Highland dress as we know it today has perhaps been propelled into the forefront of our minds as something that is worn by the Royals as they visit Scotland, or as they attend other events affiliated with Scotland such as the Highland games.
The Royals have a long and varied history with the traditional cloth of Scotland, known as tartan.
There was a time in 1746 when King George II actually banned anyone that wasn't in the military from wearing Highland Dress with risk of up to 6 months imprisonment for the first offence!
This act was repealed, and Highland Dress soared in popularity with the general public and royalty.
Thus the love affair with Highland Dress was rekindled and it is now considered to be a very romantic, alternative formal attire for a wedding, dinner or other formal occasions.
Nowadays anyone is entitled to wear Highland Dress and it is mostly worn as an elegant and eye-catching alternative to the traditional suit or tails etc.
In Scotland it is worn with great pride as a nod to their ancestors, as each clan or region will wear its own tartan that is specific to them.
There is a very specific way to wear Highland Dress.
For most Scots it is a ‘go to’ formal wardrobe staple, instinctively attiring themselves in their own gorgeous clan tartan, but to anyone else it could seem quite daunting to get it just right!
Every little detail counts, so it's important to pay close attention in order to keep the whole outfit cohesive.
At Shepherd and Woodward we have put together a step by step guide to wearing Highland Dress correctly.
- It is generally recommended you start with your socks! These are called Kilt Hose, thicker than usual socks and sit just below the knee with the tops folded over. They come in many colours but should always match one of the colours of the tartan in your kilt.
- Shoes - The most common choice are standard brogues laced as usual, but an alternative choice is the ghillie brogue which are more decorative and laced in a criss-cross pattern around the ankle and calf with tassels.
- Flashes - these are an elasticated garter that sits underneath the fold of the sock with the two flashes of tartan material hanging out on the outer side of the calf. They usually match a colour in tartan of the kilt.
- Sgian Dubh - this is the small decoratively handled knife, that sits safely sheathed half way down your calf, tucked into the sock, on the same side as your dominant hand. The hilt (handle) must always be visible and not hidden by the kilt hose.
- Shirt and neckwear - There are two types of shirt to be worn depending on which jacket has been chosen. The most common jacket is the Prince Charlie or the Argyll Braemar, which is a black jacket with a matching waistcoat, and is typically worn with a batwing collar shirt and a bow tie. The alternative is the Day jacket which comes in many different tweed colourways and is paired with a standard collar shirt and a silver / grey wedding tie.
- The kilt - Perhaps the most eye-catching part of the attire, the heart of the outfit. It should always be worn with the pleats at the back and sit roughly 2 inches above the waistline. The bottom of the kilt should rest in the middle of the kneecap, or if kneeling, then the kilt should touch the ground. Ensure your kilt is central at the front and make sure that the inside apron isn’t hanging below the front apron.
- The kilt pin - As well as being a decorative item, it is perhaps one of the most essential parts of the outfit, being made of a heavy metal it is fastened to the bottom corner of the front apron of the kilt, preserving the modesty of the wearer should there be any unpredicted gusts of wind!
- Sporran and Chain - This is centred on the front apron of the kilt with the chain straps being fed through the loops that are on the back of the kilt. The sporran should sit a few inches below the points of the jacket.
- Belt - If the kilt is fitted correctly there shouldn't be any need for a belt. However if you feel more comfortable wearing one, or feel that the kilt is a little loose, you can use the front and side loops on the kilt, but remember that loops on the back of the kilt are specifically for the sporran chain and not for a belt.
- Finally don the waistcoat and jacket! The different types of jackets are mentioned at step 5 of putting on your Highland Dress. Both the Black Jacket and the Day Jacket are suitable for formal occasions and will complete the fabulous outfit. The waistcoat will match the jacket exactly.
We hope that this step by step guide will alleviate any worries you may have about ensuring you wear your Highland Dress correctly, so that you may be comfortable and confident, as you spend the day dressed in this iconic garb that is so richly steeped in history!
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