bagpiper uniform tour

What does a bagpiper wear?

I believe it’s most important that your bagpiper looks the part, as well as sounding it. My bagpiper uniform is the No.1 Full Highland Dress at most weddings and events. I will not wear any kilt wear and uniform accessories which are not of the finest quality. I am confident that there are very few pipers outwith the military who have such fine uniform and know how to wear it. If you see a better dressed bagpiper, please let me know!

I don’t charge any more to wear the Full Highland Dress, unlike many pipers who prefer to wear the far less spectacular Day Dress.

Piper’s No.1 Full Highland Dress

Pipers Uniform

The piper’s “No.1 Full Highland Dress” was originally worn by pipers of the historic Highland regiments. “No.1s” were then adopted first by the Govan Police, and when pipe bands took off in the early 20th century, by numerous other police, colliery and civilian pipe bands. Indeed, the No.1 Full Highland Dress was worn by virtually all Scottish pipers and pipe bands until the 1980s when the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band adopted “Day Dress” as their bagpiper uniform due to the No.1 dress being so heavy, impractical, and not to mention very expensive to purchase and maintain. However, as practical as Day Dress is, it provides nowhere near the visual spectacle as a piper dressed smartly in No.1 Full Highland Dress. This is why bagpipers wearing No.1 dress are highly sought after to play at prestigious events.

I wear three No.1 Dress uniforms – My mother’s tartan, Ancient Mackay, the Mackenzie of Seaforth as worn by the Seaforth Highlanders and Highland Light Infantry regiments, and the Cameron of Loch Erracht originally worn by the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders.

My bagpiper uniform is the No.1 Full Highland Dress when performing as a Wedding Bagpiper, and at most other events. I do wear Day Dress when playing as a Funeral Piper though, where I feel it’s approriate to be a bit more understated. If you have a preference for a particular tartan, please do let me know.

The Kilt

Edinburgh Pipe for Hire Seaforth

Mackenzie of Seaforth tartan

The military kilts I wear are army-issue and have “box pleats” at the rear, unlike my Mackay kilt which is “knife-pleated”. Military-weight kilts are very heavy, weighing in at 21 ounces per yard as opposed to 16 ounces for a regular heavy-weight kilt. My Cameron of Erracht kilt is an original Queens Own Cameron Highlanders kilt from prior to their 1961 amalgamation with the Seaforth Highlanders.

Edinburgh Bagpiper for Hire Cameron Kilt

Cameron of Erracht tartan

Kilt Pleating

The rear of the kilt which is pleated, can be constructed and styled in a number different of ways, each of which produce markedly different effects despite being made from the same tartan.

Mackay kilt pleated to sett

Ancient Mackay – Pleated to Sett

These two kilts are made from identical Ancient Mackay tartan, woven by the same tartan mill, Loch Carron. As you’ll see, the Pleated to Sett method of aligning the pleats results in the rear of the kilt having a similar appearance to that of the front apron of the kilt.

The Pleated to Stripe method, where the vertical black lines of the tartan show in each pleat, produces a darker effect with horizontal banding which contrasts to the front apron of the kilt.

Mackay kilt pleated to stripe

Ancient Mackay - Pleated to Stripe

Seaforth Mackenzie Box Pleated kilt

Mackenzie of Seaforth – Box pleated

There are also different ways of constructing the pleats of a kilt. Here are examples of box pleated and knife pleated Mackenzie of Seaforth military kilts. Both are pleated to stripe. Box pleats can add to the body of the kilt and enhance the swing, but can be slightly harder to look after. They can lose shape, particularly if you’re not careful how you’re sitting.

Seaforth Mackenzie Knife Pleats

Mackenzie of Seaforth – Knife pleated

Whichever style is used, as you’ll see from this video, pleating a hand-made kilt takes a great deal of effort!

The Piper’s Plaid

edinburgh piper for hire seaforth plaid

Mackenzie of Seaforth Piper’s Plaid

The Piper’s Plaid is modelled on the upper half of the “Féileadh-Mór” or “Great Kilt” which was worn by Highlanders until the early 18th century. The plaid is always the same tartan as that of the the kilt being worn. It is 3.5 or 4 yards long, wrapped tightly around the body, knotted and secured with a Plaid Brooch. This takes some skill to do properly, so the brooch sits proud and the plaid hangs in line with the spats. If not done correctly, the plaid can look a mess due to flattened pleats and a poorly tied knot.

Purling – this is a very difficult job. The 1.4m width of this plaid from Macdonald Kiltmakers, is spliced 60 times at each end and wound into the same number of “purls”, each coated in beeswax.

Purling – this is a very difficult job. The 1.4m width of this plaid from Macdonald Kiltmakers, is spliced 60 times at each end and wound into the same number of “purls”, each coated in beeswax.

Headgear

Edinburgh Bagpiper Feather Bonnet

Feather Bonnet

The Feather Bonnet, made from ostrich, was worn by Scottish infantry soldiers until the outbreak of World War 1. It’s now only worn by pipers and drummers wearing the Full Highland Dress. This one’s made by UK military supplier, The Feather Factory. When playing the Small Pipes during the Signing of the Register at a wedding, or when I’m “off-duty”, I may wear the traditional Glengarry Hat with an Eagle feather.

Bagpiper Uniform Glengarry Hat Eagle Feather

Glengarry hat with eagle feather

Other Uniform Essentials

The quality of bagpiper uniform accessories worn is almost as important as that of the kilt, plaid and feather bonnet. There are many metal parts – belt buckles, the sporran cantle, the dirk, feather bonnet badge and the plaid brooch. They all contribute to the spectacle of the bagpiper wearing No.1 Dress. Good quality items are made from a white metal like nickel and look classy. Modern “stay-bright” buckles and brooches look like what they are – cheap and tacky. When I win the lottery I will go one step further and you will see me wearing sterling silver! Items such as the crossbelt, waistbelt and plaid brooch are not purely for decoration. They’re essential to keep the plaid in place.

Pipers Cross Belt

Cross Belt

The diagonal “Crossbelt” can be worn underneath or over the plaid. Traditionally it was used to hang a sword from, which army Pipe Majors and Drum Majors are entitled to do. This one is from the Gordon Highlanders, but also features a 19th-century brooch of the Cameron Highlanders depicting the Sphinx of Egypt, and the Stag emblem with Gaelic motto “Cuidich ‘n Righ” (Aid the King) of the Seaforth Highlanders.

Bagpipers Uniform Piper's Dirk

Piper’s Dirk

The ‘Piper’s Dirk’ is a form of the traditional Highland Dirk and is worn by pipers wearing the Full Highland Dress. Historically it was the Highlander’s personal side arm and was carried everywhere. Additionally the Dirk was used in ceremonial occasions as it represents the honour of a Highlander. Binding oaths were sworn upon the blade of the dirk, the steel of which was believed to be holy.

What does a bagpiper wear plaid brooch

Plaid Brooch

This Plaid Brooch is Victorian with a “Cairngorm Stone”. I am unsure if it is regimental. It does feature very similar thistle embossing as my Gordon Highlanders Crossbelt and Waistbelt and matches these nicely.

Bagpipers Uniform Seaforth Collar Dogs

Collar Dogs

These are antique brass collar dogs of the Seaforth Highlanders, featuring the ‘F’ cypher of Commander-in-Chief Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany (brother of King George IV), and elephants commemorating the Battle of Assaye in 1803, in which the regiment fought.

Horse Hair Sporran

Sporran

This is a horse hair Piper’s Sporran with three tassles and an ornate cantle. This is the hardest part of the piper’s uniform to clean as it requires complete disassembly and careful shampoo and conditioning. It was in Victorian times that the sporran became a decorative adornment to the Highland Outfit. However, the sporran was traditionally a leather pouch used to hold a day’s supply of oatmeal – the Highlander’s daily rations!