Panache Answers the "Big Kilt Questions"

[Panache]

Apparently there was a member request that a post I made about white hose be made a sticky and I received a PM asking that I submit it as a thread in its own right. As this post was actually part of a guide I wrote for The Scots Forum http://www.thescotsforum.com/forum.php on 09/14/00 with the kind blessing of owners of The Scots Forum I share the guide in its entirety here. I have taken the liberty of making a few corrections or adding additional thoughts as I saw appropriate

Jamie



Though not a Scot by birth, only heritage, I found that I like the kilt very much and since February 2006 I have been a regular kilt wearer. I am a Scottish Country Dancer, I attend Highland Games and other Celtic heritage events, and have been part of a group that puts on a Burns Night Supper each January, and online have participated in a number of kilt and kilt related forums. In regards to the kilt I have read much, observed carefully, questioned politely, pondered over, invented, and in general learned as much as I could about this wonderful style of dress. Over the last few years I have acquired a number of them of all sorts, from hand sewn to machine sewn, modern to traditional, and I even have a large piece of tartan cloth for a belted plaid. From my closet I can assemble kilted outfits that range from casual to white tie level formality. .

Over the years I have seen certain debates come up over and over again. They always become heated arguments and never end with any sort of satisfactory conclusion. For the new kilt wearer (or potential kilt wearer) this isn’t the least bit helpful and does nothing but perpetuate these debates without ever answering the question. .

It may be an act of hubris but I decided to tackle these and answer them in a manner that would settle them once and for all. I'm sure there will be those that disagree with them and that is fine. Kilts exist in a special intersection of history, traditions, and fashion. It is my hope that these blunt (though hopefully humorously ) given opinions will prove a useful tool to many, and you all have my permission to use them if you think they will help end pointless argument in the future wherever you see fit.

So without further ado...

[Panache]

Question # 1 Concerning mass produced kilts…

Often people wonder if a mass produced, machine sewn imported synthetic material kilt as good as a quality custom made hand sewn wool one? The answer is simple…

…OF COURSE NOT! (Duh!)

However , mass produced machine sewn imported synthetic kilts can work quite nicely and can look just fine. It really depends on the individual garment. But you have to accept that mass produced is never going to be like bespoke (it never is). So people shouldn't think that the cheaper alternatives are just as good as the real deal. Though at the same time other folks shouldn't knock cheaper alternatives as they can have their own advantages.

View each kilt for what it is as each comes with its own set of pluses and minuses (for instance poly viscose material is washable, far more stain resistant than wool, lighter, as well as being less expensive as wool tartan). It is also worth noting that hand sewn does not necessarily mean that that the kilt will be good quality. There are many wonderful kilt makers out there and there likely to be some bad kilt makers out there as well. If one decides to invest in a bespoke garment then it is worth their while to also invest some time to insure that they chose a reputable kilt maker, get proper measurements for them to work with, and make sure that what they as the customer want/expect the final product to be is clearly communicated.

Blanket labeling all mass produced kilts as rubbish and all handmade ones as wonderful is ridiculous. A Honda is mass produced and a Ferrari is pretty much handmade and each comes with their own pluses and minuses…just like mass produced and hand sewn kilts.

[Panache]

Question # 2 Must/should one wear a sgian dubh with highland attire?

A: If you want to then yes you should. If it doesn't feel comfortable (either physically or mentally) don't bother. In reality...

NO ONE ELSE REALLY CARES!

So wear one, don’t wear one, wear a “real” sharp one or wear a fake one. Though if you do decide to wear one there is something you need to carry along with it. This would be some good plain old-fashioned COMMON SENSE ! Ask yourself :

“Is openly wearing a knife (or something that looks like a knife) appropriate/legal where I am headed?”

If you can answer this with a “YES" then by all means wear a sgian dubh if you like. If “NO” then leave it at home.

[Panache]

Question # 3 Concerning hats and kilts…

Out of all the kit a gent can sport no item is more personal than his hat. I have seen kilts worn with cowboy hats, native American head dress, pith helmets, flat caps, top hats, panamas, fedoras, fez hats, knit caps, berets, in addition to glengarries, tams, and balmorals. What looks right to me on my head might not be to someone else's taste. What looks right to them might not be to mine. Unless you are wearing some sort of uniform or adhering to some specific dress code wear the hat that suits you...and don't mess with a guy about his hat...EVER!

[Panache]

Question # 4 What about white hose and highland attire?

Let me set you all straight

Once upon a time no one wore white hose

Then a few decades ago, mainly because of use by pipe bands and promotion by kilt rental shops, white hose became a prevalent fashion which is still currently in vogue with highland attire.

So wearing white hose isn't wrong. (Let’s pause here a moment. Does everybody got that? WEARING WHITE HOSE ISN’T “WRONG”! OK? Good. Let's continue...)

However, I go to a lot of SCD dances, highland games, and Scottish events and see a huge number of guys in kilts with white hose. Sometimes their white hose look quite nice with these fellow's outfits and sometimes they look quite ghastly.

So please observe the following when thinking about purchasing and wearing white hose

DON'T

Buy them because that is what the guy in the catalogue is wearing
Buy them because that is what everyone else seems to be wearing at the highland games/ Burns Night Suppers/ etc.
Buy them because you can't decide what color hose looks good with your tartan
Buy them because they are the cheapest / best deal
Buy thin acrylic ones
Ignore other options like diced or argyll hose because of the cost (they really can make an outfit!)

DO

Buy them if you actually think that white goes well with the tartan / outfit
Buy good quality ones of thick wool (hand knit out of natural wool is your very best option)
Ignore anyone who dislikes white hose on general principle
Wear them with confidence because YOU think they look great

[Panache]

Question # 5 Regimental or not?

You are (presumably) a grown up adult person and you should be comfortable enough in your own skin to wear or not wear underwear without having to ask other grown up adult people. If what you wear or don't wear under your kilt preoccupies you too much then maybe kilt wearing isn't for you.

One thing though. You do have a responsibility to not flash people so remember to use your COM MON SENSE ! Even if you prefer to forgo undergarments most of the time, when engaged in activities that might expose you (being on a ladder or trampoline, dancing, marching in the wind, dealing with children, etc) please be courteous to others that may not wish to view your assets or shortcomings and put on a pair of black boxers or briefs!

[RAF]

Well said on all accounts!

[CDNSushi]

Fair enough... Although once you start up that road, it's hard to know where to stop. I suppose that I could show a quacking duck to someone and have them say "It's a chicken!" to use my own axoim...

But having said that, it kinda reminds me of the whole Monty Python scene from Life of Brian, when Reg asks a rhetorical question and it degenerates into a comprehensive list of everything the Romans did well...

Reg: They've bled us white, the b*stards. They've taken everything we had, not just from us, from our fathers and from our fathers' fathers.

Stan: And from our fathers' fathers' fathers.

Reg: Yes.

Stan: And from our fathers' fathers' fathers' fathers.

Reg: All right, Stan. Don't labour the point. And what have they ever given us in return?



<later>....

Reg: All right... all right... but apart from better sanitation and medicine and education and irrigation and public health and roads and a freshwater system and baths and public order... what have the Romans done for us?

Xerxes: Brought peace!

Reg: (very angry, he's not having a good meeting at all) What!? Oh... (scornfully) Peace, yes... shut up!

[pascs]

Some excellent points covered there.

On the 'wearing white hose' front.......

Where has the aversion to wearing white / cream hose come from? I'm from Scotland but living away from home at the moment and for me the white / cream hose are the correct attire to be worn with black tie. From many years of Scottish weddings and black-tie events this is what the majority of men wear at formal occasions.
Of course for less formal occasions then the field is more open although I've never seen some of the less subtle outfits which I see here as being the norm.

I guess its just wearing the right outfit for the occasion and what you feel comfortable in

[English Bloke]

White Hose?

There has been all manner of debate on here regarding hose, hats, feathers and good form. Essentially boils down to taste. What is good for one is anathema to the next.

I think the bulk of those averse to white hose believe it presents a "Look what I picked up at the hire shop today" appearance and doesn't allow for the injection of personal flair. You'll hear PC Jacket or Ghillie shirt when matched with white hose referred to as the 'cookie cutter' look, as in, all those biscuits come from the same packet.

Personally I don't care either way. I just wear what I have... Although I must add, I currently have no white socks. and I don't wear the black Ghillie shirt I do have because neither suit me... In my opinion.

Good thread Jamie. Nice guide to kilted common sense.