Kilts Spotted at Royal Lytham 1940's Festival

[Tartan Tess]

I went to a lecture on "The history of military highland dress" once and it was said that whenever possible, the Scottish soldiers would add feathers to their caps to standout as
real Scotsmen to annoy the British.

[Jock Scot]

I went to a lecture on "The history of military highland dress" once and it was said that whenever possible, the Scottish soldiers would add feathers to their caps to standout as
real Scotsmen to annoy the British.

Scotsmen are British(well, for the last three hundred years or so anyway) , they are also Scots. So are Englishmen British, they are also English. So are Welshmen British, they are also Welsh. So are some Irishmen British, they are also Irish. So are Cornish-men British, they are also Cornish.

All that hair splitting apart, I have never heard of the "feather" thing annoying, er, well, anyone apart from perhaps, the people wearing them. Can you elaborate, please?

[rsvpiper]

Nice foties Lime. an unusual site to see a pipe band in full number one's now days nice to get away from the comp band look

[CopperNGold]

OC Richard, Thanks for the book suggestion. I'm going to look for a copy of it. I've been lurking on XMarks for quite awhile, so I am (a bit) familiar with Scottish Highland garb, but you have started me on the search for more information. Having been a handweaver and the owner of a small chain of apparel stores, I am always interested in textiles and their history. Every garment, in some way, tells a story, doesn't it? Oh, that's the newshound coming out in me!

Cheers, Jocelyn

[CopperNGold]

Thanks, Richard, for the history lesson and the book suggestion. I've been lurking on XMarks for some time now, and have learned (a bit) about Scottish Highland garb. But there's always more to learn! Having been a handweaver (48 inch, 16 harness loom) and the owner of a small chain of apparel stores, I'm always interested in textiles and historical garments. Every piece of clothing tells a story, doesn't it? Guess that's just the newshound in me!

Cheers, Jocelyn

[CopperNGold]

Sorry! Double post. Still learning my way around here. Can somebody remove one?

Thanks, Jocelyn

[OC Richard]

Oh I forgot to say, many thanks for posting those photos!

You never see around here, at our California Highland Games, bands wearing Full Dress. I think it's just too expensive, too hot, and besides it's not the "in" look for competitive pipe bands nowadays.

I couldn't help but notice that the white-haired piper whose back is to us is wearing his waistbelt far too low. Those two buttons on the centre back of his doublet are "belt support buttons" and the waistbelt is supposed to go above them, and rest upon them. Doublets also have a pair of U-shaped belt support hooks, one on each side.

He also has his Hosetops pulled up too far: note that the point at which the pattern stops is revealed.

That's the trouble with Full Dress: getting everybody in the band to wear everything Just So.