THCD, Not THCD

[IsaacW]

So... let's continue and branch off of the argyle hose thread. Based on that thread and a couple others with these discussions, many things may not fit the tighter definition of THCD. Thoughts on the following (some of which I may break, at least on occasion)....

Hair sporrans for anything other than formalwear - NOT THCD
Glengarry caps - NOT THCD
Bonnets (Balmoral and Tam)- Still THCD, but fading away
wearing clothing too smart for the occasion - NOT THCD
wearing a belt with waistcoat but no dirk - NOT THCD
Belt with dirk for daywear - NOT THCD
Bowties for other than formalwear - NOT THCD
Flat caps - NOT THCD
Wearing THCD for something other than a Highland type event or special occasion - NOT THCD

** Note, none of the above relate to pipe bands or military

[IsaacW]

From @Jock Scot, transferred from a different thread

Well, yes and no!

A full mask sporran(otter, wildcat etc..) is perfectly traditional. I think for TWEED day wear though, the horse hair type of sporran would not be considered traditional .

I think there are some bowties that could easily be worn informally, such as Paisley patterns, club, school,etc. and would be quite traditional, if a tad unusual.

It is perfectly THCD to wear the kilt whilst paddling with the children or any other everyday activity and again it may be an unusual sight, but it happens.

[IsaacW]

A full mask sporran(otter, wildcat etc..) is perfectly traditional. I think for TWEED day wear though, the horse hair type of sporran would not be considered traditional .

Agreed, that was my intention with the quote above. Fur is fine (depending on style of sporran) and hair (goat or horse) likely not.

quite traditional, if a tad unusual. ...
and again it may be an unusual sight, but it happens.

And this is directly what brings me back to the argyle hose thread. It IS done by a number of chaps but is quite unusual. It is the "unusualness" that has people now calling it not THCD. Not all of the folks wearing the argyles are chiefs and dukes (BTW, Invercauld does NOT wear them). There was an older chap (upper 60s)in the town where I lived that frequently wore kilt and tweed with argyle's. He was a common bloke and a bit of a nationalist (hence his reason of wearing the kilt). He WAS considered a bit eccentric, but this was not for his choice of hose but because he wore a kilt nearly daily. This was also the Midlothian and not the Highlands. Anyway, I digress...

[Nathan]

[COLOR=#000000][INDENT]So... let's continue and branch off of the argyle hose thread. Based on that thread and a couple others with these discussions, many things may not fit the tighter definition of THCD. Thoughts on the following (some of which I may break, at least on occasion)....

Good stuff!

Hair sporrans for anything other than formalwear - NOT THCD

If by hair sporrans, you mean long horsehair or goat hair sporrans, I agree.
I'd say seal sporrans with silver cantles also fit into this category.
That said, I think there are some exceptions to the idea that fur always equals formal. Notably,

Full mask sporrans are perfectly traditional for day wear (as Jock mentioned)

Grey Area: Some vintage looking dark fur and leather day sporrans, especially those with a leather or brass cantle.

Glengarry caps - NOT THCD
Bonnets (Balmoral and Tam)- Still THCD, but fading away

Glengarries are also bonnets. I think both Glengarry, Kilmarnock bonnets and Tam O'Shanter bonnets have fallen out of THCD and only the Balmoral remains as the traditional bonnet.

wearing clothing too smart for the occasion - NOT THCD

hmmm... probably correct...sort of...

Wearing a belt with waistcoat but no dirk - NOT THCD

Mostly agree...

Belt with dirk for daywear - NOT THCD

Mostly agree but if you have a reason that you'll need a dirk, it's traditional. For example, if you'll be addressing a haggis etc...

Bowties for other than formalwear - NOT THCD

This is another grey area. It's not the conventional choice, but I think it would still be considered traditional if it was in a traditional pattern. Tough call.

Flat caps - NOT THCD

Agreed.

Wearing THCD for something other than a Highland type event or special occasion - NOT THCD

I'm not 100% sure on this one. It's only mostly true. What constitutes a Highland type event if you live in the Highlands? Still, I'd say the principal is correct and if you'd allow a tautology here: It is unusual for people to wear THCD on occasions where THCD would be considered unusual.

[Hipbilly]

I can get on board with most of those; the only one I'm still out on is hair.
I think the formality of a sporran should come down to the cantle more than anything; I know that sounds like I beleive in "semi-dress" sporrans, but hear me out; the hair sporran I made really can't be dressed up beyond tweed (not just because it's brown). It's not TOO far off the tracks as old school sporrans go, so where's that leave it? They went out of style, but I don't think all hair sporrans are the same as a silver cantle'd white bandsman sporran.

I wear this one more than my "normal" day sporran, mosty because the pouch is bigger, but also because I like the extra "Swish" and "swagger" up front as well as behind!

[IsaacW]

I'm not 100% sure on this one. It's only mostly true. What constitutes a Highland type event if you live in the Highlands? Still, I'd say the principal is correct and if you'd allow a tautology here: It is unusual for people to wear THCD on occasions where THCD would be considered unusual.

I have no problem with tautology in such circumstances. I guess mean that a Highland type event could be a gathering, games, dance, etc. Not necessarily daily business or activity.

Glengarries are also bonnets. I think both Glengarry, Kilmarnock bonnets and Tam O'Shanter bonnets have fallen out of THCD and only the Balmoral remains as the traditional bonnet.

Indeed they are bonnets too! My mistake in explaining my thoughts with too little coffee. That said, bonnets of all sorts are becoming less and less common. Many items of "Traditional" are becoming less common in the Highlands. Part of my fear with using the idea of what is common today as "traditional" in the Highlands is that this is changing considerably from what has been traditional and what we might like to be traditional.

At what point does a person stray from the new accepted traditional in order to maintain the tradition of the past without being historical? The heart of tradition is the past, but of course, traditional is perpetually changing and the past continues to grow; including even yesterday.

[cizinec]

Wearing a tartan not from your last name received from your father - NOT THCD

Wearing a lowland "clan" tartan, NOT THCD.

Wearing a kilt in Scotland if you aren't from Scotland, NOT THCD.

Wearing a kilt outside Scotland's if you are from Scotland, pushing stereotypes and NOT THCD.

Wearing a kilt in Scotland by a person from the highlands makes the wearer look like a tourist and this, NOT THCD.

I have come to the conclusion that wearing kilts is possible, but wearing THCD is not. Since THCD is some sort of Platonic ideal that doesn't seem to exist in the world, I don't worry about achieving it. Don't get me wrong, I respect whatever it is and I do follow well kept customs, I just don't pretend to live up to this ideal.

[Nathan]

I can get on board with most of those; the only one I'm still out on is hair.
I think the formality of a sporran should come down to the cantle more than anything; I know that sounds like I beleive in "semi-dress" sporrans, but hear me out; the hair sporran I made really can't be dressed up beyond tweed (not just because it's brown). It's not TOO far off the tracks as old school sporrans go, so where's that leave it? They went out of style, but I don't think all hair sporrans are the same as a silver cantle'd white bandsman sporran.

I wear this one more than my "normal" day sporran, mosty because the pouch is bigger, but also because I like the extra "Swish" and "swagger" up front as well as behind!

Grey Area: Some vintage looking dark fur and leather day sporrans, especially those with a leather or brass cantle.

I'd say that this would be a grey area. It looks appropriate for day wear, but it's not really a traditional style sporran (anymore?). It is lovely, mind you, and does go nicely with the day wear palate. I also agree that you can't dress it up to formal but while this might look best with day wear, I would think it's more of a unique piece of personal flair than a traditional choice.

[IsaacW]

I would think it's more of a unique piece of personal flair than a traditional choice.

And personal flair is not a traditional thing. Sorry, Nathan, just being cheeky. :buttkick:

[sailortats]

"wearing clothing too smart for the occasion"
Is wearing clothing too smart for the occasion inherently wrong? My life is such that I very very rarely would have occasion to wear a coat and tie. That being said I like to wear said items with my kilt for no other reason than I like to look well dressed from time to time. I may just be going out for an afternoon to meet friends in a pub or to take a walk in the park. I will no doubt not only be the only one in a kilt but also the only one wearing coat and tie. Especially when visiting a pub would this be considered ill mannered?
Here is an example of what I wear on occasion.