No Kilts seen in Scotland!

[Panache]

Another good point from Jock, that's there's more to it than whether you're wearing a kilt or not.

Does your overall level of formality suit the occasion?

Did you take care when dressing yourself? Are you wearing things as they're customarily worn? (The backwards kilts, sloppy neckties, etc.)

Here in the USA it's common for kilted gents to be wildly overdressed for the occasion. The men appear to be wearing every bit of Highland Dress they own, their closets bare when they walk out their doors.

Richard,

While I certainly have seen my share of overdressed people in Highland attire over the years, I think there is another factor. This is that simply that for men comfort and casualness have become ever prevalent over dressing up.

I and my friend Bill often attend the same events and we have had on many occasions been accused of planning our outfits together (which we don't). Bill and I are careful in our appearance and while we always look smart, we do so following the old rules of men's dress. Ties are nowadays a rarity. Waistcoats? Unless worn over a t-shirt with jeans....seldom seen. Hats? Save baseball caps, not too common. So often Bill and I, even though we are wearing the right outfits for the occasion in the right manner....we often stand out like characters in a play or a movie because we are the only men following those old rules.

I accept this because I like ties. I like waistcoats. I like pants worn at a proper height. I like well trimmed facial hair. I like hats....etc. I like wearing things the proper way. Here on XMTS we are actively trying to learn how to wear highland attire in a respectful and proper way...the only problem is that the vast majority of other men around us adhere to an ever increasingly casual standard. So we stand out for our highland attire and appearing far too formal in a casual world.



SIGH!!!