NOT a plea for a new forum, but...

[Alan H]

When I think of "Contemporary Kilt Wear" I always think of something like this:


or this (X-Kilt in Hemp/recycled polyester blend)



or this



or this

[Alan H]

But not this:



or this



or this



or this (sorry Steve! you look great, though!)

[Steve Ashton]

OK, so if you were to make a suggestion what would it be?

[Alan H]

NOT A PLEA FOR ANOTHER FORUM!

I know all the discussions about sportkilt being a contemporary kilt even though it's tartan. I hear ya. I grok the whole idea that the forums are about how a kilt is WORN, not about the kilt itself. Yeppers

But still.... when I see a nice wool kilt being worn in a relaxed manner, I always think of seeing Jock Scot on a hot day. No tie. Sleeves rolled up. etc. etc.... basically, almost exactly how a lot of lads post traditional kilts being worn in this forum. It seems to me like that should go in the Traditional forum.

Man oh man, this is SO SO SO not a plea to subdivide all this into yet another forum!

Actually, my thought process is leading me to consider making a new post in the Traditional forum.

[McMurdo]

Alan
I do like you but I think you may be barking up the wrong tree here. The photo used with me in it was from a Tartan Tuesday last summer I could have worn a denim kilt with the same black t-shirt I am wearing and did think about it but as it is Tartan Tuesday I thought a 5 yard tartan kilt was the way to go. So my question is what is not contemporary about that outfit? I think we should celebrate our similarities instead of focusing on our differences. If you go back to the 1 kilt 10 looks thread the first few are contemporary outfits even though Jamie and I are both wearing traditional kilts.

[Alan H]

Steve, I don't actually think anything needs to change. I guess I'm putting this up here as a thought-process explaining that in light of the current discussion in the Traditional Forum, the one that contains the great picture of Jock Scot at the Inverness setting of the Masters World Championships, it's sometimes difficult to discern what's "traditionally relaxed" and what's "contemporary".

What's the difference between Jock, here:


and for example, you, here....



Why is Jock "traditional" and You are "Contemporary"?

I know...slip on shoes, cordura sporran, kilt with pockets and so on.

All I'm really getting at is that I think the line is really blurry, and TO ME....just me, not anybody else...."contemporary" should means something that barely nods to the traditional, at all.

[Alan H]

As an aside, I want to be crystal clear that I don't think either way is BAD or WRONG or anything like that. It's just that I sometimes scratch my head, puzzled, and then move on.

Yes, McMurdo...celebrate the commonality, not quibble over the differences. I totally agree, so this is all in fun, IMHO. I'm certainly not upset about anything!

So here's a question for you/us. I was going to put it in the Traditional Kilt Forum, but I'll put it here....

If this kilt can be worn in a "contemporary" style... see these Black Watch kilts in wool, certainly 8 yarders.



Then is the converse also true? Can THIS kilt be worn in the "traditional" style?

[Alan H]

I mean, if I took Hamish's camouflage kilt...so that the KILT is definitely not traditional....

But if I paired it up with a nice kilt belt, a leather sporran, colored hose to the knee with flashes, a tattersall shirt with a tie and a balmoral, and then leaned on a nice ash cromach, would that then be "Traditional"? As in..."a non-traditional kilt worn in the Traditional manner".

OK, I'll shut up now and let someone else post something...

[McClef]

Is it me, or does the last picture of post #1 a little, erm, suggestive?

(Yes I know it's the fender of the vehicle behind!)

[CMcG]

I hear you on the confusion, Alan. That nice photo of Steve looks traditional to me... there are some modern innovations going on in material/design and ample personal style, but the overall look is still well within the bounds of THCD.

I suggest that a traditional (looking) kilt can be worn in both modern and traditional ways, resulting in either a modern or traditional look. But a modern kilt worn in a traditional way would still give a modern look.

Notice I didn't use the word contemporary there? That's because it just means "of the present time period." Living traditions are contemporary, but so are new ways of doing things. When I think of utility kilts, I think modern in the sense of a break with the past.

Things can also be confusing because the boundaries of tradition can be blurred. For example, some folks may take a more conservative approach to tradition, that can verge on the historical. Others might be on the leading, contemporary edge of tradition. But there's no question that a camouflage utility kilt with big ol' cargo pockets presents a distinct and full break with tradition that deserves to be called modern.