Wearing the kilt in Scotland

[cb750kman]

I wear one in Texas , cowboy country too, Ft Worth

[Hawk]

cb750kman, I'll bet you don't venture down to Billy Bobs while sporting your kilt, eh?

Hawk

[RCAnderson]

I often pass through Matlock Bath on a Sunday on my pushbike, so not usually kilted, but if you see someone wearing an Anderson Tartan top and full face helmet, that will be me. I'll keep my eyes open, you should not be difficult to miss. What bike do you have?

Attachment 19344

Good to know another Anderson is lurking around here. Was beginning to wonder.

[JonathanB]

Well, since we are drifting off kilts and onto tourists, I believe my wife can top all. She grew up in Orlando and, as a teenager, was a 'slave to the Mouse'.

I'm a tourist guide here in London, and when I'm guiding is one occasion when I wouldn't wear the kilt. I don't want to distract the clients from what I'm showing them.

There was an exception last year when I was hired by a group with a totally unrealistic itinerary. Since I thought it was going to be a disaster, I didn't care what they thought of me and wore the kilt, after checking with the person hiring me that it would be acceptable.

We managed.

[ClanRanald]

My wife and I will be touring Scotland and the highland area next month. Two Scot friends living there have encouraged me to wear my kilt whenever I wanted to. They said that any visitor wearing a kilt and properly attired shows respect and that is generally well received by the average Scot. The trick is to dress appropriately for the occassion. For casual daywear they recommended a good pair of hiking boots/shoes, hose, day sporran, belt and buckle, a cardigan and shirt or if it is warm enough a tasteful T shirt or polo shirt. I recommend that if you are challenged in the sense of fashion or coordinating an outfit (many men are) then get a second trusted opinion on your appearance especially if you are wearing a kilt! There are a few fine examples on how one should look wearing a kilt here on XMTS. Thanks for that!

I have heard many a time and from many different sources that wearing the kilt in Scotland is frowned upon except for attending Games or for special occasions. I have seen lots of pictures however, of men wearing kilts that do not appear to be at any special event, but DO look as though they are in Scotland. These photos show men with or without children (also clad in kilts) standing around in what appear to be village streets. I suppose it's possible that they are coming home from church, but it is a bit confusing. Whatever light you can shine on this issue would be appreciated.

[tpa]

Good to know another Anderson is lurking around here. Was beginning to wonder.

Yes, my grandmother was an Anderson and I got my first Anderson tartan kilt aged 8. I now have 2, a formal and a more casual one in a muted Anderson. The formal one is the same one I got at 8. It was built with lots of room for expansion and lengthening and substantially modified when I was 13. Still going strong 59 years on.

[tpa]

My wife and I will be touring Scotland and the highland area next month. Two Scot friends living there have encouraged me to wear my kilt whenever I wanted to. They said that any visitor wearing a kilt and properly attired shows respect and that is generally well received by the average Scot. The trick is to dress appropriately for the occassion. For casual daywear they recommended a good pair of hiking boots/shoes, hose, day sporran, belt and buckle, a cardigan and shirt or if it is warm enough a tasteful T shirt or polo shirt.

Currrently it is colder than you might expect at this time of year, take plenty of warm tops. I was wearing 3 layers in the Ayrshire area earlier this week.

[RCAnderson]

TPA,
Wow, I had no idea a kilt would be able to last a person that long. I guess thats what you get when you purchase a good high quality piece.

I have a traditional styled 6 yard PV and a Sport Kilt right now, both in the Modern Anderson tartan. I will be purchasing a wool one later for dress occasions, but for now I am going to stick with the PV ones due to their relatively inexpensive price. I want to build up my kilt inventory some more before I get a good wool one. Trying to decide which tartans to order next. I am thinning of the Anderson Blue and the Anderson Red, but not many places carry them, so they are hard to find.

[Detroitpete]

I'll be in Scotland very shortly and competing the World Masters Championships, Scottish Heavy Athletics in Inverness. We'll be making our way to Edinburgh and staying there as well. This will be my first time there as a tourist and I've been looking forward to being able to take this trip for years. I couldn't be more excited about this opportunity to visit and to compete in Scotland. I'm well aware of how easily it is to be tagged as the silly American, so hopefully I do not violate any social or fashion codes that bring about such dismay. I do however, know that I will be kilted while on the field and at Culloden. Aside from that, I'll wait to see what I decide. I can't promise my most cogent decisions, as I endeavor to spend many moments in Pubs

[tpa]

TPA,I have a traditional styled 6 yard PV and a Sport Kilt right now, both in the Modern Anderson tartan. Trying to decide which tartans to order next. I am thinning of the Anderson Blue and the Anderson Red, but not many places carry them, so they are hard to find.

Yes I'm going for a PV next in ancient or muted Anderson. I have a couple of acrylic kilts for knocking around in, but they pill very quickly. However any kilt is better than none.