the kilt is special

[CMcG]

The other day, I had a bit of an epiphany regarding my own approach to kilting. I was at the Utilikilts flagship store in Seattle and I told the salesman that I wear traditional kilts. He said "a traditional kilt is great for special occasions but a UK is made for everyday use."

Ironically, his suggestion convinced me not to spend the cash on a UK!

Now, to be sure, I love wearing my Sportkilt around the house in the same way someone might wear sweatpants or pajamas. My Sportkilt is also great for hiking... it is designed for sport after all! Similarly, I could see myself wearing a UK (or other modern kilt of similar construction) in the same way someone might wear a pair of jeans to mow the lawn or putter in the garage... if I had a yard or a garage, which I don't.

I have worn the kilt (a traditional kilt with hose, sporran, etc) out and about a few times. To be honest, I wasn't that into it for a variety of reasons. I don't think I'd feel any different about a wearing a modern kilt in the same situation.

What I've come to realize is that, when it comes to work, school, errands, and social events, I prefer to reserve the kilt for special occasions. I like how the kilt marks weddings, Burns Night, St. Pat's, etc as different from the everyday grind. Not to take anything away from people who choose to wear the kilt as part of their everyday wardrobe; good for them and I think it's great! At this point though, it's not for me.

So, for me, the kilt is special. Or very mundane (Sportkilt around the house). But not so much an everyday piece of clothing.

Your thoughts? Has the position of the kilt in your wardrobe changed over time?

[Nighthawk]

Kilts are no different from pants to me. I have nice ones (my MacLoed double box pleated, my Albannach and Clergy from USA Kilts) and those are for special occasions. I have my less formal ones for less formal occasions. I don't see how wearing a modern kilt for hiking makes my double box pleated kilt any less special. In fact, I think it makes it even more special!

[MassiveMorrison]

If I had a kilt for every day of the week, I'd probably wear it every day of the week.

A true Tartan kilt is a bit formal to me, but a UK, AK, NK, XK, they are just like another pair of shorts, or jeans. Granted, they are not work attire, but if I'm doing my own thing, then I'd rather be in a Casual Kilt.

To each his own really, it's up to the wearer, as it should be.

[Mike_Oettle]

MassiveMorrison wrote: “If I had a kilt for every day of the week, I'd probably wear it every day of the week.”

My thoughts exactly.
Regards,
Mike

[Tobus]

What I've come to realize is that, when it comes to work, school, errands, and social events, I prefer to reserve the kilt for special occasions. I like how the kilt marks weddings, Burns Night, St. Pat's, etc as different from the everyday grind. Not to take anything away from people who choose to wear the kilt as part of their everyday wardrobe; good for them and I think it's great! At this point though, it's not for me.

I would love to wear the kilt for everyday activities. I think it's perfectly suited for it. It's just not very well accepted around here (or I don't have enough self-confidence).

What makes it different for special occasions, though, is the choice of shoes, hose, sporran, belt, shirt, tie, waistcoat, jacket, etc. The kilt is versatile enough, IMHO, that it can suit any occasion, depending on how you accessorize it. It can be dressed-down for casual wear or dressed-up all the way to formal wear.

I can't speak from experience on it, but I wouldn't think that wearing the kilt would be "less special" if I wore it all the time. I'd feel completely different in a formal kilted outfit than a casual kilted outfit.

People do the same thing with pants. Yet they still feel that pants can suit all occasions. To me, the kilt is every bit as versatile, or perhaps more so.

[dutchy kilted]

I have found that I am wearing my tartan kilts with a sporran for special occasions, but my UK's and similar kilts for general wear (like most people would wear pants and shorts.) I consider this the best of both worlds. I just like to wear my kilts because they are comfortable.

[Bugbear]

Your thoughts? Has the position of the kilt in your wardrobe changed over time?

Absolutely. It was a change in the way I perceive the kilt, I suppose, but also myself. That's my two cents of psycho babble.

[CMcG]

Absolutely. It was a change in the way I perceive the kilt, I suppose, but also myself. That's my two cents of psycho babble.

Could you elaborate? I think I recall reading somewhere here that you don't wear trad kilts too much anymore?

[CMcG]

If I may be suffered to divulge my opinion further, I'd like to elaborate on my position.

I do wear the kilt almost everyday at home and don't worry about crushing the pleats because no-one is going to see them. I find, however, that the kilt is impractical for being out and about. I often either ride my bike or the subway and find it to be a hassle concerning myself with modesty in such windy situations. I also usually have a lot of stuff in my pockets and don't feel like carrying a giant sporran. "So get a UK with lots of pockets and a modesty closure" you say?

This brings me to social considerations. The kilt draws attention and, while mostly positive, I don't feel like attracting peoples' looks and comments when I'm just going about my business. As Tobus remarked, sometimes the kilt is not so accepted or understood and I don't feel like explaining. When I'm working as a teaching assistant at the university where I'm a grad student, there is no dress code. I still don't want to wear the kilt because I'd prefer my easily distracted students to focus on what I'm saying and not what I'm wearing.

It is possible that if I were in a different time and place I'd think differently. Say if I were working in a blacksmith shop like Howard Clark, I'd want the ventilation. Or if I already stood out in crowd just for my ethnicity, like CDNSushi in Japan. Or if I were rich, had a kilt for everyday of the week, and a chauffeur to transport me around without giving everyone a free show!

As far as keeping the kilt special, I can see how reserving the tank for events and wearing a casual beater or modern kilt for everyday could work. Or dressing a tank up or down for different situations. My point here isn't as much about frequency (I already wear the kilt daily at home) but about communication. When I wear my kilt in public, I am signifying that it is an extra special occasion because it is not my usual attire.

This comes back to social issues because I understand that clothes express something to the people around us. As an example, people who don't care what others think might choose to express their rugged individuality by wearing clothes that raise the eyebrows of other people. That's great! I love to see people being different, especially if they are wearing a kilt. I am choosing to express the importance of certain occasions by wearing my kilt at those times and not at others.

This is all IMHO and I'm not trying to convince anyone to see it my way. Just documenting my musings on where the kilt fits in my wardrobe. It is interesting to see what other people are saying on the subject too... I'm a little surprised to see how many suggest that they would wear the kilt daily but that they don't. Is that just a financial consideration, which will be resolved as the kilt wardrobe grows? Or other issues?

[MassiveMorrison]

I'm a little surprised to see how many suggest that they would wear the kilt daily but that they don't. Is that just a financial consideration, which will be resolved as the kilt wardrobe grows? Or other issues?

Financial decision, partially.

I wouldn't wear a kilt to a clients worksite, any more than I would wear a sarong. The workplace I'm in pretty much dictates slacks, physically.

So in my downtime, I would wear the kilt more often if I simply had more of them. Right now I have one and am making a second (that will take a while). So I would wear it every day, but don't. My wife demands the one I have be washed if I have it on for longer than 2 days, but it's a workman, and I'm working, so I have an excuse for another one soon.