The Kilt Kops

[ForresterModern]

I have read through this thread again and going back to the begining, I agree with everything Steve said in the original post.

I respect everyones opinion, they have a right to their opinion. I have mine and would never enforce my opinion on anyone else. But here is a little story.

We visited Blair castle. The man at the gate taking the entrance fee was in his 50s. Born and bred in the highlands through donkeys years of generations. He asked what my tartan was, I told him and we had a little chat. Then he said it was nice to see someone wearing a kilt instead of the silly tartan trews (his exact words) the male staff had to wear. He was fed up of being asked by tourists why he was not wearing a kilt instead of tartan pants and wished they would give the male staff the option.
He himself said he wore a kilt very often out of work, not just for very special occasions. In his opinion he was in the tourist industry in the highlands of Scotland at one of the major castles and tourists expect to see kilts and not trews which in his opinion were never highland dress.
He did not mind that I was not a true Scot but I did tell him before we parted why I was a MacLaren.
I was asked many times at tourist attractions, what was my tartan, by mostly staff but once or twice by a tourists. I was never asked why I was wearing a kilt.
I have come to the opinion since coming home from our 6 weeks tour that most of the locals enjoy seeing the kilt being worn, especially the middle to elderly local ladies. My wife on more than one occasion commented on this. and we did seem to get better and more attentive service in shops and restaurants. This was also noted by my wife.
I would advise anyone coming to Scotland to wear a kilt if they want, they will be welcomed. The locals will want to know your tartan because it will probably be one that they have never seen. They usually only know their own and perhaps a few others as worn in their area.

I should add that I have only been asked why am I wearing a kilt or what's the occasion at home by people I know.

Best regards and respect.

Chris.

*** --- my experience in Scotland almost to a man (except on one specific golf course, but we shall not go there either in topic or physical location)

[Jock Scot]

I have never been asked what kilted occasion I am going to either, I cannot recall asking any one either.

But interestingly, I was today at the garage filling up the car with fuel and a near neighbour was there all kilted up, re-fueling too. I wondered to myself what the occasion was! Anyway we talked about the weather and talked about the fishing and off he went to pay for the petrol and he came out as I went into pay and whilst I was waiting for the credit card to "go through" the girl behind the counter asked if I knew where "Willie" was going all kilted up! "No idea" said I. Then a third voice from behind the news paper stand said "he is off to his uncle's funeral in Elgin, I expect".

We do not need to ask, but we find out anyway!

[piperdbh]

I...a third voice from behind the news paper stand said "he is off to his uncle's funeral in Elgin, I expect".

I hope he got there alright.

[fingertrouble]

I have a sneaking feeling my question about how to wear a kilt at a wedding inspired/provoked this thread (would need to check the timings!).

I took the 'proper' advice on board (as I said in my picture thread, apparently little green kilt gremlins come and eat you if you wear a PC jacket at 5:59 or earlier! :-P) but went with my heart, and also the fact is: yes the wedding is at 2pm but the rest of the day (reception etc.) is after 6pm, so I have a sneaking suspicion the rules about 'day' and 'evening' wear were for a time when people had large wardrobes on wheels, people to dress them and the bank accounts to match...certainly I wasn't going to hire 2 jackets to fit a rule like that, and I liked the PC jacket so for 4 hours of course I was in constant trepidation from the Kilt Police (not).

I had a blast, and like the wedding I went to recently wearing evening dress and a matte black topper (yes I'm aware of what is 'proper', also aware of how much a real silk topper costs, I want one but...) people didn't tut and go 'OMG that is SO wrong!' they were bowled over by the look...and the top hat was a bigger whore than me, being worn by so many people I had to go fetch it on a few occasions before it walked ;-)

I need to read through this whole thread but I think the gist for me is: most of these rules are arbitrary - and my partner who is Scottish and others I know who are Scots are very laid back and are 'wear what you like' - and reminded me that the modern kilt is an English invention anyway...these conventions are fairly new in the whole range of history. I use them as a guideline - of course I want to know what the 'rules' are in case someone asks, or there is a good reason for them...but really there are bigger things to worry about than that. So know the rules...but break them if you want ;-)

[Phil]

*** --- my experience in Scotland almost to a man (except on one specific golf course, but we shall not go there either in topic or physical location)

But that was a "lowland" golf course wasn't it? Mind you I suppose all the others were too.