I am looking into a new set of garb.
I am of Scottish heritage and would like to get garb that would reflect that. Specifically, a highland woman, non-nobal.
I have read about an arisaid being period for the highlanders, but I am not sure how historically accurate that is..
Does anyone have any suggestions on what would be the appropriate garb for a highland woman?
There was no great difference in dress of the lower orders in Scotland from that of elsewhere, though the arisaid was a bit more common to the north and west of The Great Glen, and out to the isles. This might help you:
http://www.scottish-crafts.co.uk/history/scottish%20clothes.htm#arisaidh
http://www.fife.50megs.com/scottish-clothing-anecdotes.htm
http://www.marariley.net/celtic/scotland.htm
Here's some contemporary descriptions of Scottish women's attire
Edited: oops forgot the link
http://historicgames.com/Scottishstuff/scotsattire.html
you might want to visit this page that the Minnesota chapter of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society who performs at MNRF has:
http://www.rscds-twincities.org/costumes.html#renfestback (http://www.rscds-twincities.org/costumes.html#renfestback)
it's debatable how historically accurate they are to the 16th century, but most of the info is very helpful and easy to understand.