Chicken or egg, kilt or beard

[eagle43172]

I've worn a moustache since I was 17 (except for Airborne school and official Army photos). Got my first kilt at 22. I can't see a connection.

[Jack Daw]

Actually, I grew my goatee not long before I wore my first kilt. This pic was taken at my first kilted Highland games (Salado 1999). I shaved the chin-whiskers off around Thanksgiving of that same year, but kept the moustache for 4 years. I'm on the far left. It's not a great photo because it was taken with one of those things called a "film" camera.

[Newfoundlander]

If anyone here has been fortunate enough to ever go to Newfoundland, than you'll know that it's a bloody cold place most of the time. Winter squalls, northeast gails, blinding sleet and driving wind and rain...

That's why I've had a beard for many years. The kilt came later.

I do agree though, they do go well together

[Grizzly]

thanks for all your replies it has been most interesting. The general consensus from what i can gather is that there is no perceived correlation between beard growing and kilt wearing, which is perfectly logical. However is still does seem to me that there is a strikingly high percentage of bearded kilties. Infact of all the people I know friends, family and colleagues the only ones that wear kilts have beards, including Auntie Joan. (not really I made that up). Still its a strange coincidence unless someone else can explain a more deep rooted spiritual or psychological reason.

[Father Bill]

thanks for all your replies it has been most interesting. The general consensus from what i can gather is that there is no perceived correlation between beard growing and kilt wearing, which is perfectly logical. However is still does seem to me that there is a strikingly high percentage of bearded kilties. Infact of all the people I know friends, family and colleagues the only ones that wear kilts have beards, including Auntie Joan. (not really I made that up). Still its a strange coincidence unless someone else can explain a more deep rooted spiritual or psychological reason.

It may be because well more than 50% of kilties are men, and therefore almost twice as likely to be bearded as the general population - bearded ladies notwithstanding.

[Bob C]

Beard LONG before kilt for me. I'm due to start growing my winter facial fungus this weekend, coincidentally.

[MacRobert's Reply]

Kilt first:


Then the beard after several episodes of being mistaken for a student when I was a lecturer. Little chance of that 35 years later but it grows on you!

No obvious connection between kilts and beards except they are both worn by men who don't conform to the dominant norms of society - people who chose to take a road less travelled. The are both, so to speak, eccentric ... not that I'm eccentric .... toodle pip!

[kilted hillbilly]

Kilt first:


Then the beard after several episodes of being mistaken for a student when I was a lecturer. Little chance of that 35 years later but it grows on you!

No obvious connection between kilts and beards except they are both worn by men who don't conform to the dominant norms of society - people who chose to take a road less travelled. The are both, so to speak, eccentric ... not that I'm eccentric .... toodle pip!

Summed up nicely,sir!

[Tobus]

However is still does seem to me that there is a strikingly high percentage of bearded kilties.

Well, yes, that is indeed interesting, and I've noticed it as well. It could very well be that there is some common sociological thread between being a kiltie and a beardo (lol at that term). Perhaps both are just expressions of individuality, not necessarily related to one another, but readily enough manifested that they appear to be common ground.

By "expressions of individuality", I suppose I mean that the type of man who wears a beard is probably comfortable enough in his persona that he is willing to go against modern fashion and allow his face to more uniquely reflect who he is. And that very trait of being able to ignore herd trends, which is usually accompanied by at least some degree of comment from detractors, allows him to get past the first step of kilt wearing. There are undoubtedly many men out there who would like to wear the kilt, but just can't get up the self-confidence to "put on a skirt". But guys who wear beards already have the self-confidence needed.

Maybe, I dunno. Just a thought.

[Silent Raven]

Ever since i was 18 i had some sorta scruff on my face, mostly just my chin(as that was the only part that grew) My first beard appeared in the mirror in my junior year of college (2008 i believe) and it was a fantastic one at that! great for the highlands of Vermont and her cold winters! My second came just this past year when i grew it our for a full 4 months over the summer, partially because i was working in the mountains in the early cold mornings, but mostly because i enjoy having a beard and i was not living with my girlfriend who inst that found of them but doesn't mind them either. But sadly i just got a job in a deli and can only have sideburns so it all went away. So basically the beard was definitely first before the kilt, but i think they compliment each other very well! also i feel this is all useless with out pictures...
College Beard in 2008

most recent summer of 2011