Should I join the Kilt Kops?

[Brian Rose]

No photos so you'll have to rely on a description. A friend's funeral was last Saturday. He was a long time feature in our community of LBC's ( little British cars). By prior arrangement, another friend and I kilted up in his honor. I though I did reasonably well after paying attention here. In my opinion, my friend wore his kilt too low- below the knee. He also wore a Saxon-length coat that covered about 1/2 the kilt, tie and a sweater vest. The sweater vest is not part of the issue but I wanted to give readers a more complete picture.
My dilemma comes from the background. He's a native of Glasgow who's lived in the U.S. for 40+ years.He returns there every few years to get his accent recharged and is almost incomprehensible for a couple of weeks afterwards.
He described buying his kilt in a shop on the Royal Mile complete with the little old man kiltmaker with the tape draped around his neck. It leads me to believe that he was measured correctly. He wore it below the knee, so I think he wore it too low. The Saxon coat? I'd just assume that he didn't own a kilt jacket. His kilt pin was pinned through both aprons. I asked him about it. He said he'd always done it that way with no ill effects.
I just don't know if I should point him over here and/or offer some of the knowledge I've picked up here. I'm tempted to talk to his significant other, suggest some ways to step up his kilt game and let her suggest some changes to him. There are some good bargains in used kilt jackets around and Christmas is near.
Do I join the kilt cops or bite my tongue?

[Jock Scot]

Tricky. As I have tried to point out here more than a few times that some of those from Glasgow plough their own furrow when wearing the kilt. The result is that kilt attire is not necessarily worn in the way a Highlander may choose to wear it.

I think on a website such as this, one can strongly suggest attire combinations to improve the general look of kilt attire, particularly if advice is asked for. However in a real life situation if one understands different local kilt wearing thinking, it is best to let sleeping dogs, well, sleep.

[Liam]

Suggest he join or view this forum...

[OC Richard]

I see non-traditional things all the time, and keep my mouth shut unless asked.

"Kilt Kops" implies enforcing written laws whenever a violation is spotted. Thank goodness nothing like that exists.

About the "unless asked" part, even when people ask for advice when it's given they might bristle about "rules" and "freedom" and such.

[Jock Scot]

About the "unless asked" part, even when people ask for advice when it's given they might bristle about "rules" and "freedom" and such.

Yes I have seen this happen and have encountered it myself on this website. I take the view that if they ask then they want to know and I do not hesitate to give them the information as best as I can. If they dont like my reply then, tough. I am sorry but, they asked and I replied and they are quite free to politely ignore what I say.

[Ivor]

Reading posts here I get the impression that wearing a kilt is a free form of dress and that there is no fixed way it should be worn beyond at the natural waist and the hem at the top of knees. Having seen people wearing desert boots with scrunched down socks and a variety of tops I wonder exactly what is “correct” and what is just a way to wear what is just a garment.
I know that some like to dress up in a particular way with quasi-historical outfits and others with overtly casual styles but wonder if any are really “ correct” and the only ones allowed. One member seems to have the monopoly on what is acceptable although, unless one wishes to be an authentic Scottish Highlander, perhaps this is no more than an opinion to be accepted or ignored as one wishes.
The most sensible advice I seem to have seen is that from Steve Ashton who just likes to wear a kilt, with no specific clan affiliation and has no use for fancy dress such as doublets,jabots and the like.