Ladies Traditional Highland Dress

[MacLowlife]

One wise woman made reference to Out Of Bodice Experiences at Ren Fairs.

As I am sure you have realized, "traditional Highland Dress" is a moving target, spanning a few decades, or maybe a few DOZEN decades for men. If you look at the fashions for Saxon men during the same time, or for their ladies, you will see a broad variance. Trouser lengths have changed, lapels have changed, waistcoats have entered and retreated, etc. And let's not even try to chart the hemlines. Arguably, the era spanned by "traditional highland dress" for men has run from knee breeches to tee shirts, from brocades and fustian through double knit to lycra and Polarfleece (TM?)

SO, while we have agreed, more or less, that men should wear kilts and jackets and some kind of shirts and probably hose, we may not be quite so clear for ladies. I am personally very fond of the dresses shown on the Highland Clans webpages. I am not nearly so excited about or by the "traditional hostess skirt" and Victorian blouse recommended by Charles Thompson. Much depends on where you are going to be wearing it.

Piperdbh is absolutely spot on- it depends on what time period you are working on- is it Late Victorian you want or is it Between the World Wars? Or maybe even the time just after WWII?

For my nickel, you can't go wrong with the British Country Tweeds look, which hasn't altered much in the past 50 or 60 years- skirts and pullovers of a length and tautness dictated by your shape and flair, done up in tartan as you see fit. If you prefer something more theatrical or costumey, no one can stop you. If you are going formal, do consider how nice tartan silks can look. You can borrow as much or as little as you like from the men's side and it will probably look fetching on you.


While you are deciding and while you are getting up the nerve to cut into that fabric, why not try a little non-invasive experiment in the form of a lady's version of the Great Kilt- just lay it out, belt it on, and show your stuff. Chances are it will give you a sense of what you do and don't like and where the tartan looks best on you.

Whatever you decide, do send us some pictures.

[Sammac]

Sorry I cannot help with ladies dress, but welcome from Michigan