Wearing the kilt in Scotland

[Jock Scot]

And now another question - along the same lines, but as they say, a bit different! What about tartans? Are there certain tartans that would raise someone's ire? Or are there 'generics' that would be safer? Also, how about non-tartan kilts, such as Utilikilts? There are any number of utility type kilts made by several companies that use khaki or black and such. Would these tend to be more or less accepted? There are also more 'modern' kilts that, besides using non-tartan materials, use more 'hardware'. They have caribiners and D-rings, etc. Any thoughts?

In seventy something years I have only ever seen one "utilikilt" style kilt in the wild and that was a couple of years ago right in the heart of the Highlands, worn by a visitor. They may be more common in the cities here, I dont know, but let me just say that I have not seen one in any Scottish city either. I think one of our Scottish members has one though.

Tartans? Are you talking about wearing kilts of different Clan tartans? Well, if you are moving from place to place then few will even notice that you are wearing the MacOnion tartan today, the MacKarrot tartan yesterday and the MacMany tartan the day before. But the wearing of one Clan tartan(perhaps in various hues, would be OK, but it does show a certain ostentation even so) is the usual way its done here.

As to D-rings etc. on the kilt, well, in my experience they are not common, but there are those that do have them.

The one thing to be avoided, please, please, PLEASE is the visitor two hour "tartan justification" lecture, with the faded picture of great uncle's second cousin's G-G-G _aunt, who married a Scotsman in Swansea(Wales) in 1856, therefore one is "entitled" to wear the MacKarrot tartan. It has the same effect on us locals as a shark swimming into a shoal of herring. I am sorry, but it does and it happens oh so regularly! It is no doubt very interesting for those directly involved, but.....................

If you want to wear a tartan kilt, just do it.