Women in kilts

[Elise]

I wanted to thank everyone who took the time to answer my questions. They were very helpful. I must say I was surprised at the response but pleased. I clearly have an understanding and respect for the custom of wearing a kilt now and feel that for me personally what fits me best would be a womens long skirt. Now, I am not of Scottish or Irish descent can I wear any plaid I want? What makes a sporran a mans and not a woman idem? (I'm just curious)I thought it was to hold things that would be in a pocket? Actually I thought it was the first made fanny pack, respectfully thinking the scots invented the original fanny pack. I warn you I have many questions, and enjoy learning more and more about the scottish customs, please don't grow tired of me. Thanks again, Elise

[slohairt]

I think length (for women) is fairly optional, based on personal preference. As for tartan, you can wear whatever you like. It does help, however, to know something about it if someone asks. As for a sporran being a man's item? While it is true that it basically serves as a purse, some historians suspect that it also acted as a codpiece for protection.

[beloitpiper]

Slohairt (wow, didn't recognize you with the new avatar!) has good advice. Wear the tartan you like, but it would be respectful if you know the tartan and what it means. Sporrans are mens purses, and women don't wear them because they carry over-the-shoulder purses.

[Spc. Scott]

The more questions the better in my opinion.

As far as the sporran, I feel that they just tend to have a masculine look to them. I have no reasons as to why a woman couldn't wear one. I just asked my self would my wife wear one? My first guess was no...but then I don't presume to know my wife's mind.

[Jerry]

Actually, the mini-kilts look very nice on young ladies. And I'll second, wear the tartans that appeal to you. Also if you are worried about wearing clan tartans, there are many generic tartans available.

[macwilkin]

Since your location is California, you might consider the California state tartan:

http://www.library.ca.gov/history/symbols.html#tartan

Yours aye,

Todd

[An t-Ileach]

... Now, I am not of Scottish or Irish descent can I wear any plaid I want?

Yes, whatever suits your fancy - but, as is said, you should know and respect the tradition of that tartan. The suggestion of the California State Tartan is a good one, and fits right in with the Scottish tradition of affiliates and area allegiances. And there are some Universal Setts - the Sutherland/Black Watch/'Government Sett' is one, the Royal Stewart (if you're a subject of Her Majesty) is another. As a quibble, and I know that many, many people use the word to mean 'tartan' but 'plaid' actually means a blanket in Gaelic and so probably refers to the tartan cloth used rather than the pattern of weave.

What makes a sporran a mans and not a woman idem? (I'm just curious)I thought it was to hold things that would be in a pocket? Actually I thought it was the first made fanny pack, respectfully thinking the scots invented the original fanny pack...

You're right, in a manner of speaking. It would be the original fanny pack (or 'bum bag' as it's usually known in the UK), seeing as the typical highlander carried all sorts of things in it - oat cakes, money, bits of wool for darning, talismans: a bit like a young boy's pockets, really.

It was basically the mediaeval 'scrip' or purse (and the Welsh equivalent of the sporran is called an ysgrepan, I discovered the other day).

With the fèileadh mór, or great kilt, it was/is worn from the broad kilt belt and offset to one side of the buckle [the movie Rob Roy has Liam Neeson (Rob Roy) wearing the great kilt and shows well the use of the sporran].

[The Wizard of BC]

THE OFFICIAL RULES AND LAWS REGARDING THE WEARING OF THE TARTAN.

Heed these laws or suffer the interest of the Tartan cops.

1) Pick a Tartan you like!

2) Know which Tartan you are wearing!

3) Wear it with Pride!


Submitted by 2nd Deputy Chief Constable C.S. Ashton Badge no. 115435466078329092129243865
Victoria Office - Department of Highland Security

[Barb T]

THE OFFICIAL RULES AND LAWS REGARDING THE WEARING OF THE TARTAN.

Heed these laws or suffer the interest of the Tartan cops.

1) Pick a Tartan you like!

2) Know which Tartan you are wearing!

3) Wear it with Pride!


Submitted by 2nd Deputy Chief Constable C.S. Ashton Badge no. 115435466078329092129243865
Victoria Office - Department of Highland Security

We do love our resident wizard - never one for understatement....!

[Pleater]

Because a kilt is my everyday wear, I sometimes put on the small handbag I wore back in the early 70's, when I dressed hippy - and which I wore around my waist, on my left side, being mostly left handed.

I have always had backpacks, even before they were fashion items, and so a shoulder bag would have meant too many straps, having to take one thing off before the other could be removed and so on.

Not putting down a money containing item whilst filling the machine at my local launderette was really sensible for an impoverished student - or anyone else for that matter.

I think that I really have a problem in understanding the 'dressing as male/female' concept. Maybe a costume making and theatricals has that effect.

Having - for instance - four people painting the scenery all in identically bespattered overalls and caps, do I go over and check how many are male and how many female, and bring the ladies their tea in delicate china and the gents in burly mugs? I don't think so.

Perhaps to some it is really important that life is lived with every moment being differentiated by the correct image and every choice of clothing, speach, behaviour is within that strict concept.

I find life exhausting enough as it is, to be trying to live according to such rules would be just too much to cope with.

Anne the pleater