Quote Originally Posted by CMcG View Post
This is "the place to talk about Traditional and Classic Highland Apparel and Style," right? But what does that actually mean?
Actually I think Steve has done a pretty good job of defining the nearly indefinable. If you look at the title of this forum it defines traditional and classic Highland apparel and style as spanning the time period of "Basically from the reign of Edward VII to the 1980s". (Edward VII was king from 1901 until 1910)

"Historical Highland Attire" centers on discussions of uniforms and historical civilian Highland attire basically worn prior to the reign of Edward VII. There is also a thread for contemporary Highland attire, which focuses on trends in civilian Highland styles from more-or-less the mid-1980s to the present day.

The Traditional and Contemporary forums are intended to focus on civilian attire, while the Historical forum includes discussions of uniforms-- for example American Civil War units that were kilted, or information on the current uniforms of the Royal Regiment of Scotland-- as well as great kilts, and Jacobite period costuming. The Historical forum has, to my mind, a broader appeal because it covers both military and civilian attire in an historical context-- a reference library, if you will, rather than a guide to being a well-dressed Scot in either a contemporary or traditional style.

When the issue of pipe bands and pipers comes up, it seems to me that there are two options available to the person posting the information: the Historical forum, or the forum on Celtic Music. Either of these would appear to be more germane to the topic than posting in either the Traditional or Contemporary forums.

Within the topics of the three "Highland Dress" forums wide ranging (and sometime heated) discussions do take place and, indeed are to be encouraged. That said, most participants probably appreciate it if the threads can be kept to the topic. Does this mean that references to pipe bands, soldiers, or Jacobite cuff buttons are verbotten in anything other than "Historical Highland Attire"?-- Certainly not. But, if in initiating a thread (or posting a reply) much more than a passing reference is intended, then the thread should probably be posted in a more appropriate forum.