While the first part of the following post, the "history" part, is a bit jocund (because you all know it), the question at the end is sincere.

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In the 17th and 18th centuries the folks that lived in the Highlands of Scotland wore a “garment” that consisted if a piece of cloth 4-5 yards long and 50-60 inches wide. Half of this blanket (plaide) was wrapped around the waist and secured with a belt. The rest was thrown over the shoulder and secured with a pin or brooch, or pulled up the back and over the head to form a cape and hood, or let hang over the belt and down the back of the legs. How this “belted plaid” was worn really all depended on the weather and the need. It could even be used as a bedroll… or a shelter perhaps.

Somewhere along in here there was a hot spell and someone said, “This thing is hot!”, cut his blanket in half, wrapped one half around his waist, put on the belt and left the other half in the castle. We now have the “short kilt”.

Somewhere along in here the word “tartan” was introduced, not sure where from, and became synonymous with “blanket” and/or “plaid”.

Fast forward to 1746: The Jacobites were defeated at Culloden (hate that part). After which one of the Kings advisors declared that, “All of the members of this and that Clan were all wearing the same tartan.” (Ya think? They all got their “blanket” from the same loom) and declared these tartans “Clan colors.”

The civilian wearing of tartan is banned. But the British keep the short kilt and tartan alive by designing military uniforms around them, and Highland regiments are sent all over the world to keep them out of trouble.

1782: The civilian ban on wearing of tartan is lifted. Kilts and tartan is back. Sir Walter Scott pours gas on the fire. Clans adopt “Clan tartans”.

1822: Sir Scott advised the king about his pending trip to Edinburgh, “You wear a kilt and they’ll love ya, man.” G4 thought it was such a good idea that he declared that the whole entourage would wear kilts. (Seems that the folks in E-Town had to scramble to get themselves likewise outfitted. Minor detail.)

Now Kilt = Scotland… by god.

Short Kilt, that is.

Fast forward to today: The short kilt is the de-facto standard, from casual to very formal. For the most part, here on this forum and elsewhere, the belted plaid (or “great kilt” as it’s now mostly known) is looked down upon, called “sloppy”, and deemed, “OK for a Ren Fair, but not a real kilt.”

Why?

Sure, not for a wedding or black tie affair.

Otherwise… why?

:::donning the Nomex suit now::::