"tanks" for the respect?

[Retro Red]

I've noticed other threads where members discuss their varied views & preferences for casual kilts or "tanks" (traditional hand-sewn tartan wool kilts), but I don't recall seeing a discussion of how others around us react to casual kilts vs. tanks.

Let me explain. I got my first kilt about 3 years ago - an Original Utilikilt. Within a year, I was up to 5 UKs & those have been the only kilts I've had until a few weeks ago when I got my first "tank" - 8 glorious yards of 13-oz Strathmore wool in the Robertson Hunting tartan. Now, admittedly, I've only had my tank for a little over a month, but it's been my observation that people around me recognize, accept & yes, even respect the tank as a kilt, whereas my UKs, by comparison, are viewed more often as a skirt. And it's not that I dress up more when I'm wearing the tank, I often wear a t-shirt with it, just like with my UK. I'm guessing that this is because the tank more closely fits people's idea of what a kilt should look like & at this point in time, the UK is too unconventional (not tartan, has pockets, etc.) for many folks to accept as a kilt? Hopefully that'll change as the general public becomes more knowledgeable & accustomed to kilts in general. And of course, I'm going to keep wearing either my UKs or tank (depending on the situation) regardless of what the public reaction is.

Anyway, for those of you who wear both casual kilts & traditional kilts, I was just wondering if anyone else had observed similar differences in the reactions of those around you.

Do tanks get more respect? Are casual kilts the Rodney Dangerfields of the kilt world?
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[Caradoc]

IAnyway, for those of you who wear both casual kilts & traditional kilts, I was just wondering if anyone else had observed similar differences in the reactions of those around you.

I can't speak for philibegs, but I've got a few belted plaids... and if I wear a "plain" color (it's actually a cream/brown twill with VERY pale and thin blue and green stripes shot through it - they're almost invisible, so it looks pale brown) people ask me what I'm wearing, while the same darned outfit in a Buchanan tartan gets me "Cool kilt!" comments.

It's not just you. And, yes, I think it's the plaid/tartan that does it.

[Tartan Hiker]

I think that you are right for the majority of folks. I've heard these very sentiments spoken on more than one occasion while I was in stealth mode (not kilted).

[Southern Breeze]

I wear both and have noticed that peoples reactions are different when I wear tartan. I think it's because tartan fits people's idea of what a kilt should look like. Solid colors seem to get more is that a kilt type questions.

[motorman4life]

I'm sure you could write a book on perception and context. But, it is funny how people react to things they don't understand. If you give them a "reasonable" context, they are fine with it. It is like they have to find a neat "compartment" or "envelope" of understanding to put the concept into.

I'm walking down the street in a kilt and some little old lady comes up and says, "Are you a dancer?" If I say yes, she is fine with it. If I say no, I get an odd look... "are you coming from the highland games?" Again, if I say yes, she will be content. If I say no, I get an odd look and... "Are you from Scotland?"

It could go on and on, until she is satisfied that there is some "reasonable" explanation for my being in a kilt. It seems, "Because I want to" is just not enough sometimes.

[cessna152towser]

When I wear my traditional Scottish kilts they turn a few heads and I do get some compliments. I also have two cheap all black Mercy kilts in very lightweight cotton polyester, which have fewer pleats and are longer, hitting to below knee and just brushing the top of my hose. Being so light, they swing like skirts rather than kilts yet nobody has ever called them skirts. I've even been complimented two or three times on these as being smart looking kilts. My wife always likes to see me in any of my kilts but prefers these cheap kilts as they are a more modest length. These cheap kilts generally draw little or no attention, compared to traditional kilts, possibly due to the absence of exposed knee.

[Panache]

Retro Red,

Can I offer another key difference between the modern kilt (Freedom, UK, AK, etc) and the traditional wool ones besides material and where the kilt rides (waist vs. hips). When you wear your wool traditional do you also wear kilt hose? How about flashes? Sgian dubh? Kilt pin? Sporran? Glengarry? Balmoral? Fly Plaid? Kilt Jacket? Etc...

When you wear the traditional wool kilt, more likely than not, you also wear a host of accessories that fit the image of the kilted highlander that most people have (if they have any*).

I really like my UK Mocker, but to me I just don't feel right in it unless I'm wearing kilt hose, flashes, and my sgian don't (knife handled bottle cap openner). Those accessories make my UK a kilt in my eyes. I imagine it does the same for others.

Just one more factor to consider.

Cheers


* I have found the only completely strange looks I constantly get seem to be from a few ESL minorities. I assume they have never even heard of a kilt let alone seen an image of one. Therefore to them I'm wearing a skirt and a lot of strange gear.

[arrogcow]

In all honesty it is so rare that someone doesn't recognise my UK's as kilts, that it is hard to quantify. Yes, I have had people call them skirts, and I don't think I have ever had anyone call my tartans a skirt, but I also wear a UK (or PK) about 10 times more often, and come into contact with way more people.

Most people's reaction is, "Is that a kilt? I've never seen a kilt like that,it's cool."

Adam

[Retro Red]

When you wear your wool traditional do you also wear kilt hose? How about flashes? Sgian dubh? Kilt pin? Sporran? Glengarry? Balmoral? Fly Plaid? Kilt Jacket? Etc...

Good point, Panache.

Just to clarify, most of the times I've worn my trad kilt, so far, what I've worn with my kilt has been very similar to what I'd normally wear with my casual kilt - namely, t-shirt, Doc Martens, slouched socks. The main additions with the trad kilt are a sporran & kilt pin.

Thanks for the input.
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[NewKilt]

Retro Red,

Can I offer another key difference between the modern kilt (Freedom, UK, AK, etc) and the traditional wool ones besides material and where the kilt rides (waist vs. hips). When you wear your wool traditional do you also wear kilt hose? How about flashes? Sgian dubh? Kilt pin? Sporran? Glengarry? Balmoral? Fly Plaid? Kilt Jacket? Etc...

When you wear the traditional wool kilt, more likely than not, you also wear a host of accessories that fit the image of the kilted highlander that most people have (if they have any*).

I really like my UK Mocker, but to me I just don't feel right in it unless I'm wearing kilt hose, flashes, and my sgian don't (knife handled bottle cap openner). Those accessories make my UK a kilt in my eyes. I imagine it does the same for others.

Just one more factor to consider.

Cheers

I think Retro has a good point here regarding acessories with a contemporary kilt. I have 5 Amerikilts, and always wear them with hose, flashes, sgian dubh, and the Kennedy Clan crest on the cloth sporran flap. I also ordered the Amerikilts so I could wear them higher on the waist, and have the bottom of the kilt hit right at the top of the knee. I've gotten many compliments with them on how nice my "kilt" looked, including a compliment from a teenager, and an older woman rushing up to me to ask what clan I was. Same thing with my Buzz Kidder canvas solids. I have not noticed any difference in reactions whether I wear my AK's, my tradional style Buzz Kidder solids, or my wool tartans.

It's just my personal preference for wearing any kilt. I never dress down any further than what you might call business casual - no t-shirts, and I always make sure my shoes are clean and polished. I think kilt length, accessories, and your overall presentation can make a big difference on whether or not a contemporary kilt is recognized as a kilt by the general public.

Darrell