Less Can Be More

[Father Bill]

McElmurray... you seem to have nailed it from the way I read it!

[CMcG]

All of this is well taken. My only addition is every mode of THCD is premissed on what the individual can "pull off". We, on XMTS, have spoken at length about the confidence required in wearing THCD. Panache pulls off some things very well, that would make me feel as if costumed. On the flip, Jock's "out of the closet" approach cannot satiate my OCD. Therefore, I have settled kits which rarely change, for example:
...
Feel free to critique away

It's true that confidence is a necessary part of any good outfit and the one you posted looks good to me

Part of my thinking on "less is more," however, has to do with context superseding confidence. At an event or a place that isn't full of kilties, a somewhat subdued outfit will be more likely to be perceived as clothing, rather than a costume or uniform. That is to say that one might have the confidence to pull off some really bold THCD, but, in the wrong context, it could still be viewed by some -- possibly many? -- in way that doesn't do the kilt justice in general.

Filtering an outfit with a bit of less is more could help to make sure that self-assurance does not blind one to the impact their outfit could have on public perception of the kilt. I don't want people to see me kilted up on my way to an event or at an event without many kilt wearers and say "wow, he really pulls off that Scottish costume well!"

I have gotten the impression from reading this forum over the years that the THCD in its native setting is not arrived at by applying a set of rules but rather is the result of climatic, cultural, and perhaps most importantly, economic imperatives. An individual collects a small number of well-made and perhaps previously well-loved items combined with their single kilt in clan tartan. They may add an item now and then perhaps a handmade gift or a new shirt. One or two sporrans are adequate along with a college/regiment tie and perhaps a wedding tie and black bow tie. At a particularly special day event one might wear his best jacket (a ten year old anniversary present) combined with a new shirt received on father’s day. The combining of textures is more a matter of happenstance than something one sets out to do. Again this is just an impression of what I have perceived and my description cannot be adequate as I was not reared in the culture. But I suspect an unlimited amount of funds and access to every possible fabric and garment via the internet is unhelpful when attempting to become one with THCD. So not only is less more but I suspect fewer is more as well.

Good points. If someone grows up wearing the kilt, in a family of kilt wearers, and in a place where they see other kilt wearers with regularity, then they probably don't need much guidance on THCD. They are living it. For many of the folks on Xmarks, however, this is not the case and people are looking for help. Without deep kilt experience, then sometimes tips, ideas, and concepts can become rules, which in turn can be misinterpreted... hence why we have some much fuel for discussion around here

[Father Bill]

*SNIP* Good points. If someone grows up wearing the kilt, in a family of kilt wearers, and in a place where they see other kilt wearers with regularity, then they probably don't need much guidance on THCD. They are living it. For many of the folks on Xmarks, however, this is not the case and people are looking for help. *SNIP*

And for many of the folks on X Marks... this IS that family!

[Domehead]

Filtering an outfit with a bit of less is more could help to make sure that self-assurance does not blind one to the impact their outfit could have on public perception of the kilt. I don't want people to see me kilted up on my way to an event or at an event without many kilt wearers and say "wow, he really pulls off that Scottish costume well!"

Initially, thank you.
Second, good point well stated.

[TheOfficialBren]

McElmurray... you seem to have nailed it from the way I read it!

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bravo!

[CMcG]

And for many of the folks on X Marks... this IS that family!

Yup. Complete with our own "clan" tartan

[rondo]

Would this be a case of too matchy-matchy, or less not really being more. . .or both?

Damn you Dale! I just snorted Diet Coke out of my nose onto my keyboard...Well done!
Rondo

[Jock Scot]

I have gotten the impression from reading this forum over the years that the THCD in its native setting is not arrived at by applying a set of rules but rather is the result of climatic, cultural, and perhaps most importantly, economic imperatives. An individual collects a small number of well-made and perhaps previously well-loved items combined with their single kilt in clan tartan. They may add an item now and then perhaps a handmade gift or a new shirt. One or two sporrans are adequate along with a college/regiment tie and perhaps a wedding tie and black bow tie. At a particularly special day event one might wear his best jacket (a ten year old anniversary present) combined with a new shirt received on father’s day. The combining of textures is more a matter of happenstance than something one sets out to do. Again this is just an impression of what I have perceived and my description cannot be adequate as I was not reared in the culture. But I suspect an unlimited amount of funds and access to every possible fabric and garment via the internet is unhelpful when attempting to become one with THCD. So not only is less more but I suspect fewer is more as well.

Bingo! Give the man a cigar, in fact, give him a box of best cigars. The last sentence is particularly pertinent. Well said.

[BCAC]

Bingo! Give the man a cigar, in fact, give him a box of best cigars. The last sentence is particularly pertinent. Well said.

Yes, Jock, I agree. Well said McElmurry. This forum needs a 'like' button.

[creagdhubh]

I have gotten the impression from reading this forum over the years that the THCD in its native setting is not arrived at by applying a set of rules but rather is the result of climatic, cultural, and perhaps most importantly, economic imperatives. An individual collects a small number of well-made and perhaps previously well-loved items combined with their single kilt in clan tartan. They may add an item now and then perhaps a handmade gift or a new shirt. One or two sporrans are adequate along with a college/regiment tie and perhaps a wedding tie and black bow tie. At a particularly special day event one might wear his best jacket (a ten year old anniversary present) combined with a new shirt received on father’s day. The combining of textures is more a matter of happenstance than something one sets out to do. Again this is just an impression of what I have perceived and my description cannot be adequate as I was not reared in the culture. But I suspect an unlimited amount of funds and access to every possible fabric and garment via the internet is unhelpful when attempting to become one with THCD. So not only is less more but I suspect fewer is more as well.

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