Wearing your traditional costume is among the best clothes to wear. You will find numerous rules in using it and we should always bear in mind, you are wearing the pride and honor of your family, clan and country.
These represent the Top 20 rules in wearing traditional Scottish Highland Dress:
• Wearers should stick to the dressing sequence. There's a sequence of putting on the dress,
what’s first and last to put on. A few of them are mentioned below.
• A part of the knee should be visible; it’s either the Kilt isn't so low and or the socks not too high. The socks should be just above the calf.
• Sporran ought to be worn on the right position, not too high and not too low and comfortable. It is positioned at the belt buckle area or the groin region and can be moved dependent upon the activity of the wearer.
• Utilize the right brogues for the appropriate activity. You will find a lot of brogue styles such as the Closures, Full brogues (or Wingtips), Ghillie brogues, Longwing brogues, Quarter brogues and Semi-brogues (or Half brogues).
• Ghillie Brogues are the recognized shoes of traditional Scottish highland attire, if in case you will find no brogues, any formal shoe (black shoe to be specific) is accepted.
• You should wear the Sgian Dhubh or a small dagger which is inserted in the socks and flashes on the outer part of the right leg. As everyone knows, a dagger is still a deadly weapon and is prohibited to handle one on zero tolerance weapons area. However in Scotland, England and Wales it is authorized for those dressed in the National Costume for Scotland.
• Bottles and pistols should be worn on the left side.
• Fly plaid should be worn lastly and to be removed first.
• Belts aren't necessary when you will be wearing a waist coat. It's redundant to wear two accessories with the same purpose.
• Your kilt and tartan should not be covered by a lot of ornaments. Kilt and tartan are the main cloths and cannot be overlapped.
• What to wear under the kilt will depend on the wearer’s discretion. According to most, you're not a real Scot unless you are wearing anything under (the kilt)”. However these days, it is still dependent upon the wearer’s discretion, particularly if you will be dancing or participating in activities that have a lot of movements or requires jumping.
• Medals and pendants should be worn on the left chest. Same as the military, medals and pendants are put 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 best that it is black.
• Socks should be dark in color or has got 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're what you wear. You should have the dress right in any occasions. It is not just a status symbol but certainly a moral and formal obligation. Men kilts should be worn with pride and dignity not to mention, with class.
