Perhaps this is but one more example of the general watering down of formality and gentility that our global society has experienced over the last several generations. It, among other reasons, stems from parents choosing which battles to fight with rebellious youth, which turns to general apathy on the part of the subsequent generation. Who among the 50 to 70 year old set were made to dress for dinner as youngsters and learned proper table etiquette? Did you place as much emphasis on these things when raising your children? Likewise, many of the 30 to 50 set among us, while perhaps not made to dress for dinner, were required to wear a Sunday/ Sabbath suit. Now we see their children in worship services with shorts and flip flops.

Kilting up in a traditional manor takes a bit of effort. I can see how a parent may make concessions (like we do with so many other areas) when trying to get out the door with a fussing child. The child then internalizes those concessions as proper and thus passes them, along with his own concessions to his children. Add to this personal alteration to express individuality (or mere rebellion during adolescence) and the outfit may change significantly.

Or, maybe I’m just babbling…..