Posted by Anna on 25th Apr 2023
Highland Dress: Traditional Scottish Clothing Famous Around The World
Do you know Highland Dress? It is a traditional Scottish clothing that is very unique and famous around the world. Whether you've been to Scotland or not, you'll want to learn about this special outfit. Let's explore with us!
Highland Dress: Traditional Scottish Clothing
Highland Dress
The traditional regional attire of Scotland's Highlands and Islands is known as "highland dress," though elements of this attire have subsequently permeated other regions of the country.
Traditional Highland garb is no longer appropriate for everyday use; instead, it is only worn for ceremonies, special occasions, and to extort money from tourists. But, this wasn't always the case, as we'll discuss in more detail later on in this article.
Many oddities and accessories, such as hats, sort of skirts, and a riot of gaudy colors, make up traditional Highland attire.
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Tartan on Traditional Scottish Dress
Traditional Scottish Clothing
When visiting Scotland, you'll notice tartan patterns on a lot of the traditional clothing and accessories, as well as on the Highland Dress, flags, clothing, and Scottish souvenirs. Although tartan is best famous for being used on kilts, it can be adorned with anything from neckties to ribbons to bags to trousers.
Although tartan is associated with Scottish history and heritage, it is no longer a common sight. You won't find hordes of skirt-clad, bagpipe-playing men purchasing Coke at the grocery store. Or jigs in the aisles of the grocery store.
Kilt: Indispensable in Highland Dress
Highland Dress
The most well-known Scottish costume is the kilt, a male-only, knee-length skirt-like article of clothing. And tartan is almost usually draped over them, which is primarily why tartan designs are so well-known.
The kilt, which is Gaelic in origin, initially arrived in Scotland in the 16th century, though not in its present configuration. It was referred to as the great kilt in the sixteenth century. It took the shape of a long robe, perhaps with a hood. You've probably seen the magnificent kilt in action if you've seen Braveheart.
A shorter kilt (like the modern kilt) was created somewhere in the early 18th century (or perhaps even a little earlier), and its acceptance swiftly surpassed that of the unwieldy full-length version. The cloak-wearing males continued to wear their ridiculous attire as the skirt-wearing men chuckled.
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Other Traditional Scottish Clothing
Not all Highland dress is kilts. And not everything is tartan. Traditional Scottish clothing comes in a wide variety for both men and women:
Men's Traditional Scottish Clothing
Traditional Scottish Clothing
- Kilt: I'm not sure how to help you if you still don't understand what a kilt is.
- Kilt pin: a little decorative pin used to secure the kilt. Nobody wants their skirt to sag.
- Kilt hose is knee-length socks worn with a kilt to make Scottish males with scruffy beards resemble Japanese schoolgirls.
- An informal, traditional shirt with crisscross lacing across the chest is known as a jacobite shirt.
- A sparran is a little bag that's used in place of pockets. The Scottish equivalent of a handbag, it is fastened around the waist in front of the groin (though it is frequently shifted to the side). Some sporrans are made of plain leather, while others feature animal hair or other decorative accents. Typically, each of them has three tassels. The strangest aspect of Highland attire is the abundance of sporrans, which resemble small, fuzzy ferrets hiding at the front of the wearer's kilt. Naturally, the Gaelic term for a purse is "sporran."
- The kilt shirt is a more polished and formal variation of the jacobite shirt.
- The Argyll jacket resembles a suit jacket and is frequently worn with a vest.
- Ghillie brogues: in addition to having the most peculiar name of all the traditional Scottish clothing, ghillie brogues also have a peculiar appearance. There is no tongue on these shoes. However, there is lacing that ties halfway up the lower leg. They are often made of leather and may include metal heels for tip-toeing throughout a long night of dancing.
- Flashes: this is where things get fancy. Flashes, decorative pieces of cloth inserted into the kilt hose, are a rather uncommon component of the Scottish man's costume. These are probably for folks who feel that their knee-length socks don't look ridiculous enough already.
- The Prince Charlie jacket is similar to the Argyll jacket but is a bit more expensive and formal.
- A fly plaid, which is worn by Scottish males as a cape, is extremely formal and peculiar. Think of a cool plaid and imagine Batman as Scottish.
- The Tam o' Shanter is a traditional headgear whose name is taken from a famous poem by Scottish poet Robert Burns. Tam o'shanters, a flat bonnet often made of wool, are now more famous for being covered in ginger hair and being sold in joke shops. They're consequently no longer very well-liked in Scotland, which is not surprising.
Women's Traditional Scottish Clothing
Traditional Scottish Clothing
- Kilt: While women don't typically wear Highland Dress, they occasionally do so for ceremonies and other formal events. Instead of a kilt, ladies typically don a kilted skirt.
- Kilted skirt
- Tartan sash (or shawl): The Scots appear to enjoy capes. They should possibly put together a group of ginger superheroes.
- Fantastic kilt: Ladies frequently don tartan dresses, also known as "women's fantastic kilts." They lack a hood and are more conventional than the Scottish clothing worn by most males.
- Ghillie brogues are not just for men! They are a hit with female dancegoers.
The women's Scottish wardrobe is somewhat typical in comparison to the men's and not dissimilar from the clothing that the majority of women wear globally.
In addition to all of this traditional clothing, modern Scotland offers a wide variety of different items and clothing that are lavishly adorned with tartan. While the aforementioned outfits are typical examples of Scottish attire, there are now a lot more alternatives thanks to tartan caps, pants, and other tartan accessories. There are, therefore, even more ways to appear foolish.
Several other little ornamental pieces, some traditional and others not, are also used to embellish Scottish clothing. They include jewelry, badges, pins, miniature swords, brooches, and more.
Scottish people typically don clothing that is connected to their "clan" (or, more accurately, "family"). Many Scottish families have distinctive colors in traditional Scottish dress.
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