Costume Help

What should be in your Garment Bag?

Garment bag items vary by performance needs.

Here is an intuitive list of items that are handy to have with you during Performances, Medal Testing and Competition.

*Dancer’s Tip: Purchase travel sized items as designated “garment bag swag”

• Ghillies/Jig Shoes
• Sock garters/elastics (placed under the fold to help socks stay in place)
• Extra pair of pantyhose/nylons/underwear
• Costumes – Highland /National / Jig, Hornpipe
• Band-aids /first aid tape/ tensor bandage
• Clear Nail polish (in case of pantyhose runs)
• Safety pins
• Antiperspirant
• Change/Money – purchase snacks, water etc.
• Hair Accessories – bobby pins /hair net / hair spray / clips /elastic bands
• Kleenex
• Tide Pen
• Makeup – Mascara / lipstick / concealer / lip gloss
• Updated Competition Card (for competitions only)

Highland

Male:

• Jacket – Bonnie Prince Charlie
• Kilt: Any clan or district tartan is acceptable. The length of the kilt is to the top of the knee
• Underwear: Dark or toning with the kilt should be worn, but not white
• Hose: Full clan tartan hose or military diced hose to match the kilt e.g. blue/white etc.
• Garter flashes: To tone with the kilt. Optional. Sgian Dubh: Should not be worn whilst dancing
• Footwear: Black highland ghillies

Female:

• Jacket Or Vest
• White blouse
• Kilt: Any clan, family or district tartan is acceptable. It should reach to the top of the knee.
• Underwear: Dark or toning with the kilt should be worn but not white.
• Hose: Full clan tartan hose to match the kilt.
• Footwear: Black highland ghillies
• Hair: Bun or braid(s) (be sure to tuck in the end(s))

National

Male:
Male dancers may wear tartan trews instead of kilt for national dances. Otherwise, dress is as described for highland dances.

Female:

• Vest
• 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
• White blouse
• Skirt: To be a tartan or similar design cloth, not necessarily worsted and should be gathered not circular. Length should be to the knee. Taffeta, satin and lurex are not acceptable
• Underskirt: White cotton with no adornments. A lace edging is acceptable provided it is cotton
• Underwear: White
• Socks: White without frill, ankle or knee high or natural coloured nylons may be worn
• Footwear: Black highland dancing ghillies
• Hair: bun or braid(s) (be sure to tuck in the end(s))

Type 2

• A white dress with a tartan plaid as in type 1. The skirt should be worn to the top of the knee and may be circular.

Jig

Male:

• Tail coat: In red or green. Waistcoat: In red or green in opposite colour to that of the coat
• Muffler: Red or green neckerchief
• Trousers: Knee breeches preferably in brown or khaki corduroy or whipcord, slack below knees
• Socks: Long red or green
• Footwear: Black, red or green Irish jig shoes

Female:

• Dress: White, red or green. White dress to be worn with waistcoat type bodice
• Bodice: Same shape as for National, either red or green
• White blouse: To be worn if dress is sleeveless
• Skirt: Red or green
• White apron
• 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.
• Underwear: White
• Socks: Plain white or natural nylons tights may be worn
• Footwear: Black, red or green Irish jig shoe

Hornpipe

• Hat: Regulation white with circular crown. The cap should not have a name band
• 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 top of the thigh and the sleeves to extend to the wrist bone. The sleeves may be buttoned but stripes are not acceptable
• Collar: Navy or blue denim with three white stripes. Should be worn with either navy or white jumper. Black ribbon, tied in a bow may be worn at the base of the v-neck. Vest: To be white drill with square neck and bound with navy binding
• 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
• Socks: Plain white or navy
• Footwear: Black highland dancing ghillies