What is Traditional Highland Dress?

[ThistleDown]

I think what is difficult for some on this continent to come to grips with is the level of Scottish pride that comes with the kilt. We outwith of Scotland, at least here in the U.S., don't have a "national attire" which generates as much emotion as the Kilt does for Scots. We compare it, emotionally, with Levis and can't understand what all of the fuss is about. We equate their emotional stance about how it should be worn to us telling them how they should wear their jeans.

Instead, as I am gleaning from the emotional replies from my new friends in Scotland, perhaps we here should equate it with how another country treats our flag. For many Scots, the kilt is not just a garment, it's a national symbol and treating it with anything but the utmost respect is experienced as a slight against their national pride, not just a fashion failure.

When I visualize the American flag being chopped up, turned into nic nacs, worn as casual clothing, especially in countries other than my own, I have a much different response than when I see someone wearing Levis in a way I would not choose to wear them (bleached, purposely torn or stained etc)

Through that lens I see a much different picture.

Am I gaining on it?

Brooke

Yes, Brooke, you are. It's not all about the kilt, though, it is about "Traditional Highland (Civilian) Dress".

I brought into the discussion your own baseball cap (which, I am told, has evolved into a "ballcap" and now into just simply "the cap"). I asked if it is a traditional item of American attire, if wearing it backwards is a "fashion" and if wearing it backwards and indoors is a "personal style".

You have read what happened next.

There is no divergence of opinion comparable in Scotland on the subject of flat caps -- which, by the way, have evolved into "caps" for us. They are loved by most for their function, but they are not considered by any to be an item of traditional Highland civilian dress.

Traditional Civilian Highland Dress does not include flat caps or pith helmets (sorry, Jamie) or claymores or targes or deer-hide shoes or so-called Jacobite shirts or regimental ties or tiers of badges and medals.

What the Scots on this forum -- and those who understand our culture so very well despite not living in it -- strongly object to is being told that some fashion (read "flat caps" or anything else from the above list here, if you wish) is traditional Highland attire because it is popular and worn with the kilt in a region of America.

Sorry, but we own the tradition. We love that you want to borrow it and even adopt it as your own, but the tradition is that of the Highlands of Scotland and not subject to the whims of somebody from somewhere else. It has evolved over time and it will continue to do so. It may even adopt some fashions or features developed elsewhere in the world as it evolves (rubber soles for our brogues comes to mind .

So, Brooke, you are on the way for sure for sure. Using your analogy, let's say a number of folk in Scotland take the American flag, turn it upside down, stitch a big white saltire over the stars and fly it from a flag pole. It becomes the Scottish fashion to do that -- and to call it "Old Glory".

Is it a traditional American flag? Is it an American flag at all?

With passion (and great respect),

Rex