Why should I wear a kilt?

[rocscotjoe]

My wife and I were in Scotland last year and fell in love with the beauty. I decided I wanted an appropriate kilt, mainly for formal wear. Once I got my bespoke kilt, I decided to get a few more casual kilts as I enjoy the freedom, the heritage, and the reactions. There is no better sure fire conversation started than being the man in a kilt in the pub!

[Tobus]

My Dad was in the army in the 60s. He gave me a few pairs of NZ Army trousers that are worn at the proper waist. They also have a lot more room in them. They are probably the most comfortable trousers I have. I do hope you would not think I look silly. But then, it doesn't really bother me if you do. :-)

Most trousers that are available in the shops don't have nearly enough room in them to be comfortable even when worn at the hips. I know, if you try to wear this type of trousers at the waist, it is very uncomfortable.

To clarify, I was speaking of normal pants worn too high, "grandpa-style". Most modern pants simply aren't made to be worn at the waist, and when worn that way, they look silly to me.

Because my hips are not level, if I have to wear pants (i.e. when I can't wear a kilt!), I'd prefer to wear fitted pants like the ones you describe. They're incredibly hard to find, though. The only pants I've seen that are made to wear at the waist are military surplus models and reproduction 1800s style clothing. I really like the look of 1870s style pants worn with suspenders and a linen shirt. Sadly, with modern "fashion" being what it is, this is seen by most people as being as 'kooky' as wearing a kilt. People think it's a costume. It just happens to be a costume that goes over easier here in my area of Texas.

[Jimmy]

you obviously want to wear one or you would not be on this forum, so don't mess about, go out and buy one, you will never look better

[thescot]

Boy howdy, you spend a day-and-a-half away from the site, and you miss lots of stuff.

Why should one wear the kilt? Why should one wear sneakers? Or corduroy trousers? Or flat hats? Or tattoos? Or jackets? Or boxers? Or tee shirts?

The question assumes that there is a should or shouldn't or some other imperative, I think. There is none, so the question is a bit like "How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?" or "What was God doing before he created the Earth?"

The only reasonable answer to the last question is: Creating Hell for people who ask that kind of question.

There really is no requirement that anyone address the question: Why? There is no should. It is not imperative that this thread exist. But there have been numerous comments and threads about why some do wear kilts, here and elsewhere.

We all wear kilts because we choose to. The reasons for it are as varied as the number of respondents. Zardoz presents an excellent photo montage of a very reason to wear the kilt, or at least a pleasant benefit of doing so. Jock presents another quite logical reason. And so on.

I feel that you are attempting to take us to task for doing so, and I sense a bit of confrontation, no matter how you got here. Trolling is trolling, and some are quite expert at it. I would like to point out that this thread alone is on its 10th page, well beyond the what an inane questoin deserves! So congratualtions; you have been successful, and with only 9 total posts to date.

Zardoz, you gotta stop those pictures. My wife is already hiding out.

[Foxgun Tom]

1/

I wear my kilt with pride because I'm Scottish and live in the land of my birth, my family have worn and served their country in it for generations

2/

I wear it to formal and informal ocassions and also wear it for work most days

3/

I socialise and take part in my hobbies of shooting/falconry and other rural pursuits kilted

4/

It defines who I am by birth and my family connections! it also say's who I am as an individual, one who takes great pride in my history and heritage

5/

Its also regarded as pretty cool by the public at large? and is seen as a great ice-breaker and conversastion piece

Tom

[Raphael]

I feel that you are attempting to take us to task for doing so, and I sense a bit of confrontation, no matter how you got here. Trolling is trolling, and some are quite expert at it. I would like to point out that this thread alone is on its 10th page, well beyond the what an inane questoin deserves! So congratualtions; you have been successful, and with only 9 total posts to date.

Well put, Thescot.

[Tobus]

I feel that you are attempting to take us to task for doing so, and I sense a bit of confrontation, no matter how you got here.

I wonder if he's being just a tad confrontational in order to ask the same kinds of questions his judgmental friends will ask him if he chooses to wear a kilt. Maybe he's trying to see what kind of answers we give when pushed, like he feels he will have to give to his friends when they push him.

He's already told us that his friends will torment him if he wears a kilt. So I imagine he's trying to anticipate having to explain himself to them, and then have them dismiss his reasoning. Honestly, I think he's just looking to us for help in justifying it to his friends (even though I think he should ditch those friends), rather than trolling.

[GG]

One thing is for sure, I would not be brave enough to wear the kilt if I was not a Scot!

… So yes! I would not be brave enough to wear the kilt if I was not a Scot and I take my bonnet off to you non Scots who do!

Jock, please, forgive me. I’m one of these guys who, despite they are not Scottish, do wear a kilt. And, honestly, I don’t think I need to be especially brave to do it. As a matter of fact it is rather uncomplicated, even if I must confess that I have never worn a kilt in Scotland. But I got inspired to wear kilts when in 1996 I was on a short holiday in Scotland with my wife and daughter. There I tried on a kilt and realized how wonderful a garment it is. You can read more about it here http://mansfeldt.net/p0012.htm

Reading the posts here I tried to get an overview and I have thus come to eight different major reasons to wear a kilt. I have listed them in order of importance TO ME and ranked them:

30% Comfort, being comfortable, ease of movement, unrestricting
25% Difference, being different, out of conformity
20% Variety, addition to wardrobe
10% The look, looks good, stylish, like the tartans
8% Versatility. The same garment can easily replace trousers and shorts, dress up and dress down.
5% Health, healthy due to no boundaries
2% Influence on other people: Attracts attention, entertaining, interesting, conversation starter
0% Heritage reasons, national attire

So what is the most important thing to you as a Scotsman cannot – per definition – be it to me. However, I don’t feel it wrong that I and other non-Scots wear something that to you is a national symbol, or should I understand it a “monopoly”? Everyone here is doing it with respect, I'm sure.

Let me explain it a little bit: You say

Generally speaking the kilt in Scotland is reserved for special events and I doubt if a third of Scots actually own a kilt.

To me a product, like a kilt, used by only a minor part of a small population and at very few occasions (rental business should be appropriate) is in real danger of disappearing from the market (like in Germany and Austria the Lederhosen).
Therefore, to my opinion, the kilt market is best saved from dying out if more men, no matter their nationality and heritage, would wear a kilt – like women all over the world will wear kilted tartan skirts if and when fashion ‘dictates’ it or men and women who are wearing (once American) blue jeans.
And frankly, I think that we are more and more non-Scots out there who are doing our best and often on a daily basis to keep the kilt very much alive and to the surprise and wonder of the Scottish light users.
If it seems a little bit cynical or rude, believe me, it is not my intention; on the contrary.

Greg

[Jock Scot]

GG.

I respect your views entirely and for you, your reasons for wearing the kilt are as valid as anyone else's, native Scot ,or,not.

[Everett]

We all have good reasons for wearing the kilt. What evereyone has in common here is that bottom line wearing the kilt makes them happy.

The guy who posted this actually made us think about something that we normally space out. I think that for some of us this thread has lead us to more insight on the most basic aspect of kilt weAring.