Two Telling comments? The Answer Perhaps?

[MacLowlife]

You've got me there, Aussie Don.

McMurdo, I think people who depend on tourists almost always have a love-hate relationship with them. Love for the livelihood and something less than love for all of the headaches- not to mention the complete dependence that so many tourist economies create.

But maybe our Scots friends can take a lesson from the Solomon Islanders and wear the kilt ANYWAY. It sounds as if many do, at least on special occasions.

[KentuckyCeltophile]

McMurdo, I think people who depend on tourists almost always have a love-hate relationship with them. Love for the livelihood and something less than love for all of the headaches- not to mention the complete dependence that so many tourist economies create.

But maybe our Scots friends can take a lesson from the Solomon Islanders and wear the kilt ANYWAY. It sounds as if many do, at least on special occasions.

MacLowlife and McMurdo have a great point. I agree totally.
The fact that so many tourists buying and wearing kilts (or aloha shirts, or French barretts, or Kentucky coon skin caps, or Arab keffiyahs) makes it totally ubiquitous. The identity becomes a casual thing. However, that should not be a bad thing. It should be a badge of honor. For instance, Americans love Scots. Upto 10% of the population has Scottish ancestry (more people than in all of Scotland). Not that many people weart kilts, but many of them do. Appalachia (specifically West Virginia and Eastern Kentucky) is so deeply rooted in Scottish ancestry that college courses are taught about the subject. It's kinda sad that we may have inadvertently tainted our heritage by supporting it.

[TheOfficialBren]

I used to live in the heart of Hollywood. Believe me. I get the thing about tourists, honestly, probably just as much as anyone in Edinburgh or Glasgow or anywhere else.

The fact is that if we are all respectful abroad then perhaps we can take the edge off for the locals.

I remember that the main attractions were always filled with tourists. If I wanted to unwind with my friends then we would go to our own pub, for example, off the beaten path.

No kilts (maybe one or two in a blue moon) but anyone wearing a "Hollywood" t-shirt was a dead giveaway.

[Calgacus]

I think Jock pretty much has it right, though I'd say it's not necessarily about looking like a tourist, it's slightly wider than that. I think it's about needing a reason.

The 'uniform' of the average Scot is pretty much the same as the rest of the world. T-shirt, blue jeans, trainers (sneakers) and given our climate, some form of sweater or jacket. Now if you ask me, none of that is particularly elegant or even comfortable, but it is safe. If you dress like that, you will not stand out. You will look like everyone else on the street or on the television. You don't have to think much about it, it's all readily available, and it's cheap (or expensive, if that's your preference).

Where I live, there are few tourists so a kilt wearer would probably not be taken for one, but an assumption would be made that there was a reason for them wearing a kilt. Common reasons might be as follows:-

They are attending an event such as a wedding, Burns supper, ceilidh, Highland Gathering, formal dinner, etc.
They are a member of a pipe band.
They are celebrating a sporting event.
They are making a cultural/political statement ("I'm a proud Scot").
They are mildly eccentric.

One might well get asked 'Why are you wearing a kilt?', but one is unlikely to get asked 'Why are you wearing jeans?'. One can see how, outside of the highlands at least, there is some justification in this. The kilt is not the traditional garb of the lowlander so if the kilt is worn it is generally for some sort of reason, and most likely one of those I listed above. Within the highlands, less so, though not much less so. I have seen the very occasional highlander in a kilt who looked genuinely like he was an everyday wearer, and I have known only one lowlander who was (and still is) an everyday wearer.

In the more touristy areas such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Fort William, etc. I could see that not looking like a tourist would be a consideration. I would not wear my kilt as day wear in Edinburgh for example for that very reason.

[OC Richard]

The 'uniform' of the average Scot is pretty much the same as the rest of the world. T-shirt, blue jeans, trainers (sneakers) and given our climate, some form of sweater or jacket.

Yes here you see that too, but far more common is t-shirt, cargo shorts, and sandals/thongs/zorries/flip-flops (terminology differs according to where you live, here all such things are usually called 'sandals') and if it's a bit chilly a hoodie. I remember looking around the room at our pipe band practice and everyone was dressed like that, the only blue jeans being worn by our only Scot!

an assumption would be made that there was a reason for them wearing a kilt. Common reasons might be as follows:-

They are attending an event such as a wedding, Burns supper, ceilidh, Highland Gathering, formal dinner, etc.
They are a member of a pipe band.
They are celebrating a sporting event.
They are making a cultural/political statement ("I'm a proud Scot").
They are mildly eccentric.

That should be a sticky! That's awesome.

Using my Western Wear analogy, if somebody walked around here (SoCal) in full cowboy kit (hat, shirt, buckle, jeans, boots) we would assume
-he's visiting from Texas
-he lives on a ranch
-he owns/rides horses

[CeilidhDoc]

They are attending an event such as a wedding, Burns supper, ceilidh, Highland Gathering, formal dinner, etc.
They are a member of a pipe band.
They are celebrating a sporting event.
They are making a cultural/political statement ("I'm a proud Scot").
They are mildly eccentric.




I have seen the very occasional highlander in a kilt who looked genuinely like he was an everyday wearer

I agree that this list should become a sticky, although I must say I lament that this is the all-encompassing list.

Now, about that last part:

I think that might be the real issue to tackle. When attending one of the events on the list, I think one can get away with being more elaborate with the kilt kit worn.

But if one is to be an everyday kilt wearer, then it would seem from the last comment (and I agree) that the person who does so pulls off a bit of a different "this was easy for me" vibe to the way they wear the kilt when not falling into one of the rigid categories on the list. I wonder if it would be possible to somehow capture how this is done and promote that both for Scots (born and raised and living in Scotland) AND for tourists. Because it seems that what bothers Scots about tourists in kilts is that they are garish and don't do it right. This may be a pipe dream, but what would be wrong with simply changing the mentality from "Look at that idiot tourist making a mockery of the kilt, lets roll our eyes and talk behind his back and think smug things..." to "Look at that tourist who has no clue what he is doing. We should set him straight." I know that changing mentalities is not easy, but it can be done if people care to make the change.

So is it possible to define exactly what makes one look like an eveyday kilt wearer? What differentiates this from the more typical outfit? Might be a worthwhile exercise, because a tourist (for instance) who can pull off that look might come across quite differently than one who behaves like the subject of the Aly MacRae song The Tartan Atrocity (If you haven't heard it and you are a member of this forum, it is worth a listen for the laugh).

Slàinte

[Jock Scot]

Interesting posts everyone, I still have not got my mind on an even keel over this new, for me, aspect.

Anyway CD, some time ago in a long running thread, there was a picture posted by someone and I used it for purely educational purposes. I can't remember exactly how many "faults" that I could spot in a blink of an eye, five I think, but then I asked the forum, well the ones reading the thread, to see if they could see what I could see. Again my imperfect memory is letting me down, but I don't think many spotted even one observation . Therein lies the problem I fear.

I quite accept that some "faults" are entirely a personal perception thing, but the exercise did illustrate pretty well that what we might see over here, is not what might be seen over there. It was a fun and useful exercise though! By the way, can anyone remember the thread that I am talking about?

[CeilidhDoc]

I would love to see that thread Jock!

And if we don't see it, teach us!

I know some students are unteachable, but this forum has lots of open eyes to read your comments and they are very much appreciated!

Slàinte!

[CeilidhDoc]

It is also interesting to me that most seem to think that the Western / Cowboy wear example is a good one. I have to say it may be the closest readily recognizable analogy from American culture, but I still don't think it is a very good one.

The reason I say this is because there are no family pattern cowboy boots, as just one important difference. To me, that is a big difference. Of course, JMHO.

Slàinte!

And PS--I lived in Phoenix for 4 years, so I know what you mean!!

[McMurdo]

By the way, can anyone remember the thread that I am talking about?

I do remember that thread it was a photo of a piper if I'm remembering correctly, and from what I remember there were some of us on this side of the pond who saw the same faults that you did, I am thinking of fellows like @creagdhubh specifically.
I do think the difference comes from educating yourself as to what is proper and how it would be worn in Scotland and emulating that instead of wearing what you want because you want to.