not wearing a Kilt

**gazbot** · 16th August 16, 04:05 PM

Hello Rabble,

I recently had the most fantastic Kilted weekend on the nothern bell British Pullman and in The Royal Enclosure at my beloved Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. My lovely Wife Was More than happy for me to be kilted, questioned and photographed. However on the train journey back from Edinburgh in which the dress Code remained smart daywear (lounge suits for Gentlemen) she said she would prefer me not to Kilt. I agreed reluctantly. I normally pride myself on wearing my Kilt wuselt and not innapropriately But I thought It would have been appropriate here. Antike else have similar issues?

**OC Richard** · 16th August 16, 04:14 PM

How cool! I envy your Tattoo experience.

My wife is similar- she's not a big fan of my wearing kilts to things, unless there's a specific reason for it.

She knew I was a piper before we started dating (that should have scared her off!) and has always accepted kiltwearing as part-and-parcel to my playing the pipes. But other than that, and attending specifically Scottish-themed events, she would think of kiltwearing as being eccentric.

**Liam** · 16th August 16, 09:37 PM

My sympathies to both of you...

**Kiltedjohn** · 17th August 16, 01:03 AM

My wife likes the "look" of the kilt, but is concerned that it is very conspicuous. She allows me to go about kilted when we are north of the border. In your situation, she would probably have allowed me to be kilted on the first leg of the journey, but I would have had to change before we got to Carlisle!

**Jock Scot** · 17th August 16, 01:18 AM

Apart from a very rare and exceptional event , I would no more wear a kilt in England, or, anywhere else outwith Scotland, than fly to the moon. Its not a nationalist thing either, its one of those" its just not done" things.

**iKiltIt** · 17th August 16, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

Apart from a very rare and exceptional event , I would no more wear a kilt in England, or, anywhere else outwith Scotland, than fly to the moon. Its not a nationalist thing either, its one of those" its just not done" things.

I don't mean to be argumentative here, but I just don't know the answer to this. Why is wearing a kilt outside of the borders of Scotland "just not done"? Why is it just not done for those of us who don't reside inside the borders of Scotland, yet our family derived from there? That lineage should give me the right to wear my family tartan wherever I am. Again, please don't think I'm trying to argue with you, I simply don't know the "rules".

**estimaa** · 30th August 16, 01:15 PM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

Its not a nationalist thing either, its one of those" its just not done" things.

I love doing things which are "NOT DONE".
I even wore it in a crown court case in WALES.

I am sure the very biased judge took great exception to it, which was one of the whole points of doing it, during which time, the stupid plod witness carried on regardless, perjuring himself under oath, as usual.

It's not a "NOT DONE" thing, it's about showing a finger to the whole system, - so go ahead and wear scottish identity in England and particularly in Westminster.

If more Scots and the Welsh in Westminster showed more awareness of the disaster that was wreaked on their national culture by English victorian values then the "un-united" kingdom would have been a much better place decades ago instead of "political correctness" to this degree.

**Grae** · 25th August 16, 05:22 AM

I recall reading these comments on this forum which touch on the issues raised here;
Comment 1;

Why is it frowned on by some to wear the kilt outwith the highlands, but Scotch whisky is universally acclaimed by the same highlanders as something they're proud to share? Should I be drinking only rye?

And ; Comment 2;

It seems that wherever Scottish people immigrated to (and they went all over the globe), they took certain traditions with them. The love for tartan and the kilt is just one of them. Making whisky, playing the fiddle, in some cases, even speaking the Gaelic language, are just a few of the many traditions and aspects of their culture that migrated along with the people. Would anyone suggest that Highland dancing must only be performed in the Highlands? Or that Auld Lang Syne should only be sung in Ayrshire?

No, those things seem ridiculous to anyone. So why limit the wearing of Highland dress to those either born in, or currently living in the Highlands?

Furthermore, were that the case, the Scots Highlanders long ago would have ceased having any place to buy their tartans and kilts, as the tartan mills would have all shut down for lack of business!

Not my statements but they make a lot of sense.

**Profane James** · 25th August 16, 06:12 AM

I think the 'why' is not as subjective as the 'why not.'

**Grae** · 18th August 16, 05:41 AM

I have worn the kilt in Singapore, in Italy, regularly in Australia so I would have no hesitation of wearing a kilt in England if I wanted to . With clothes from the whole world on daily display in London why should the kilt wearers feel out of place or unequal to other "non English" clothes. The rest of the world does not buy into this cultural snobbery so why should I. Do we ban Morris dancers outside The land of the Angles? Of course not.