Costume Information

How to sew a Practice Skirt or Aboyne Skirt
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Fabric: Polyester/Cotton blend is probably best.

For Little girls:
Up to age 7 3 to 4 metres
7 to 10 years 4 to 5 metres
10 years & up 5 metres

Sew panels together for length; make sure you have enough length of a huge hem.

For 3 - 4 Metre skirts:
Make a casing at the top. Use 1 inch wide no twist elastic. Thread elastic, adjust to waist, sew elastic together leaving extra so it's adjustable later. Hem

For larger skirts, it's probably easier to gather on a waistband. Make a tube of fabric for length, gather-using zigzag stitch over crochet cotton. Make waistband too big and fasten with Velcro.

2X's width of waistband, fold in half.

Add 6 or more inches to waist to allow extra grow room.

Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing
Costuming Rules - Revised 2001
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HIGHLAND DRESS FOR MALE DANCERS  
For Premier of Pre-premier Dancers (STYLE A)
Jacket: May be of velvet or cloth, in any color and any recognized style of doublet, e.g. Prince Charlie, Montrose.
Waistcoat: May be worn with Prince Charlie jacket.
Cummerbund: Black or to match the kilt may be worn in place of a waistcoat.
Kilt: Any Clan, Family or District Tartan is acceptable. The length of the kilt is to the top of the knee. A kilt pin may be worn.
Trews: May be worn for Seann Triubhas.
Hose: Full tartan hose or military diced hose to match the kilt e.g. Blue/White etc.
Garter Flashes: To tone with the kilt are optional.
Sporran: Evening pattern with plated metal top or leather to be worn.
Waist Belt: Leather with plated metal buckle may be worn, but not worn with a waistcoat.
Head Dress: Balmoral must be worn with appropriate crest and/or badge. Feathers should NOT be worn.
Plaid: A belted plaid may be worn with the jacket.
Shirt: A white shirt and bow tie should be worn with the Prince Charlie jacket.
Jabot: Should be white lace worn only with Montrose Jacket.
Sleeve Ruffles: May be worn in conjunction with a lace jabot but must be attached to the sleeve of the jacket.
Footwear: Black highland dancing pumps.
Sgian Dubh: Should not be worn whilst dancing.
Underwear: Dark or toning with the kilt should be worn but not white.  
NOTE: The above dress excludes competitors from H M Forces provided they are wearing regulation military dress.

Highland Dress for Male Pre-Premier Dancers:
May be worn by Pre-Premier dancers only:
Jacket and/or Waistcoat: Day wear style, in lovat cloth or other types of tweed or same as style A.
Kilt: As style A.
Hose: Plain to tone with kilt or natural or same as style A.
Sporran: Same as style A.
Shirt and tie: A white shirt and time may be worn without the jacket and/or waistcoat.
Head Dress: Optional or as style A.
Footwear: Black highland dancing pumps.
Underwear: Same as style A. 

HIGHLAND DRESS FOR FEMALE DANCERS 
Highland Dress for Female Premier and Pre-Premier Dancers (Style B)
Jacket or Waistcoat to be worn.
Jacket: Black or colored velvet. Close fitting at the waist and hips, fastened down the front, with basque having two points in front and one at back, sides are more slightly curved. The jacket is trimmed around the edges with a single row of 1/2-inch silver or gold braid. The length depends on the physique of the dancer. The facings have a single row of not more than five ornamental Scottish embossed buttons on each side. A lace trim at back of neck is optional. The full-length sleeves may have a single row of not more than five silver or gold buttons at the vent. If desired, ruffles (not more than 1 inch in depth) may be worn at the wrist, but they must be fastened to the sleeve. The front edges of the jacket are boned from the waist up, elastic loops are fitted inside to fasten the top of the kilt in order to prevent the jacket from rising when the arms are raised. A sleeveless blouse with lace front or a lace insert to be worn. The lace frills should be visible.  
Waistcoat: Similar to the jacket as described above but with no sleeves, there being no braid around the armholes.
White Blouse: Full sleeves to the elbow with a lace-ornamented front. An upright stiff half-inch lace trim may be attached to the back of the neck of the blouse.
Kilt: Any Clan, Family or District tartan is acceptable. It should reach to the top of the knee.
Hose: Full clan tartan hose to match the kilt.
Underwear: Dark or toning with the kilt should be worn but not white.
Hair: No visible hair adornments.
Footwear: Black Highland dancing pumps.  

The following SHOULD NOT BE WORN: Underskirt, Sporran, Garter flashes, Plaid, Waistbelt, Sgian Dhub, Kilt Pin or other ornaments of any description.  

Highland Dress for Female Pre-Premier Dancers:
May be worn by Pre-Premier dancers only.
Kilt: As described in style B.
White Blouse: As described in type 1 or plain white shirt worn with or without a tie.
Hose: As described in style B or white knee high length.  

DRESS FOR NATIONAL DANCES 
MALE  
Trews: Male dancers may wear tartan trews instead of kilt for National dances.  

FEMALE
Style A:  
Skirt: To be a tartan or similar design in cloth, not necessarily worsted and should be gathered not circular. Length should be to the knee. Taffeta, satin and lurex are not acceptable.
White Blouse: Full sleeves to the elbow with NO FRILLS. No more than four very small tartan bows, on each sleeve, may be worn. The location of the bows are optional. Frills on front of blouse are not acceptable.
Underskirt: White cotton with no adornments. A lace edging is acceptable provided it is cotton.
Bodice: Velvet, waist length, laced up the front and scalloped or petal design all the way round. With or without ornamental buttons and narrow braid round the scallops.
Plaid: Square or rectangular pleated, fastened to the right shoulder with a Scottish brooch. The plaid should be attached to the waist at the back.
Socks: White without frills, ankle or knee high or natural tights may be worn.
Hairstyle: Optional.
Underwear: White.  
Style B
Dress: A white dress with a tartan as in Style A. The skirt should be worn to the top of the knee and may be circular.  

DRESS FOR SAILORS' HORNPIPE  
Jumper: To be made of navy blue material (serge or twill) or white drill, shaped to the body and with set in sleeves. V-neck front opening with double thickness collar attached. The bottom of the jumper should be in line with the fork and the sleeves to extend to the wrist bone. The sleeves may be buttoned but stripes are not acceptable.
Trousers: To be made of the same material and to be the same colour as the jumper. Bell-bottomed style, the circumference of the trouser bottoms to be two or three inches wider than the circumference of the knee. Trouser bottoms to be plain.
Vest: To be white drill with square neck and bound with navy binding.
Cap: Regulation white or navy blue with circular crown. The cap should not have name bands.
Collar: Navy or blue denim with three white stripes. Should be worn with either navy or white suit. Black ribbon, tied in a Bow, may be worn.
Socks: Plain white or navy.  

DRESS FOR IRISH JIG (Scottish Version)
MALE
Tail Coat: In red or green.
Waistcoat: in red or green in opposite colour to that of the coat.
Trousers: Knee breeches preferably in brown or khaki corduroy or whipcord, slack below knees as per description in the book.
Socks: Long red or green.
Muffler: Red or green neckerchief.
Paddy Hat: A traditional country Irish hat.
Shillelagh: Weight 3-4 lbs.
Footwear: Black, red or green Irish Jig shoes.

 FEMALE
Dress: White, red or green. White dress should be worn with waistcoat type bodice.
Bodice: Same shape as for Nationals, either red or green.
White Blouse: To be worn if dress is sleeveless.
Skirt: Red or green to be worn with white blouse and waistcoat type bodice also in red or green. The length same as for Nationals.
Cummerbund: Red or green, may be worn but not in conjunction with a waistcoat.
Length: One to two inches above the knee for juveniles. Adult dancers may prefer a longer skirt.
Apron: A small white apron is work with any of the options described above. A small shamrock will be permitted.
Underskirt: White only and preferably of cotton. These are not lifted during the dance and all 'flouncing' movements are done with the skirt of the dress.
Socks: Plain white or natural colored tights may be worn.
Hair: A plain ribbon may be worn.
Footwear: Black, red or green Irish Jig shoes.  
Note: The dress is usually made of cotton or similar material. Lurex fabrics should not be used nor should sequins or similar ornamentation are not acceptable.