Traditional Attire at the Highland Games: What to Wear & Why It Matters

Why Is Traditional Dress Important at the Highland Games?

Traditional attire isn’t just about looking the part, it’s about honoring centuries of Celtic identity. From clan tartans to Highland regalia, the way you dress can express respect, belonging, and pride in heritage, whether you’re competing or simply spectating.

Do You Need to Wear a Kilt to Attend?

Not at all. While many attendees wear kilts, especially those with Scottish or Irish ancestry, it’s not a requirement. What matters most is intention: show up with respect, not as a caricature.

Expert Tip from Andrew Walsh, Celtic Heritage Advisor:
"Wearing a kilt isn’t cultural appropriation when it’s an act of admiration. Choose authenticity over novelty, and you’ll be welcomed."

What Should Spectators Wear?

Spectators have flexibility. Many opt for comfortable clothes paired with small heritage nods:

• A tartan scarf or sash
• A clan crest pin
• Tartan tie, skirt, or ball cap
• Polo shirts branded with the event or their surname

The golden rule: no fake accents, no plastic bagpipes, and no tartan "costumes." The games are cultural celebrations, not Halloween.

What Do Competitors and Performers Wear?

Athletes typically wear a traditional kilt with a breathable athletic shirt or branded event tee.
Pipers often wear full Highland dress: Argyll jacket, kilt, hose, sporran, and bonnet.
Highland dancers wear regulation dance kilts and blouses.

In all cases, practicality comes first — movement and temperature are important considerations.

What About Women — Can They Wear Kilts?

Yes, and they do. Options include:

• Kilted skirts
• Tartan dresses
• Plaid sashes over dresses (often over the left shoulder, secured with a brooch)
• Clan-themed accessories

Women are active participants in both competition and celebration, and clothing follows suit.

How Should Children Dress for the Highland Games?

Children look great in:

• Youth kilts
• Clan t-shirts
• Sashes, caps, and even baby tartan onesies

Comfort and playability are key. Don’t worry about perfect formality, it’s about engagement, not etiquette.

What Are the Core Elements of Highland Dress?

These pieces vary depending on whether you’re going for full Highland dress, semi-formal, or casual festival wear.

Can I Wear a Kilt If I'm Not Scottish?

Yes. Many kilts today use universal tartans (e.g., Black Watch), county tartans (e.g., Donegal, Antrim), or tartans associated with surnames. You can also choose a commemorative pattern (like Irish National or Pride of Scotland).

What matters isn’t bloodline — it’s sincerity.

What’s Acceptable in Hot Weather or Outdoor Festivals?

• Lightweight 11oz wool or polyviscose kilts
• Ghillie shirts (lace-up cotton) instead of jackets
• Tartan vests or short sleeves
• Light hose with flashes
• Optional: cap, sunglasses, hydration pouch

Weather should guide your choices — a heatstroke in full wool isn’t historically accurate either.

Are Sneakers or Modern Shoes Okay?

Yes, especially for kids and spectators. While dancers and pipers use regulated shoes (ghillies, brogues), everyone else can prioritize comfort. Just aim for tasteful, not trashy.

Where Can You Buy or Rent Highland Attire?

• Buy: Retailers like CelticStudio.shop provide kilts, sashes, pins, and accessories — often sorted by clan or surname.

• Rent: Formalwear providers and some festivals offer kilt rentals for one-time events.

• Tip: Avoid mass-market Halloween outlets — quality shows.

What NOT to Wear at the Highland Games

• Costume-shop kilts made of flannel or polyester

• Mock-Scottish outfits with wigs or plastic weapons

• Stereotyped or joke accessories (e.g., "drunk Scotsman" shirts)

• Cultural fusions that don’t belong (e.g., samurai kilt hybrids)

• Anything disrespectful, ironic, or overly sexualized

Heritage in Detail: Why Every Piece Matters

• The kilt symbolizes pride, not cosplay.

• The sporran holds both practicality and tradition.

• The fly plaid connects to ancient Highland banners.

• Your tartan tells a story of clan, county, or cause.

• Dressing your child teaches them they belong in this legacy.

Final Word: It's Not About Perfection — It's About Participation

You don’t need to look like a Highland warrior to be welcomed. Whether you wear a full outfit, a simple sash, or just show up in support, what matters is being there, respectfully.