Representing the Kilt?

[CMcG]

How should one dress if asked to represent one's heritage by wearing the kilt at a multicultural event outside Britain?

What would you wear?

I am planning on going to school this year in Hong Kong for two semesters. All exchange students are asked to bring their "national costumes for cultural activities." As a Canadian, I have no such thing but we are encouraged to wear the attire of our forebears, therefor it would be the kilt for me

Has anyone got any experience with international events that call for national attire? A mitigating factor in my case is that this will be at a university, but I'm interested in any and all past events the rabble could share.

And if I'm bringing a kilt with me, I may just have to find a Burns Supper to attend. I see that the Hong Kong Highlanders do one that is open to non-members. The Hong Kong St. Andrew's Society also puts one on, but one needs to be a member...

[JiminDC]

My wife and I have worked with international students at the University of Maryland for years. Based on our experience, no one is going to be checking for absolute authenticity, just a feel for the diversity of the group. I would not plan on a PC jacket, but definitely bring the hose, the sporran, and casual shirts. Our students would wear traditional outfits, but since we have little or no exposure to what we're supposed to be seeing, we accept them as authentic. I don't know how formal the events will be, so an Argyll jacket would cover most fancier events and holiday parties.

Have fun. - We have a lot of fun as international hosts inviting students to typical American and family traditions like Thanksgiving dinner, decorating the Christmas tree, carving pumpkins for Halloween. You'll have a variety of events and you'll want to decide what is appropriate for the kilt. (We're a little more formal for Thanksgiving, but carving pumpkins is a jeans and T-shirt time.)

[Mike_Oettle]

Hi, CMcG – a kilt – any kilt – will do, but if you are wanting to be representative of Canda, how about Maple Leaf or a provincial tartan?
And if you wear Maple Leaf, how about a maple leaf badge for your bonnet?
Any sporran will do, but something Canadian would be especially appropriate.
Have fun!
Regards,
Mike

[CMcG]

<snip> I don't know how formal the events will be, so an Argyll jacket would cover most fancier events and holiday parties.

Thanks for the insight JiminDC. So far, I am leaning towards my dress Argyll jacket, precisely because of the versatility. I don't know either how formal any cultural events will be at the university... the Burns Supper would be black tie though! At least I could dress down the Argyll with a four-in-hand tie or skip the jacket altogether if the uni thing is less formal. Couldn't really dress a tweed jacket up to be formal though.

Hi, CMcG – a kilt – any kilt – will do, but if you are wanting to be representative of Canda, how about Maple Leaf or a provincial tartan?
And if you wear Maple Leaf, how about a maple leaf badge for your bonnet?
Any sporran will do, but something Canadian would be especially appropriate.
Have fun!
Regards,
Mike

Quite right Mike. I do have a Maple Leaf kilt in P/V from Canadian Casual Kilts (Xmarker MacHummel) but it was a display model that doesn't quite fit right... maybe this is just the excuse I need to get it altered From what I hear, Hong Kong is very hot and humid, so P/V might even be preferable to wool in this case...

[Dale Seago]

Any sporran will do, but something Canadian would be especially appropriate.

Perhaps overly dressy, but here's a nice beaver sporran with maple leaves on the cantle:

http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/msf-1045.jpg

Personally I love my Ferguson Britt Glengyle in beaver: Fine for less formal occasions but I'd also feel perfectly good with it at a formal gig:

http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/...al%20brown.JPG

In any case, a Canadian could hardly go wrong with beaver, plus it provides an opening for quid pro quo offers to lasses who want to pet it.

[xman]

I've seen your turnout. You don't need my advice at all.

[CMcG]

<snip>
In any case, a Canadian could hardly go wrong with beaver, plus it provides an opening for quid pro quo offers to lasses who want to pet it.

You sly dog, you! Trying to get me in trouble with my lass? That does sound like an excellent plan, though

Not in the budget for a student, but those Fergusson Britt sporrans are fantastic. Unless Matt is about to start offering 90% discounts for student? If so, I'll take a Glengyle in black beaver:

I've seen your turnout. You don't need my advice at all.

Thank you sir, you are too kind. I'm not as much concerned about being able to put together an outfit per se, as I am about which outfit would be most suited to this type of international event.

I suppose the question could be taken in a theoretical way; formality aside, what type of outfit would best represent the kilt (and a Gaelic-Canadian) abroad?

[Mike_Oettle]

As a wearer of PV, I would definitely recommend it for warm climates!
And those beavers are a first-class suggestion.
Regards,
Mike

[Nighthawk]

Perhaps overly dressy, but here's a nice beaver sporran with maple leaves on the cantle:

http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/msf-1045.jpg

The way I see it, a good sporran is as versatile as a good kilt. There are, of course, daywear, semi dress, and formal sporrans, but I've found that just like the kilt, a good sporran is perfectly comfortable in any and all environments. I would no more hesitate to wear that beaver pelt sporran to an Iron Maiden concert than I would to a Burns supper. ...well... Maybe I'd forgo the Maiden show... getting beer spilled on it may not be a good thing. But you get my point!

As to multicultural affairs, I have had a little experience. The Colorado University in Boulder has a multicultural fair every year, and several of my friends- particularly of the Norse and native American variety- attend. So I, of course, go with them. I always go kilted, and am always well received. I would say to treat your ethnic costume not as costume, but as is so often said on this board, as clothing. Wear it to class in place of jeans. Wear it to formal functions in place of trousers. When asked, politely explain what it is. I don't think it needs to be any more complicated than that. Hold your head high and always be proud of who and what you are, and you should do well, I would think.

I agree that traditional-ish is the way to go... but if I'm going to wear my national tartan, it will have to be my PV (rather than wool) that I mentioned earlier in this thread. I got in touch with MacHummel last night to see about altering that kilt to fit better and he has agreed to do so at a very reasonable rate.

And the cloth matters... how? Is someone going to come over to you, grab it and yell "You've deceived me!! That's not wool!!" Somehow, I don't see that happening. Not to mention the fact that the PV is woven in a Scottish mill, anyway, and is in fact a genuine tartan. So really, I don't see that as a concern.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Well... you could dress like a Mountie...

Actually, this used to happen quiet a bit when I lived in Ireland and a dark suit and tie was usually the order of the day. That said, you might want to go with your usual Highland attire day wear ensemble; as far as attending a Burns night is concerned, PM me for more info.