Is this Traditional?

[triolamj]

Don't think flat cap: think bonnet, instead, as in "Blue Bonnets over the Border". When anyone says flat cap, I (being part-Irish) think of a billed tweed cap. The cap in the painting is a most likely meant to be a tam or a bonnet, though it seems to be worn more in the style of a muffin cap. The painting looks a lot like period paintings and drawings that I've seen though instead of a bonnet the soldier is wearing a a cross between a feather bonnet and a bearskin shako. The look is pretty traditional, but not very widely worn as a style outside of re-enactor groups, so it might be a much more expensive look to recreate.

[macwilkin]

Don't think flat cap: think bonnet, instead, as in "Blue Bonnets over the Border". When anyone says flat cap, I (being part-Irish) think of a billed tweed cap. The cap in the painting is a most likely meant to be a tam or a bonnet, though it seems to be worn more in the style of a muffin cap. The painting looks a lot like period paintings and drawings that I've seen though instead of a bonnet the soldier is wearing a a cross between a feather bonnet and a bearskin shako. The look is pretty traditional, but not very widely worn as a style outside of re-enactor groups, so it might be a much more expensive look to recreate.

It is most certainly a blue bonnet; bearskins were not worn in North America during the Seven Year's/French & Indian War, or anywhere, for that matter -- they came much later in terms of military fashion, around the Napoleonic Wars.

See this web site:

http://www.militaryheritage.com/78thregt.htm

Rene Chartrand is a noted Canadian military historian and expert on the North American colonial wars.

Todd

[wvpiper]

While the attire depicted in the painting is undoubtedly historically accurate, it is not traditional Highland Dress...simply because it has no currency today.

I don't follow. In fact, I don't understand the 'splitting of hairs' that many of you are engaging in.
I agree with CajunScot that the kilts thought of traditional today, the 8yd knife pleated, is based on the kilts worn in the military post Proscription.

[macwilkin]

I don't follow. In fact, I don't understand the 'splitting of hairs' that many of you are engaging in.
I agree with CajunScot that the kilts thought of traditional today, the 8yd knife pleated, is based on the kilts worn in the military post Proscription.

Well now, I didn't say that exactly. Kilts worn by the Highland regiments during and after Proscription would be closer to Matt's box-pleated kilts than an 8-yd. knife pleat.

My point was that the Highland regiments were one of the ways that traditional Highland dress was saved after the Proscription Act.

Regards,

Todd

[Bugbear]

Post deleted.

[wvpiper]

Well now, I didn't say that exactly. Kilts worn by the Highland regiments during and after Proscription would be closer to Matt's box-pleated kilts than an 8-yd. knife pleat.

My point was that the Highland regiments were one of the ways that traditional Highland dress was saved after the Proscription Act.

Regards,

Todd

sorry-I paraphrased. But you get my point (I think)

[McMurdo]

Thread moved to General Kilt Talk as per Original Poster request.

[cavscout]

Oh yeah, love these prints!

A few of my other favorites

One of their Own


War Dance

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

1 question.

28 replies.

2 that answered the question.

Now if there was a "HISTORICAL HIGHLAND KILT" forum... then maybe we wouldn't have veered off into Flatcapland, or some of the other distractions which may, or may not, have shed any light on the subject.

So, would you please consider adding a dedicated forum for the "Historical" stuff? I'm sure WVPIPER, Puffer, and all the other reenactors (and historians like Cajunscot) could and would provide us with some lively input.

Thanks!

[O'Callaghan]

So the traditionalists own definition of traditional is something old that has continued unchanged and unbroken until the present day, ergo, since only the army wore kilts during proscription, despite that being because others were banned from doing so, that explains why they think only regulation military uniform is traditional. I think I understand it at last, which doesn't mean I agree, but now I know what they are going on about.