Too Traditional?

[CMcG]

I guess if a fellow wears the kilt day in and day out he'd be hard pressed to dress traditionally. Perhaps that's where the scrunched-down socks, hiking boots, t-shirt, and leather jacket (a la Duncan from MOTG) kicks in.

As I understand it, though, the traditional method of wearing a kilt is NOT to wear it day in and day out. So perhaps this really isn't a issue that traditional kilt wearers face?

We have a few members who like to wear their kilts for everyday attire and can often be seen doing so in an informal-though-traditional way. Dale Seago comes to mind as a particularly good example. Tartan kilt, hose up, garter ties, leather shoes, button up shirt (rolled/short sleeves for the heat, or a sweater for the cold), belt, sporran, sgian. He usually takes it easy on mixing patterns and colours, without necessarily being all matchy either. His leather jacket (from Stillwater) is obviously not traditional, but at least it is cut just like an Argyll

You're right though that the tradition in Scotland for a long time was to reserve one's expensive tank for special occasions. In that case, traditional kilt wearers need only dress to the correct level of formality and avoid overdoing their accessories in a theatrical or historical way. With the advent of inexpensive kilts, I think many people in Scotland are wearing them more often, though no-one would accuse the Tartan Army of being too traditional

[McElmurry]

Just something for you all to think about. THCD is not all tweeds, tattersall shirts and club ties you know. On the rare occasion that it is not raining and the temperature is a tad over freezing it is not unknown for the traditional kilted gentleman to go bare chested, bare foot and without a sporran, when strolling along a beach with the girl friend, wife or children in Scotland! It will undoubtedly be a wool kilt and sand and salt will attach themselves to the cloth. A dunking in freshwater, a burn with fresh running water is best, for an hour before hanging the kilt to dry from a handy tree will solve the cleaning problem.

An uncommon set of events in Scotland, I grant you, but in the right circumstance it is one hundred percent THCD and wearing much more would indeed be overdoing things.

I have been thinking about this post for the last day or so and there is something I am still not clear on. I understand the walk on the beach with the girl, and the wind blowing salt water and sand onto the kilt, and the dunking of the kilt in fresh water and hanging out to dry. But what, pray tell, is the “traditional” way of passing the time whilst the kilt soaks and then dries.

[Dale Seago]

I have been thinking about this post for the last day or so and there is something I am still not clear on. I understand the walk on the beach with the girl, and the wind blowing salt water and sand onto the kilt, and the dunking of the kilt in fresh water and hanging out to dry. But what, pray tell, is the “traditional” way of passing the time whilst the kilt soaks and then dries.

Umm. . .This bein' a family-friendly forum, ye prob'ly dinnae want tae gang there. . .

[ThistleDown]

I have been thinking about this post for the last day or so and there is something I am still not clear on. I understand the walk on the beach with the girl, and the wind blowing salt water and sand onto the kilt, and the dunking of the kilt in fresh water and hanging out to dry. But what, pray tell, is the “traditional” way of passing the time whilst the kilt soaks and then dries.

Just as anywhere else in the wide world, McErn, we lay back in the sand and contemplate the clouds up there and the real meaning of life.

[ThistleDown]

You're right though that the tradition in Scotland for a long time was to reserve one's expensive tank for special occasions. In that case, traditional kilt wearers need only dress to the correct level of formality and avoid overdoing their accessories in a theatrical or historical way. With the advent of inexpensive kilts, I think many people in Scotland are wearing them more often, though no-one would accuse the Tartan Army of being too traditional

Well, no, not quite so, Colin. A special occasion requires -- today as always -- the wearing of ones best attire suitable to the occasion. In the Highlands no one sets aside a special kilt for wear at specific events, if that is what you are saying. Neither is it true that our only kilts are heavy ones worn only at special times.

We always -- in the past and roday, too -- present ourselves as best we are able at special occasions

[MacMillans son]

We always -- in the past and roday, too -- present ourselves as best we are able at special occasions

I think you hit on something there that is at the heart of some of the earlier discussions Rex, that being, what constitutes a special occasion? For some of us, Highland games are a "special occasion" where we take the opportunity to put on our best, weather appropriate, Highland attire and enjoy the day as an opportunity to show respect and pride in our heritage. Others see Highland games as just that, a sporting event, no different than a football game. Neither are wrong, but motivations for each choice are sometimes misunderstood by the other. The first being perceived as being phony or putting on airs, the other as being sloppy and disrespectful of tradition. For me, going out to a nice dinner, a professional theater performance or ballet are examples of special occasions, and I dress accordingly. For others, those are just things to do and they arrive dressed as such. I guess, as usual, it just comes down to perspective and preference.

Regards,
Brooke

[Ryan Ross]

Well, no, not quite so, Colin. A special occasion requires -- today as always -- the wearing of ones best attire suitable to the occasion. In the Highlands no one sets aside a special kilt for wear at specific events, if that is what you are saying. Neither is it true that our only kilts are heavy ones worn only at special times.

We always -- in the past and roday, too -- present ourselves as best we are able at special occasions

No, I think you miss Colin's point- I do believe that he may be refering to Jock's oft mentioned idea that the "traditional" way in the Highlands is to have only one kilt, and that said kilt would be your "expensive tank for special occasions"... and that the less espensive, lighter kilts are helping folks to get away from the particular tradition of special events kilting only.

Of course, I could be completely wrong there, or in turn, this could be another case of a part-time Highlander speaking (with concrete certainty) in the place of a whole region of full-time highlanders.

[Jock Scot]

If anyone had just spent a lot of money on their dream kilt, many Scots save long and hard for their only kilt, would you wear it on the beach? Some Scots, probably a minority within a minority, are fortunate to have the luck of having a choice of traditional kilts that are inherited(remember the era of the "cheap knockabout kilt" is only a recent option here)or good fortune of some sort and it will be one of these that goes to the beach. There is a picture of the late Lord Lovat dressed in a perfect example of a kilt and jacket that would not in any way considered suitable for a more formal event! Many, who do not understand, would assume that he was mending the road!

I have happily taken my(now) one and only kilt to the beach for a modest outing and I have happily taken my one and only kilt on a modest stroll across the moor looking for a grouse to shoot at and I will happily wear my one and only kilt to a wedding too! Would I be happy if I damaged my one and ony kilt? No, but with care, brains, and a bit of luck all will be well. Also, I don't need the kilt for ultra formal events these days so one 20 year old kilt , for the monent , serves me well.

It seems that is very difficult for me and others to explain these perfectly acceptable and normal variations of kilt attire for the assorted events that they are worn at, to those that are trying to understand without the experiance to adjust their way of thinking and that is not a criticism, but, I venture to suggest, a reasonable observation. This beach scenario is a case in point, I think. For example, a much repaired, apron reversed, ill fitting(probably), patched with ill matched tartan cut out of another kilt(same tartan) is a perfectly normal state of affairs for informal use in Scotland and is THCD."Invercauld" as seen in a recent thread is wearing a much repaired jacket quite happily! You chaps have not the opportunity, yet, to tap into 40,50,60,100 year old kilts and attire that have seen better days(some absolute gems can appear too) like some of us over here can.

[CMcG]

Well, no, not quite so, Colin. A special occasion requires -- today as always -- the wearing of ones best attire suitable to the occasion. In the Highlands no one sets aside a special kilt for wear at specific events, if that is what you are saying. Neither is it true that our only kilts are heavy ones worn only at special times.

We always -- in the past and roday, too -- present ourselves as best we are able at special occasions

No, I think you miss Colin's point- I do believe that he may be refering to Jock's oft mentioned idea that the "traditional" way in the Highlands is to have only one kilt, and that said kilt would be your "expensive tank for special occasions"... and that the less espensive, lighter kilts are helping folks to get away from the particular tradition of special events kilting only.

Of course, I could be completely wrong there, or in turn, this could be another case of a part-time Highlander speaking (with concrete certainty) in the place of a whole region of full-time highlanders.

ThistleDown, apologies for not expressing myself better. I think Ryan has paraphrased my idea a bit more clearly.

I was under the impression that -- for the better part of the twentieth century -- the majority of kilt wearers in Scotland would have owned only one kilt and it would have been a hand sewn, heavy weight, worsted wool, knife pleated, 8ish yards, clan tartan kilt aka a tank. Given that such a garment is precious, it would only have been worn for special occasions. Some lucky folks may have had another older, probably inherited kilt for bashing around in, but the advent of casual or pub kilts is a fairly recent phenomenon. Is this perhaps, not entirely true?

And yes, wearing one's best attire that is suitable for the occasion always sounds like the right way to go to me. As MacMillan's son has noted, however, what constitutes a "special" occasion may be a more debatable topic... "one's best attire" and "suitable" might also sometimes be contested

*edit* and Jock Scot beats me to the post!

[CMcG]

... There is a picture of the late Lord Lovat dressed in a perfect example of a kilt and jacket that would not in any way considered suitable for a more formal event! Many, who do not understand, would assume that he was mending the road!

Could it be this picture?