Top 20 Rules In Wearing A Traditional Scottish Highland Dress

By Author: Raymond Devance
Total Articles: 18
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These are the Top 20 rules in wearing traditional Scottish Highland Dress:

• Wearers should follow the dressing sequence. There is a sequence of wearing the dress, what’s first and last to wear. Some of them are mentioned below.

• A portion of the knee should be visible; it’s either the Kilt is not so low and or the socks not too high. The socks should be just above the calf.

• Sporran should be worn on the right position, not too high and not too low and comfortable. It is placed at the belt buckle area or the groin area and can be moved depending on the activity of the wearer.

• Use the right brogues for the right activity. There are a lot of brogue styles like the Closures, Full brogues (or Wingtips), Ghillie brogues, Longwing brogues, Quarter brogues and Semi-brogues (or Half brogues).

• Ghillie Brogues are the official shoes of traditional Scottish highland attire, if in case there are no brogues, any formal shoe (black shoe to be specific) is accepted.

• You should wear the Sgian Dhubh or a small dagger that is inserted in the socks and flashes on the outer part ...
... of the right leg. As we all know, a dagger is still a deadly weapon and is prohibited to carry one on zero tolerance weapons area. But in Scotland, England and Wales it is legal for those wearing the National Costume for Scotland.

• Bottles and pistols should be worn on the left side.

• Fly plaid should be worn lastly and to be taken off first.

• Belts are not required when you will be wearing a waist coat. It is redundant to wear two accessories with the same purpose.

• Your kilt and tartan should not be covered by too much ornaments. Kilt and tartan are the main cloths and should not be overlapped.

• What to wear under the kilt depends on the wearer’s discretion. According to most, you are not a real Scot unless you are wearing anything under (the kilt)”. But these days, it is still depending on the wearer’s discretion, especially if you will be dancing or engaging in activities that have a lot of movements or involves jumping.

• Medals and pendants should be worn on the left chest. Same as the military, medals and pendants are worn on the left chest.

• Traditional Highland shirt is usually button less and uses lace to tighten and loosen the fitting.

• The color of the fly plaid should usually be the same color and fabric as the tartan and kilt.

• Balmoral and Glengarry headgear should touch the right ear.

• For Vests, Ties and Bowties, it is advisable that it is black.

• Socks should be dark in color or has the same color and shade as your kilt and/or vest. White socks or hose are for pipe bands.

• Wear it with pride.

• Your dress represents your family’s tradition.

In most countries including Scotland, you are what you wear. You should have the dress right in any occasions. It is not just a status symbol but definitely a moral and formal obligation. Men kilts should be worn with pride and dignity and of course, with class.

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