his suggestions to you. If you want to know what is not historically accurate about your kit the answer would be everything. That is the blunt honest answer.

So the question is do you really want to know? Can you take the criticism? Plenty here would be all to ready willing and able to help you make an authentic 1740's Scottish Highland kit together.

Sorry if you think me rude but that is just the cold hard truth of the matter.

[Nighthawk]

Well you either want help or you dont.

Woodsheal has indeed worn the belted plaid a great deal. I have to laugh a little at this because I think its fairly clear you havent even read the first post of this entire thread.

I would even say Woodsheal is being exceptionally gentle with his suggestions to you. If you want to know what is not historically accurate about your kit the answer would be everything. That is the blunt honest answer.

So the question is do you really want to know? Can you take the criticism? Plenty here would be all to ready willing and able to help you make an authentic 1740's Scottish Highland kit together.

Sorry if you think me rude but that is just the cold hard truth of the matter.

Being a little harsh, are we? Looks to me like most of the garb is correct, barring a few little details, just put on incorrectly. I mean, in comparison to Woodsheal... Gabe, if you want to come to Denver next weekend, I can teach you how to put a great kilt on correctly!

[Captain_Cogle]

Being a little harsh, are we? Looks to me like most of the garb is correct, barring a few little details, just put on incorrectly. I mean, in comparison to Woodsheal... Gabe, if you want to come to Denver next weekend, I can teach you how to put a great kilt on correctly!

Not being harsh in the slightest. Being honest. There is a difference.

The garb is not correct at all. The shoes are not 18th century style, the coat is not an 18th century cut, the kilt is not belted correctly, knit hose rather than correct sewn hose, a 19th century or later sporran. The belt is 100% inaccurate for the 18th Century.

I want to make it PERFECTLY clear I am not in any way shape or form saying this in order to belittle or insult any one. He asked, what is wrong. The answer, well, everything.

I mean you really cant tell the difference between the two impressions in those pictures you re-posted? Seriously?
The guy doesn't look bad! His kit simply is not historically correct. Simple as that. Its wonderful that he wants to improve on it. That is to be commended and applauded, but plenty of people have no regard for historical authenticity in any regard and then make shameful attempts to justify their rape of history.

Criticism comes hard. Many of us long experienced reenactors have made many many many mistakes. I sure as hell have! When I first started Jacobite reenacting I grew a big thick beard, and had many of the other anachronisms that one commonly finds. I made my first kit from modern tartan kit fabric which is utterly wrong in all regards for 18th century garb. I even wore a stupid brooch to pin my kilt up and wore my sporran from a chain.

Over the years and with hard research and study and asking more experienced gentlemen similar to Woodsheal I have learned what was wrong with my kit taking their criticism which can come across as you claim it to be "harsh" but it pointed me in the right directions.

Making ones kit historically accurate is a LOOOOOOOOONG expensive tough road but the end of the road is truly a delight! One can be proud of the impression that they end up with.

Bottom line is dont take it personal. Just take it seriously.

[Captain_Cogle]

[auld argonian]

I love the irony in the statement about the expense and length of time needed to be historically accurate...time and money so you can look like some fella who had maybe one fiftieth of the personal posessions that you have and who probably had ten minutes to get his $#!+ together, kiss his wife and go off to the '45.

Best

AA

[Woodsheal]

I love the irony in the statement about the expense and length of time needed to be historically accurate...time and money so you can look like some fella who had maybe one fiftieth of the personal posessions that you have and who probably had ten minutes to get his $#!+ together, kiss his wife and go off to the '45.

Best

AA

Well, that fella in 1745 wore certain things and carried certains. If he was a front-rank clan "gentleman" he owned the full panoply of highland weapons and wore all the fancy tartan clothes. Going down the economic scale would indeed exhibit less "stuff" in terms of arms and clothes, but still stuff unique to the period.

None of that stuff, from whatever level you're trying to portray, is mass produced or cheaply available in today's market. Reenactors are a tiny niche market! So, yeah - getting a proper period kit together can run into some serious bucks....

[figheadair]

Well, that fella in 1745 wore certain things and carried certains. If he was a front-rank clan "gentleman" he owned the full panoply of highland weapons and wore all the fancy tartan clothes. Going down the economic scale would indeed exhibit less "stuff" in terms of arms and clothes, but still stuff unique to the period.

Brian makes a good point. As a reminder, post 35 here gives a list of a gentleman's possessions in 1737 - http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...65/index4.html

Note the use of trews and boots indicating horse riding was a common practice by this particular gentleman.

[Hothir Ethelnor]

the coat is not an 18th century cut, the kilt is not belted correctly,

Other than that section I agree.

Perhaps the kilt should be pinned in the back only. I will have to give it another go or perhaps abandon the Feilidh Mhor for a wee kilt. But I am not convinced that the only way a Highlander ever wore his plaid when wearing a jacket was that way. Or that that is necessarily the norm. Now perhaps if I am able to do enough in depth research to come to that conclusion I will be happy to. But simply making arrogant sounding remarks and statements of absolute surety is likely to make me dismiss you (which I shouldn't.)

Now on to the cut of the jacket. I modified a 16th century pattern (French and Indian war period American civilian's coat) that was too large for me and the neckline came out lower than I anticipated. I was using some cheaper blanket like tartan to make the coat so I was not overly particular that it be 100% perfect on the first go. I don't see how the cut of the jacket (from what you can see of it) is unlike the paintings often used as references here and some of those seen on this thread which passed by with little or no comment. Solid colour contrasting cuffs are commonly found in reference sources, if it's the facings or perhaps the way the cuffs were cut or something, tell me what your beef with it is AND WHY it's so darn wrong.

I am simply a bit flabbergasted that you blew off the coat (which I assumed from my admittedly limited research and the source of my pattern) was acceptable.

Everything else I wore was simply what I had lying around that I threw on to finish "the look" for a group which has no real idea of what a 1745 highlander should look like or probably will ever care one way or the other.

[Hothir Ethelnor]

Well you either want help or you dont.

Woodsheal has indeed worn the belted plaid a great deal. I have to laugh a little at this because I think its fairly clear you havent even read the first post of this entire thread.

I would even say Woodsheal is being exceptionally gentle with his suggestions to you. If you want to know what is not historically accurate about your kit the answer would be everything. That is the blunt honest answer.

So the question is do you really want to know? Can you take the criticism? Plenty here would be all to ready willing and able to help you make an authentic 1740's Scottish Highland kit together.

Sorry if you think me rude but that is just the cold hard truth of the matter.

My tone was confusing... I honestly want to know how it is possible to make the belted plaid practical when pinned from behind only and I do want to know why of course that is THE only way. (is it even possible that a Highlander would dare cross a bit of the plaid in front?) (am I being a heretic to suggest it or even ask or was your tone misread as well?)

Horror of all Horrors! Woodsheal himself with the plaid crossed in front.



I can take anything that comes my way. As stated previously my kit was thrown together as a costume. I enjoyed the look and am now interested in cleaning it up a bit.

I have read the entire thread and seen many photos of the plaid worn as he suggested I'm simply wondering if there's some secret to keeping it from ripping the coat of your back. My plaid was made from just over 4 yards of cloth woven in Wilson's shades. (yes I know they're post proscription )

Do you have any remarks on the coat (beyond dismissing it out of hand?)

And yes I know my knitted hose should be cloth cadadh but I was sewing the buttons on my coat on the way there and didn't have time so and old pair of diced were the closest I came.

I'm not a daft unlearned newbie please don't treat me like one. Most of what you are saying is what I expected it's just the tone is awfully condescending.

Thanks Woodsheal, for the notes.

[The Bear]

Hope this helps you out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CglGKvutjjo

Most of the time i wear my great kilt down as the pennanular brooch i have keeps slipping out. I have yet to get something better like a pin etc. Its also better if your playing about with swords. I find you can move better with it down.