Theory and practice.

[Phil]

A picture is published of Sir Shaun Connery decked out in Highland attire, to the unwary they look at it and go "well if that is what Sir Shaun is wearing then it must be right. Right?" WRONG! His attire in that infamous picture is mismatched and inappropriate for the occasion.

How true, Jock. Even my wife howled with derision when she saw that atrocious outfit "Shir Shaun" wore when the Queen opened the Scottish Parliament all those years ago. A Prince Charlie with a jabot and lacey cuffs - to a daytime function as well! Here he was at an investiture again inappropriately dressed -


But, as you say, people see someone famous like that and think that such a travesty of dress is quite all right and one that they should emulate. Fine. But next you find them lecturing you on correct forms of dress, and it must be right if "Shir Shaun" or whoever else wears it.
As you say, it will always be possible to find a quotation here or a picture there to back up whatever assertion you want to make, but none of that can belie the fact of how we Scots actually dress, which is the point I think you are trying to make.

[Jock Scot]

How true, Jock. Even my wife howled with derision when she saw that atrocious outfit "Shir Shaun" wore when the Queen opened the Scottish Parliament all those years ago. A Prince Charlie with a jabot and lacey cuffs - to a daytime function as well! Here he was at an investiture again inappropriately dressed -


But, as you say, people see someone famous like that and think that such a travesty of dress is quite all right and one that they should emulate. Fine. But next you find them lecturing you on correct forms of dress, and it must be right if "Shir Shaun" or whoever else wears it.
As you say, it will always be possible to find a quotation here or a picture there to back up whatever assertion you want to make, but none of that can belie the fact of how we Scots actually dress, which is the point I think you are trying to make.

That is exactly the point I was trying to make. Thank you Phil.

[davedove]

I do understand exactly where you're coming from, Jock. I've read the posts where someone has said, "Here's my new outfit." You have responded with, "That's not really how we do things here in the Highlands."

It seems some people just don't want to accept that answer and respond just as you've said. They seem to think you're dictating to them, when you're really just trying to explain the current standards where you live.

Some folks can't seem to understand that "I'll dress however I like!" and "That's not the way we do it." are not contradictory statements.

[JSFMACLJR]

I know full well how you feel, Jock, and I doff my bonnet to you in appreciation for your words, which are much better written than mine! I've pretty much stopped commenting on the "advice" posts, because of the reactions of some, and their desire to just ignore sage and helpful suggestions.

[Nighthawk]

As a modern kilt wearer, I can't help but feel that I may in some way be part of the inspiration for this thread. I do want you to know, Jock, that even though I go my own way and always have, I do it only when appropriate. I wear my traditional tartan kilt with boots and t shirt, just as I would a pair of jeans, for very casual day to day attire. I also wear the modern variants of the traditional kilt. BUT- when in formal circumstances, I do conform to the conventions that you and other Highlanders on this forum have laid out. I do value the advice that has been given ere, and I am as traditional as possible- in traditional settings. I will not be wearing my Argylle to work any time soon, even though I wear my kilt almost daily.

Anyway, upshot is- even dogged individualists like myself do in fact appreciate the advice. Er, well, speaking for myself, at least.

[Zardoz]

Well, I don't like Sir Sean's Jabot and PC look either, but it's not the only time I've seen people dressed that way. For better or worse that seems to have been an option in the 60s and 70s. So maybe he's not as much 'wrong' as he is 'out of date'?

Look at the "rules" on this Scottish kilt vendors' website, they seen to think the PC and Jobot are OK... http://www.tynesidetartans.com/jackets.htm

In the popular and frequently cited book "So you're going to wear the Kilt" which was written in the 70's, Thompson mentions, but does not recommend, that style. He also says it is okay to wear the PC with an "evening belt" or cumberbund, instead of a waistcoat, and recommends wearing the belted plaid with a doublett as formal dress, looks which I don't think fit into the current 'current thinking' either, maybe as Jock said; "things may have moved on since then"
As I often say, dress, Highland or otherwise, evolves over time. If one implies that Highlandwear should only be worn within some narrow protocols, or it's styles should be fixed aound certain dates, one runs the risk of relegating it to a costume, and not viable modern clothing.

[Panache]

Jock,

Thinking about some of the photos that Robertson (Pour1Malt) has posted on XMTS it would seem that even among the Scots themselves there is a a pretty wide variety of ways the kilt is worn. Including some items like "Jacobite" shirts and white hose. One thing that has also struck me is the use of formal sporrans for day wear.

Meaning absolutely no disrespect here as I truly value your posts and like you (even if you are a bit crusty ) I would like to ask you if you see a shift/ digression in Scotland itself with the younger generation of Scots not carrying on the conventions of highland dress that their fathers did?

Cheers

Jamie :ootd:

[Jock Scot]

Jock,

Thinking about some of the photos that Robertson (Pour1Malt) has posted on XMTS it would seem that even among the Scots themselves there is a a pretty wide variety of ways the kilt is worn. Including some items like "Jacobite" shirts and white hose. One thing that has also struck me is the use of formal sporrans for day wear.

Meaning absolutely no disrespect here as I truly value your posts and like you (even if you are a bit crusty ) I would like to ask you if you see a shift/ digression in Scotland itself with the younger generation of Scots not carrying on the conventions of highland dress that their fathers did?

Cheers

Jamie :ootd:

I will try to answer all the questions that others have asked--give me time!

Now Jamie! I think youngsters, as all free thinking youngsters should do, will push at the boundaries. I did when I was 16 going on 25 and 25 going on 16! I think the modern youngster as he gets older will revert back to the traditional attire in due course, maybe with a modest adjustment here and there.

One of the advantages of being my age and there are few let me tell you, is that I have seen many(too many perhaps) go through the rebellious teenage years and on through life and amazingly the most conservative dressers and sticklers for correctness are 40 year olds! It seems when you get to nearly 70 you can have the confidence to "bend" a few conventions and get away with it!

[Peter C.]

Jock,

Thinking about some of the photos that Robertson (Pour1Malt) has posted on XMTS it would seem that even among the Scots themselves there is a a pretty wide variety of ways the kilt is worn. Including some items like "Jacobite" shirts and white hose. One thing that has also struck me is the use of formal sporrans for day wear.

Meaning absolutely no disrespect here as I truly value your posts and like you (even if you are a bit crusty ) I would like to ask you if you see a shift/ digression in Scotland itself with the younger generation of Scots not carrying on the conventions of highland dress that their fathers did?

Cheers

Jamie :ootd:

I was of the impression that most of the people in photos that Robertson has posted were visiting his guest house from outside of Scotland. It has been my experience that you seldom see indigenous Scots wearing kilts.

Peter

[Panache]

I was of the impression that most of the people in photos that Robertson has posted were visiting his guest house from outside of Scotland. It has been my experience that you seldom see indigenous Scots wearing kilts.

Peter

Hi Peter

Actually I wasn't thinking of any of the Ferintosh photos at all

But Robertson always attends the "Wickerman" festival and numerous other events attended by young Scots.

This is where I had seen the items I listed

Actually most of the X Markers visiting his guest house seem pretty traditionally (and well) turned out.

Cheers

Jamie :ootd: