6. Dress Code
Posted to the web
with permission...
by Mr. Joseph
MacDonald Scottish Division/ Queens
Own Highlanders
http://www.thescottishtattoo.com/
Some of the points that
follow may seem rather particular, but please remember that you are probably
the first band member the public will see, and, as mentioned earlier your
perceived attitude and appearance helps determine the audience’s reaction to
the bands performance, plus of course; if you are to enter competitions “Points
mean prizes”!
Also, although these points
are primarily aimed at Drum Majors, generally they will apply to all members of
the band.
6.1 Shoes:
a) In Full Dress these should
really be of the brogue type, but any sensible black shoe will suffice
and should be well polished.
b) For Day Dress the Ghillie
brogue is the ideal footwear but again a well polished sensible black
shoe may be acceptable (But not for
Drum Majors competitions).
Note: Regardless whether in
full or, day dress all visible parts of the shoe should, at least, be brush
polished.
6.2 Spats: These should be of a reasonable fit ie.,
not loose and flapping about, shifting the buttons can be a time consuming
business but worth it. In this age of “Velcro” it is still a good move to sew
the top and middle buttons over the Velcro using the button holes, helping to
ensure that the main body of the spat sits properly.
There are different sizes of
spat, advice should be sought from a reputable source before purchasing.
Before applying any whitening
it is advisable to scrub the spats with plain water and leave to dry, spats can
then be “pressed”, this will help them sit properly.
To clean the spats use
whitening which has been slightly diluted with water.
Apply the whitening with an
old shaving brush making sure that it dries evenly, (I find this the best way).
Before applying whitening,
make sure that any loose dirt is removed from the spat.
6.3 Hosetops: When putting these on try to ensure that the
tops are level all the way round and, both at the same height.
a) In Full Dress the number
of dice shown will depend on the length and shape of the leg, along with the
size of the spat.
The seam of the hose tops
should be in line with the back bone of the spat.
b) In Day Dress the seam
should be straight and in the centre
of the back of the leg.
The hosetop itself should be
well fitted, particularly within the shoe, ill fitting hose will almost
certainly cause blisters, also, ill fitting hose look ugly.
6.4 Garter Flashes: The design and the fine positioning of the
garter flashes is the choice of the wearer or the band concerned, but it is
preferable to keep them up using elastic instead of tied with strips of
material or, string so that when the legs start to swell after a long day, at
least the elastic will give a bit and will be easier to remove.
6.5 Kilt: The recognised way to wear the kilt is to
have it cutting the centre of the kneecap, personally I prefer to have it just
at the top of the kneecap.
It should be level all the
way round.
The centre of the pattern
should run down the middle of the body.
The kilt should be tight
enough around the waist to keep it up, but if too tight it will not sit
properly and not shown to its best advantage, the same principle applies if too
slack.
6.6 Sporran: Whether hair or day the sporran should worn
with the cantle (top) in the middle of the kilt roughly two hands width below
the waist belt (this will vary, depending on the individuals size).
Try not to fill the sporran
pouch with too many bits & pieces, this will push it out of shape and the
sporran will not look its best.
If a sporran is properly
looked after it will last a long time.
6.7 Jacket: This should be of a good fit, without being
too tight, if possible the sleeves
should be slightly longer than you would normally have (Drum Majors only).
The idea behind this, is,
that when you perform mace drill or swing your arm while marching there is no
gap between the glove and the end of the sleeve.
6.8 Gloves: The gloves are normally white in colour, if
possible try and get gloves that have the following features;
a) “Bubbles” on the palm,
stops the mace from slipping when wet.
b) Slightly longer than
usual, again to eliminate the gap as mentioned earlier.
6.9 Waist Belt: Try to
make sure that the belt fits comfortably and, is not too tight or hanging loose.
a) In full dress the belt is
worn over the jacket.
b) With day dress the belt is
worn under the jacket, (Unless with a military style jacket).
c) The buckle of the belt
should be in the centre of the body, ie., in line with the centre line of the
kilt.
An increasing number of Drum
Majors are now “carrying” Claymores, so therefore it is essential that the belt
fits properly and, the claymore is securely attached to the belt.
6.10 Plaid: If worn
properly, the pattern/lines of the plaid should match that of the kilt and, the
frayed end of the plaid should be the same height as the top of the spats.
It may be worth marking the
plaid in some way so that each time it is worn it can be put on with as few
adjustments as possible, thus saving time.
6.11 Cross - Belt: If
wearing a pipers X - belt, then there is only one way to put it on, but, it can
be adjusted so that it sits properly. Keeping the X - belt under the waist
belt, helps keep it in place.
6.12 Red Sash: Full
Dress; worn from right shoulder to left hip, under the plaid, and over the
belt. In Day Dress the sash goes under the jacket, (PM & PSgt; left
shoulder to right hip).
6.13 Feathered Bonnet:
The bonnet should be worn square on the head, this distributes the weight
evenly and can be worn for quite long periods. The “fishtails” of the bonnet
can be ironed.
6.14 Glengarry: The glengarry should be placed firmly on the
head and tilted slightly to the right. Remember; walk under the hat, not behind
or in front of it.
6.15 Shirt & Tie: The shirt (usually white), should be a good
fit, but loose enough to allow for ease of movement. The tie should be properly
knotted, with the knot close enough to the collar to avoid unsightly gaps.
It is worth remembering that;
if the Drum Major is wearing his/her uniform & equipment correctly then
he/she should have the ability and confidence to help others in the band to
achieve the same standard. This again will help enhance the appearance of the
band, using the “look good, feel good” factor.
Also properly maintained
uniforms and equipment not only look good but, the kit will last that much
longer, thus saving the band money, and keep the treasurer happy.