Kilts and costumes

**Jock Scot** · 4th October 07, 01:42 PM

Ok,I am sorry if I have ruffled a few feathers ,but on reading the threads here, I wonder if my idea of costume is the same as yours?

My definition of Highland attire is:-Normal day/evening wear that people wear,with the kilt, as a matter of course,should they choose to do so.Uniforms,military or civilian,worn with the kilt are uniforms first and Highland attire second and are not considered as "costume".

Costume:-This covers anything that is worn by actors/re-enactment fans/Halloween participents etc.etc.Their clothing is worn for the effect that they are trying to achieve and has absolutely nothing to do with Highland attire.

Well, we may not agree even now and I conceed that it is all down to personal interpretation and choice.

Perhaps we should meet in "Riverkilt's field" that he so wisely talked about.If we do,mine's a large Talisker!

**Monkey@Arms** · 4th October 07, 02:23 PM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

Perhaps we should meet in "Riverkilt's field" that he so wisely talked about. If we do, mine's a large Talisker!

I like that image of "Riverkilt's field." Even if Ron got the idea from an ancient sage, its an excellent metaphor for a place to put aside that which divides us.

(And a :soda: for Ron and those who don't imbibe.)

Best regards,

Jake

**ChromeScholar** · 4th October 07, 02:15 PM

Costume:-This covers anything that is worn by actors/re-enactment fans/Halloween participents etc.etc.Their clothing is worn for the effect that they are trying to achieve and has absolutely nothing to do with Highland attire.

I can agree with this, with one caveat. If the effect the person is trying to achieve is Highland attire, then (done correctly) it could be both Highland attire and a costume.

**Jock Scot** · 4th October 07, 02:25 PM

Looks as though we are agreeing to disagree then.Costume is one thing. Highland attire is completely different.Sorry.

**Bryan** · 5th October 07, 05:51 AM

Originally Posted by emolas

Well, I will be wearing a kilt on Halloween this year but the only costume I will be wearing is "father who wears a kilt every day" while I escort my children around since I wear kilts exclusively when not at work. If I were to wear a costume and the costume itself did not dictate what to drape around my lower half then I would wear a kilt because that is my normal clothing. By strict definition, ALL clothing is a costume.

cos·tume (kŏs'tūm', -tyūm')
n.
1. A style of dress, including garments, accessories, and hairstyle, especially as characteristic of a particular country, period, or people.

2. An outfit or a disguise worn on Mardi Gras, Halloween, or similar occasions.

3. A set of clothes appropriate for a particular occasion or season.

I posted the same thing and then deleted it because I saw you did too.

I just don't see what the big deal is. So someone wants to wear a kilt for Halloween. Big deal. Are you going to get offended if someone wear Lederhosen for Halloween or to a costume party too? Or what about a tux and going as James Bond?

I'd like to know when the kilt got elevated to some kind of sacred object and not a comfortable and stylish article of clothing.

**ChromeScholar** · 4th October 07, 02:39 PM

Hypothetical situation...

Let's say we have a young man from the Kingussie area. For whatever reason, he has never put on a kilt in his life (I imagine there are quite a few Scots who have never worn Highland attire, even in the Scottish highlands). He is going to the US on holiday. He knows that, while he is there, he is going to attend a costume party. In preparation, he decides to obtain a kilt, in his clan tartan, with all the proper accessories and take it along. He wears this kilt to the party.

Is he wearing Highland attire, or is he wearing a costume?

**Jock Scot** · 4th October 07, 02:50 PM

Originally Posted by ChromeScholar

Hypothetical situation...

Let's say we have a young man from the Kingussie area. For whatever reason, he has never put on a kilt in his life (I imagine there are quite a few Scots who have never worn Highland attire, even in the Scottish highlands). He is going to the US on holiday. He knows that, while he is there, he is going to attend a costume party. In preparation, he decides to obtain a kilt, in his clan tartan, with all the proper accessories and take it along. He wears this kilt to the party.

Is he wearing Highland attire, or is he wearing a costume?

Highland attire of course.Why?I hear you ask.As long as his attire does not have "added accoutrements" he is wearing Highland attire.If he were to add an "extra something" then he would be wearing costume.

**Jock Scot** · 4th October 07, 02:56 PM

I seem to remember that in the book "So you are going to wear the Kilt"the author describes an event where "the then",not the present one,Prince of Wales wore Highland attire to a costume ball.It was not well recieved at all!My definition has moved a wee tad from that stance!

**ChromeScholar** · 4th October 07, 03:02 PM

Highland attire of course.Why?

Because, IMO, he would be wearing a costume.

1. He's wearing clothing he wouldn't normally wear.

2. He's wearing it to a costume event.

3. He's wearing it for a specific effect.

That makes it a costume to me.

**Jock Scot** · 4th October 07, 03:12 PM

Right, one last try.He would be wearing highland attire,because he is a Highlander wearing what a Highlander would wear to a party and provided it was worn properly with no "extras" it is not a costume.Perhaps "they" were right when the uncomplementry remarks were made about the Prince of Wales wearing Highland Attire to a costume ball ,after all!!