What's the deal?

[WhoMe]

In some of the old pictures of straight dancers they had on vests or bandoliers or a breastplate. Nowadays, they wear all three at the same time. In my opinion it looks a little cluttered when combined with a scarf, choker, german silver chest ornament and left shoulder feathers.

What's the deal?


Also. Is it okay to wear hanging fingerwoven garters under the bells, with fringed buckskin/leather leggins?

[legalstraight]

I agree on all counts.

[Paul G]

Also. Is it okay to wear hanging fingerwoven garters under the bells, with fringed buckskin/leather leggins?

I was taught not to do that. I do see lots of guys doing it. To me it gets a little cluttered with the fringe and the tabs.

Seems to me there is a trend to wear as many accessories as possible.

[Redstone]

Myself, I like the clean look. Not a ton of accessories. Makes it look like you can't decide what to wear, or you're going for a Northern flavor. Keep it simple.

[Tsi-tse Wa-tsi]

I wear a vest so I don't have to wear the other stuff. I too like the clean look. I don't wear fingerweaving with buckskin leggings either.

[CHEROSAGE]

I like to keep it simple but still Looooookin Gooood.

[Grits & Beans]

Myself, I like the clean look. Not a ton of accessories. Makes it look like you can't decide what to wear, or you're going for a Northern flavor. Keep it simple.

northern flavor? *ashton kutcher voice* Burn!

my fellow northerners- i'm kidding lol

[Fat Albert]

In some of the old pictures of straight dancers they had on vests or bandoliers or a breastplate. Nowadays, they wear all three at the same time. In my opinion it looks a little cluttered when combined with a scarf, choker, german silver chest ornament and left shoulder feathers.

What's the deal?


Also. Is it okay to wear hanging fingerwoven garters under the bells, with fringed buckskin/leather leggins?

Who.... I love it when you ask questions.... let me get out the rule book and see what I can say! LOL!

In my limited experience I think a few folks like to wear it all because they want to show off their grip. In some old photos, you do see some guys wearing it all. I have one shot of Bacon Rind wearing a breastplate, vest, one bandoleer and his otter over his shoulder. Much the same look as Paul Red Eagle is wearing in another popular picture. In just as many other photos, the dancers wear a nice vest with maybe one bandoleer (no otter and in many cases, no way to tell if they have on a breastplate). I think it has all been done in the past so it is important for people today to understand why they wear what they do. As far as vests go, it gives a person a lot of flexibility I think.

I like a clean look. I am not very big on every single thing being perfectly uniform (matching beadwork, colors, etc). If you can wear a bunch of stuff and get away with it not looking too cluttered, then great! It is a hard look to pull off though.

As for the leather leggings, I prefer a wide beaded garter with no bells but if you have fingerweaving, why not? Wear what your family has dressed you in.

[Gledanh Zhinga]

We've talked in the past about being wary of what we see in old photos, mainly because of studio props and the venue, and the particular situation depicted in the photo. Historian has posted many photos which bear study and for which I'm grateful. The dates of the photos are helpful. However, it is not always known whether the people in the photos are dressed to dance, or dressed in "everyday wear," or perhaps just duded up for the occasion of the photo.

[StereoTypicalHarley]

Speaking of Bacon Rind

[Fat Albert]

Nativeproud, thats the one I was looking at! Very nice!

[StereoTypicalHarley]

This website has alot of good pictures.

www.American-Tribes.com - Home

[Historian]

I think it's important to note that while maintaining a Traditional Southern Straight Dance style with information taught by tribal elders, family members or even old photos, the nature of the dance style is not stagnant, but rather is evolving. With each new generation, and in some cases, with each new season, Straight Dancers are continually searching for their unique expression of the balance between the traditional and the contemporary.

For myself, I don't wear a vest. Why? Because I don't have one.

Sometimes I wear a breastplate with a pectoral hanging beneath it, and crossed bandoliers, and sometimes I just wear the bandoliers. Why? No particular reason, it just depends on how I feel on that particular day; or what shirt and scarve set I'm wearing.

As for wearing finger-woven garters, I've worn them with wool broad-cloth leggings and hide leggings. However, I've found that wearing them with hide leggings that have flaps or tabs has a good and traditional look, whereas wearing them with hide leggings with nothing but long cut fringe doesn't look quite as good, because the garter tabs get lost in the fringe.

[Historian]

Speaking of Bacon Rind

I would like to point out, primarily for those who may not know, that the Otter-Tail or Otter Dragger which is tied to Bacon Rind's shoulder bandolier and is hanging down his shoulder in the front, has been staged this way by the photographer in order to show an aspect of the clothes that would otherwise, not be seen. The Otter Dragger would normally be tied around the neck so as to hang down the middle of the back.