POLL: 2013 "Kilt Census"

[CMcG]

I'd like to take stock of the kilt wearing preferences of the folks who currently hang out here at Xmarks. These things probably change over time, as does the membership, so I think it is good to get an overview every once in a while. Consider this to be like a "kilt census"

I know that on this forum we tend to get into the minutiae of our beloved kilts, so I will clarify a few things. Nonetheless, it is difficult to encompass all different types of kilts and ways of wearing them, so please just pick the closest answer.

For traditional kilts, lets be inclusive and say that if it looks traditional, it is. This means that if a tartan kilt has an apron in the front and pleats in the back, for the sake of this poll, we'll call it traditional. If it is made from acrylic or P/V, or has hidden slash pockets, or is machine sewn, or is lower yardage, or has box pleats, it is still traditional. If it is constructed in a traditional way but from a more or less traditional solid colour like hodden grey, saffron, or tweed, it is still traditional.

By traditional ways, I mean THCD (traditional Highland civilian attire). By contemporary, I mean wearing your traditional kilt with non-traditional items or accessories or in non-traditional ways, like: scrunched hose with boots, tee shirts, jean jackets, baseball caps, etc.

There are some controversial things too... Irish kilts present a tough distinction, but lets say if it is the Irish equivalent of THCD (black tie formal: Brian Boru jacket with saffron kilt), it is traditional. Then are things like flat caps, white hose, etc... let's judge those by best intentions, despite that being the building material of the road to Hell

Modern kilts don't look like traditional kilts and some people wouldn't even call them kilts at all, but rather "male unbifurcated garments" or MUGs. Modern kilts often have things like cargo pockets, or are made from materials like cotton duck or nylon, or have a skinny apron. Think things like Utilikilts, AltKilts, "tactical" kilts, the Elkommando hiking kilt, etc. A tartan BiltKilt with cargo pockets is modern.

Some kilts will be hard to classify, so use your best judgment. I would say a Sportkilt or USAKilts casual is still intended to be basically traditional, as long as it is tartan. A Buzz Kidder canvas kilt or solid colour 21st Century kilt are constructed in a fairly traditional way, but from non-traditional materials, so I'll have to say modern. This is splitting hairs...

I have lumped uniforms and historical kilt wearing into a special category just in case there is anyone who never, ever wears a kilt at any other time, but I'm primarily interested in what people wear as civilians. If you do wear the kilt as a uniform or do historical reenactment, but also wear the kilt as a civilian, please pick the best civilian category.

1) only Traditional Kilts, the Traditional Way
2) only Traditional Kilts, but both Traditional and Contemporary Ways
3) only Traditional Kilts, in Contemporary Ways
4) only Modern Kilts (MUGs)
5) Modern Kilts (MUGs) + Traditional Kilts, the Traditional Way
6) Modern Kilts (MUGs) + Traditional Kilts, Traditional and Contemporary Ways
7) Modern Kilts (MUGs) + Traditional Kilts, in Contemporary Ways
8) only Uniforms and Historical Kilts

[knotty]

How would a tweed kilt be classified?

[CMcG]

How would a tweed kilt be classified?

If it is constructed in a fairly traditional way, then I'd say it is traditional. If it has cargo pockets, a narrow apron, or unusual pleats, then it is modern.

[Mike_Oettle]

I voted traditional, although my most formal outfit does not include a traditional kilt jacket. Instead it is a charcoal-coloured suit jacket, shortened a bit and with green facings on the collar and cuffs.
And I now have a straw hat that I occasionally wear with the kilt on hot days.
I intend to acquire a cargo kilt suitable for working outdoors, but no order has yet been placed.
Regards,
Mike

[Peter Crowe]

I voted traditional/traditional based on my usual practice since childhood not withstanding a period at University in my early 30's (I am now 46) when I occasionally experimented with the scrunched down hose, t-shirt and boots look but it just didn't seem right for me. My instincts on this are probably as a result of cultural conditioning from my family background, where my father, maternal grandfather, great-uncles and older family friends wore kilts in conformity with THCD norms.

[Tobus]

At first I was going to vote for traditional only. Then I remembered that I wear a Utilikilt for hiking, so I guess I have to include myself in the dreaded MUG category (personally, I abhor that term). Then I realised that even when I do wear my traditional kilts, I may wear a modern style vented fishing shirt or a Tilley hat, so I suppose I have to consider myself as an all-around wearer of all styles, even though I consider myself mostly traditional. Hrm.

[CMcG]

I'd like to encourage everybody to qualify their answers, as several people have already done. A poll can only give us so much information about who we share this online space with...

Peter and Mike voted traditional, but indicated that in the past or future respectively, they may have done/will do things differently. Thanks to them for giving us the state or their kilting right now, but also adding some chronological perspective to it with the comments.

Tobus, don't worry, you won't now be forced to call your Utilikilt a MUG, I was just trying to clarify things a bit with terminology Let's say you are a traditionalist at heart, but occasionally give into pragmatic American modernisms.

[knotty]

I too dislike the term MUG. The kilt is not an exclusive male garment. Females wear kilts, both traditional & contemporary. That be as may.
Like many here, I wear a mix of MUG & Trad. I often wear a utility kilt & often wear a ivy cap, Tilley or Statesman, but I always wear kilt hose.

[CameronCat]

I'm in for "Trad kilts in both trad. and contemp. ways." While I'll frequently do the usual "typical Highland daywear" look-- vest (waistcoat) and possibly a jacket, I'm also as likely to kilt up with a T-shirt or polo if circumstance allows. Baseball hat?--maybe. Scrunched socks? Nah!

JT

[Grizzly]

I voted traditional/ contemporary. Only because I wear my kilt with a polo shirt at times and sometimes boots dependent on ground conditions.