The Ghillie Shirt

[SunriseEarth]

If you enjoy the Ghillie shirt, then wear it. But I would agree that it's anachronistic and costumey. Not that there's anything wrong with either of those things. I very much enjoy seeing Steampunk looks.

I have a black sleeveless Ghillie shirt that I bought from Verillas. It's light, it's fun, and it's a costume piece that only works with certain looks. It's definitely not something I'd wear if I wanted to look dressy.

[Taskr]

Its not my style. Yet I have seen this type of shirt worn well. But, it wasn't the typical white one found in most shops. The cloth appeared to be slightly heavier, though not canvas and the colour was in the shade of natural fibres. (wasn't linen) The body and sleeves did not have a lot of volume. The lace closure spacing was tighter and the V was not very deep. It was tied, not left hanging open. It was a decent looking, very casual shirt. Never asked where it came from.

[The Q]

The nearest piece of clothing worn normally today would be the Fishermans / Carpenters / farmworkers Smock. Generally worn over a shirt. But pulled over the head the same way as a ghillie shirt. They are longer than most tops covering down to sporran level. They come with round or collared necks and are mostly made of some sort of cotton twill. I've not seen any with a draw string collar.

I guess they are most probably a more direct decendant of the leine..

The nearest I can find at the moment the red-ish one down below..
http://weir-quay.com/chandlery/smocks

[Blaidd]

Its not my style. Yet I have seen this type of shirt worn well. But, it wasn't the typical white one found in most shops. The cloth appeared to be slightly heavier, though not canvas and the colour was in the shade of natural fibres. (wasn't linen) The body and sleeves did not have a lot of volume. The lace closure spacing was tighter and the V was not very deep. It was tied, not left hanging open. It was a decent looking, very casual shirt. Never asked where it came from.

It sounds very much like one of the LARP (live action role play) shirts that I use for my charity work as a well known pirate. They are a quality, heavier unbleached cotton shirt , and in my opinion, look far better than the modern ghillie.
It does look smart when tied at the neck. Not tried it with a cilt, but could see how it might fit as a smart casual look.

[John_Carrick]

I must confess to having a Ghillie shirt which I wear very occasionally for an informal night out. This was the other forum's Gathering in Ghent in 2016. I like the look of it, but I hear the authoritative voices (and I would include Howie from 21st Century Kilts) who advise against them.
It does seem to get worn in Scotland. I've seen people out in them in Glasgow and Edinburgh and not tourists from the sound of their accents. All the kilt shops appear to stock them (I suppose they stock white hose too). They would seem to be used as an inexpensive form of evening wear rather than something you would go shopping in.
I also found it a bit cold around the neck.

[PatrickHughes123]

I must confess to having a Ghillie shirt which I wear very occasionally for an informal night out. This was the other forum's Gathering in Ghent in 2016. I like the look of it, but I hear the authoritative voices (and I would include Howie from 21st Century Kilts) who advise against them.
It does seem to get worn in Scotland. I've seen people out in them in Glasgow and Edinburgh and not tourists from the sound of their accents. All the kilt shops appear to stock them (I suppose they stock white hose too). They would seem to be used as an inexpensive form of evening wear rather than something you would go shopping in.
I also found it a bit cold around the neck.

Yeah, nice to see it. I wear mines 9 times out of 10 when kilted. I got my white Ghillie Shirt and white hose from Tartan House of Scotland.

To be honest, no, I've never experienced the issue of coldness on the neck.

[jhockin]

A much more historically correct shirt ( that, IMHO, also works with modern kilt attire [personal opinion] is this ( not hard to make, with basic sewing skills):
"http://pages.videotron.com/fldelyse/Patterns.html" (Pattern # NFH 18001 , 18th Century French style Man's Shirt
Should be long enough to almost go to one's knees, without showing below the bottom of your kilt. This shirt also has the advantage, because of it's length, to keep one's kilt clean, if you choose to "go commando ". Historically, when highlanders went without "briefs", most Europeans didn't wear "underwear", as such, as their linen ( shirt or shift, for women) served also as "underwear" , which was changed, when they changed their shirt.

[kingandrew]

I have a ghillie/Jacobite/pirate shirt and I wear it casually with my kilt. I recognize that it is a romantic modern style, rather than some historical reproduction. It is comfortable and I find most "civilians" really like the look of it. I would never wear it for a dressy occasion such as Burns Night or a wedding. I have my Prince Charlie and formal shirt for those events.

Many of the Rabble have strong objections to these shirts (as you have noticed). But I do like mine. I also have several banded-collar shirts that I use for casual kiltwear. They also look very good with the kilt and are just as comfortable as the ghillie shirt.

I will admit that I am not afraid of wearing "costumes." Many members of this site have a very negative view of costumes, nut see nothing wrong with costume-y looks or items. But if you object to looking like a costume, you will likely steer clear of the ghille shirt.

So wear and enjoy our ghillie shirt. But you should also look into some of the banded collar or grandfather shirts as well. Many times when I wear the kilt, I am teaching. That means that I will be wearing a "dress" shirt (like what you'd wear with a suit) and a tie.

So I encourage you to keep emjoying your ghillie shirt.

Andrew

[PatrickHughes123]

I have a ghillie/Jacobite/pirate shirt and I wear it casually with my kilt. I recognize that it is a romantic modern style, rather than some historical reproduction. It is comfortable and I find most "civilians" really like the look of it. I would never wear it for a dressy occasion such as Burns Night or a wedding. I have my Prince Charlie and formal shirt for those events.

Many of the Rabble have strong objections to these shirts (as you have noticed). But I do like mine. I also have several banded-collar shirts that I use for casual kiltwear. They also look very good with the kilt and are just as comfortable as the ghillie shirt.

I will admit that I am not afraid of wearing "costumes." Many members of this site have a very negative view of costumes, nut see nothing wrong with costume-y looks or items. But if you object to looking like a costume, you will likely steer clear of the ghille shirt.

So wear and enjoy our ghillie shirt. But you should also look into some of the banded collar or grandfather shirts as well. Many times when I wear the kilt, I am teaching. That means that I will be wearing a "dress" shirt (like what you'd wear with a suit) and a tie.

So I encourage you to keep emjoying your ghillie shirt.

Andrew

Thank you Andrew.

Yes, I love the Ghillie Shirt. The reason I reject so much to wearing a Prince Charlie Jacket, an Argyll Jacket or a Highland Doublet is because they look too formal and too much like a suit. I don't want to feel like I'm wearing a suit, I want to feel like I'm wearing a kilt, my country's national outfit. The ghillie shirt, in my view, is the modern recreation of the historical linen short that Highlanders wore. Not a costume piece or a pirate shirt. So what if it isn't historically accurate? So what if it doesn't go all the way down to the knees and is actually made of cotton and polyester? The modern kilt is historically inaccurate when compared to the Belted Plaid. If the linen shirt had continued through till now, it probably would have changed like the kilt itself over time so it doesn't matter that it is inaccurate historically, it's meant to be a romantic Highland Dress shirt. Did you know that trews originally weren't trousers? They were hose that went all the way up to the waist? Maybe a bit beyond that. Flashes didn't originally have garters and were actually things that you tied yourself. Hose originally were made from tartan cloth, the same as trews and weren't exactly socks as they are now.

Let's be honest, where do we draw the line? The Glengarry is horrible and historically inaccurate because it came around in the 18th Century and is just a squashed blue bonnet, it's not a real bonnet. See what I mean?

I am glad you also like the Ghillie Shirt and that you view it the same way I do.

Kind Regards, Patrick

[Macman]

A few decades ago, I bought a ghillie shirt and wore it often. I understood at the time that it was the "proper" shirt to wear with a kilt when not wearing a jacket and tie. There were tons of them for sale at all the shops and games, and a lot of people seemed to be wearing them. I thought they looked really cool (and yes, I wore Ponderosa shirts in the 1960's and thought they looked cool too). As I grew older, my tastes changed and I don't wear it any more. Patrick, I guess what I'm getting at is that I can see why you like them, even if I don't wear them.