What is Traditional Highland Dress?

[ThistleDown]

Perhaps I misunderstood; please correct me (I often do misconstrue)?

Do Americans actually "usually blur the lines between appropriate and inappropriate traditional dress and attire"?

If you have heard something like, "we're not in Scotland so we can wear what we want", does that mean the person in question was trying for traditional attire? I think that would be strange.

Does someone wearing what they want imply that they (and many folk here on this forum) display hollow arrogance, insecurity, and lack of social understanding?

Frankly, I'm shocked and disappointed. I have been quite careful to follow the traditional highland dress esthetic and custom, but why would I want to anymore? If I lose friends over this, well so be it.

I won't try to re-word what Rathdown wrote, Mark, but perhaps I could put something along the same line in my own words? Friend to friend? This thread is attempting to address the OP's question "What is Traditional Highland Dress" in a section of the forum dedicated to Traditional Highland Dress. Many have said that the "tradition" is that of the Scottish Highlands and, therefore, what is traditionally worn in the Highlands is the quide by all who want to be traditionally dressed. That would be you.

But there are others who say that they are traditionally dressed when they wear Highland dress as it is not worn in Scotland, but as they choose to interpret it; further, that because there are many (in the United States) who deviate from the Highland tradition that makes some sort of new tradition. I agree with you: that is very strange.

It is the tail wagging the dog.

There is a degree of arrogance, I think you will agree, when someone who lives somewhere in the world other than the Scottish Highlands tells the natives that he/she knows more about the culture and its clothing than the natives do. (Before someone rises to that hook I'll cut the line by saying that there are some pretty knowledgable folk out there )

Rex