Great Kilt worn as formal attire

[Dale Seago]

4.5 yards Double Width 13 oz tartan from a mill in the UK.

I've done that before, and it went off splendidly.

A couple of things to keep in mind are that modern sensibilities will be happier if it doesn't look like you have a tire around your middle. It's already been mentioned that you can "tighten that up" a bit.

Another is a shorter-style jacket (also mentioned); well, yes, I s'pose. The alternative is to be sure that when you arrange and pin the upper plaid, enough fabric hangs down the back that it doesn't pull up on the skirt of whatever sort of jacket/doublet you're wearing.

Also, in order to avoid the skirt of your jacket being pulled back over your shoulder when you pin the upper plaid, there is a way of bringing part of it up under your arm and pinning it so that it's essentially self-supporting on that side. Don't know if that was done in the 1700s, but I've seen portraiture clearly showing it in the early 1800s.

For those who have a sort of immediate visceral reaction to the feileadh mor worn with modern attire as somehow wrong. . .I suspect the main reason is that while the "great" and "wee" kilts are in fact essentially contemporaneous historically, the former was pretty much dropped by the 1800s while the latter continued, with modifications here and there, to the present.

That makes both forms "historical", but only the latter has survived in some form of continuous use to become "traditional".

I think it's a great look, myself. Honestly. . .People wearing it this way strike me as giving the Scots a reminder (perhaps needed, perhaps not) of their own cultural traditions and how they might be adapted/continued today in ways they may not have considered. . .

. . .In the same way that some traditional Gaelic music has survived and been revived in, say, Nova Scotia after being lost in the country of its origin.

[Woodsheal]

As I said earlier, the OP did a great job pleating and draping his plaid. And to David's points, I get it that the belted-plaid is not generally worn these days, but my point is: why shouldn't it be? It's only less "modern" than the 8 yd knife-pleat kilt by about 2 decades. In it's last incarnation, the belted-plaid was considered a very formal garment. I see no reason why it can't fill such a role today. It's no more "archaic" than the kilts we wear every day. If imitating the belted-plaid with fly plaids is okay, then why not the real thing?

[davidlpope]

If imitating the belted-plaid with fly plaids is okay, then why not the real thing?

Fly plaids are not okay!

[Dale Seago]

Fly plaids are not okay!

Aye, but pipers do it with what's pretty much indistinguishable from -- and actually looks pretty ridiculous compared to -- the belted plaid it's intended to mimic.

So. . .Seriously: Why not use the original recipe/real thing instead of some silly-**** modern romantic interpretation of it?

[English Bloke]

I appreciate the Nova Scotia / Gaelic music argument, it's a compelling one. I think the Great Kilt has a place and the Small Kilt has a place but as stated they are from different historical periods. My issue in this instance is the PC Jacket and Great Kilt combo look a little incongruous to my eye. It's a bit like wearing Tudor pantaloons with an Armarni jacket.

[Nick the DSM]

Like the concept, details need working.

Carry on!

[tartanartist]

I appreciate the Nova Scotia / Gaelic music argument, it's a compelling one. I think the Great Kilt has a place and the Small Kilt has a place but as stated they are from different historical periods. My issue in this instance is the PC Jacket and Great Kilt combo look a little incongruous to my eye. It's a bit like wearing Tudor pantaloons with an Armarni jacket.

A point that I have readily conceded even in my original post. I am not a fan of the PC in this instance either, but it was my only option. My request was for information regarding better pleating draping and belting of the plaid. Thank you to those of you who have offered these tips and critiques they have been invaluable.

[Dale Seago]

I think the Great Kilt has a place and the Small Kilt has a place but as stated they are from different historical periods.

Woodsheal's point, with which I agree, is that both forms are contemporaneous, from the same historic period. My further point is that the latter survived in more-or-less continual usage in some degree to become "traditional" while the former did not. The only thing "wrong" with the Great Kilt is "Well, it's no longer fashionable and we don't do it anymore".

Even though some elements of traditional/contemporary dress are intended to "remind us" of things from the 16-1700s. You know, like short-waisted doublets; epaulettes and gauntlet cuffs on Argyle jackets; "ghillie brogues" recalling the hillmens' pampooties; fly plaids and pipers' plaids; and so on.

We want to recall those modes of dress, but we would never DREAM of actually allowing them to REMAIN acceptable in their original forms.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

As I said earlier, the OP did a great job pleating and draping his plaid. And to David's points, I get it that the belted-plaid is not generally worn these days, but my point is: why shouldn't it be? It's only less "modern" than the 8 yd knife-pleat kilt by about 2 decades. In it's last incarnation, the belted-plaid was considered a very formal garment. I see no reason why it can't fill such a role today. It's no more "archaic" than the kilts we wear every day. If imitating the belted-plaid with fly plaids is okay, then why not the real thing?

The key phrase seems to be, "In its last incarnation..." I think the simple answer is that if worn with period clothing (such as in your avatar) the great kilt is fine, as a costume, in much the same way that a 1930's Zoot Suit is fine as a costume, but rather inappropriate for wear in the present day.

As a garment, worn in the Highlands of Scotland, the great kilt really existed for a very short period of time, compared to the two centuries that the "little kilt" has been worn. As a result, like knee britches, the great kilt really has become an item of historical costume and, like the aforementioned Zoot suit or the platform shoes and 18-inch bell bottomed trousers of the 1970s, doesn't have a place in "modern" attire.

As regards David Pope's comments concerning the fly plaid, all I can say is "Damn, but David's a perceptive chap!"

[Woodsheal]

The key phrase seems to be, "In its last incarnation..." I think the simple answer is that if worn with period clothing (such as in your avatar) the great kilt is fine, as a costume, in much the same way that a 1930's Zoot Suit is fine as a costume, but rather inappropriate for wear in the present day.

As a garment, worn in the Highlands of Scotland, the great kilt really existed for a very short period of time, compared to the two centuries that the "little kilt" has been worn. As a result, like knee britches, the great kilt really has become an item of historical costume and, like the aforementioned Zoot suit or the platform shoes and 18-inch bell bottomed trousers of the 1970s, doesn't have a place in "modern" attire.

As regards David Pope's comments concerning the fly plaid, all I can say is "Damn, but David's a perceptive chap!"

Again, I get all of this! The concept being pushed here is "resurrecting" the belted-plaid for present day formal wear. Again, I ask, "Why not?" The response, "It's just not done, old boy" doesn't hold any water for me. If current traditional Highland dress was actually "modern", I might agree with you more. But ALL of its elements are holdovers from decades and centuries past (and pre-date the zoot suit!)....