Shop window kilt displays in England

[Rob]

A few years ago, I had never seen kilts on display in the windows of men’s wear shops in England, apart from the few branches of Scottish tailors, usually in London. Things have changed. One chain of men’s outfitters, Greenwoods, which acts as an agent for a men’s wear hire company, now displays formal kilt outfits for men and boys in the shop windows of many (if not all) of its outlets in the larger towns (certainly in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire). Others advertise ‘Highland wear in gentlemen’s and boy’s sizes’ for hire in local editions of English Yellow Pages, which never used to be the case. It would seem that kilt outfits have become fashionable in England for weddings, especially when one of the families is Scottish. I have also come across an increasing number of instances of boys hiring kilt outfits to wear at school proms in England, even when they are not themselves Scottish.


The other day I got a surprise. The small town where I live has only one small menswear shop, and their window display had always been very conservative (and uninspiring). I couldn’t believe my eyes when I noticed that they had changed their window display since I had last passed by. The new central feature was a man’s formal kilt outfit, with a display card below it informing that Highland wear could be hired at the shop. Kilts seem to be appearing in shop windows all over the place in my neck of the woods. Has anyone else in other parts of England noticed a similar trend?


Rob

[Hamish]

A few years ago, I had never seen kilts on display in the windows of men’s wear shops in England, apart from the few branches of Scottish tailors, usually in London. Things have changed. One chain of men’s outfitters, Greenwoods, which acts as an agent for a men’s wear hire company, now displays formal kilt outfits for men and boys in the shop windows of many (if not all) of its outlets in the larger towns (certainly in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire). Others advertise ‘Highland wear in gentlemen’s and boy’s sizes’ for hire in local editions of English Yellow Pages, which never used to be the case. It would seem that kilt outfits have become fashionable in England for weddings, especially when one of the families is Scottish. I have also come across an increasing number of instances of boys hiring kilt outfits to wear at school proms in England, even when they are not themselves Scottish.


The other day I got a surprise. The small town where I live has only one small menswear shop, and their window display had always been very conservative (and uninspiring). I couldn’t believe my eyes when I noticed that they had changed their window display since I had last passed by. The new central feature was a man’s formal kilt outfit, with a display card below it informing that Highland wear could be hired at the shop. Kilts seem to be appearing in shop windows all over the place in my neck of the woods. Has anyone else in other parts of England noticed a similar trend?


Rob

No, not down here in Sussex, Rob! In fact, I do not think I have ever seen a kilt in a menswear shop in England, other than in the odd one or two Scottish shops in London. The closest I have seen was in Debenhams, near here in Worthing, where they have a Hire Department right at the back of the store. They used to have a large display photo showing the Prince Charlie outfit that could be hired (along with all the variety of Morning Suits), but that has recently disappeared, although the grey suits photos are still on show! When I asked the sales assistant about it, she told me that they had not had a single enquiry for Highland Dress wear for well over eighteen months and so they had limited the selection they offer for hire by dropping the kilted outfit. Apparently, it could still be ordered well in advance through their organisation if anyone seriously wanted one. The lass added that most people seem to go up to London for their Wedding outfits nowadays - Moss Bros I expect!!

There is a small branch of Moss Bros in Brighton and I believe they have Highland Outfits available for hire, as illustrated in a catalogue, but I've never seen an actual kilt on display there or anywhere else. Moss Bros are listed in Yellow Pages - but they make no mention of Highland Dress or kilt outfit hire!

Funnily enough, I was thinking about this a week or two ago. With all the wedding photos, and there are quite a few, in our local papers every week, it is many, many months since I have seen a kilted Groom in any of them.

"Good for Lincolnshire and Yorkshire!" is all I can say!!

I remember Greenwoods well. Their shops are mainly in the East Anglia region - we had one nearby when I lived close to Colchester in Essex.

[Martin]

I have seen kilt outfits in the window display of Greenwoods in both Redditch and Loughborough to date.

They seem to be more likey to be seen around Christmas time. It would be interesting to know how many outfits are hired.

[Paul Henry]

my local hire shop in surbiton(just outside London) regulary has a kilt outfit for hire in the window, and several different ones hanging up inside.Not sure what the tartan is, but I suspect something safe and generic!

[Sir Robert]

Furth, a suburb of Nueremburg, Germany has a Scottish tailor. I was shocked.

[Blu (Ontario)]

I just think this is interesting in that the only display windows I've seen kilts, other than a Scottish shop, was at a local British Import store.