Two Telling comments? The Answer Perhaps?

[Jock Scot]

Well, after extensive research, usually after a days shooting and around a dinner table and after a sumptuous meal with a glass of port to hand ,(the ladies do not leave the table often these days whilst the port circulates), I have now come to the conclusion that Sally and Harry are not alone with their thoughts, particularly amongst the under thirties Scots males.

To Harry's thoughts of not wanting to look like a tourist in his own country, well, that thought is quite common amongst the males that I talked too. I have to report that these conversations were also continued around other dinner tables by others and they too report in the same vein. Interesting.

As to Sally's comment, the girls of all generations agreed with her. Tourists do, generally, stand out when wearing the kilt in Scotland and it seems has always been noticed so. Firstly there is the obvious observation that tourists do as a whole wear the kilt differently to the locals and secondly and far more interestingly, the local girls, not the local men it seems, notice a form, an aura if you like, of uncomfortable insecurity from the visiting kilt wearers. This insecurity takes two forms. One, the visiting kilt wearer wears the kilt almost apologetically. Two, the visiting kilt wearer wears the kilt with a sort of defensive beligarence. It is also noted, quite fairly I think, that it is doubted that the visitor is aware of this.

Take this as you will, but I do now consider myself rather more educated than I once was on other people's observations and will now see if I can see what they see.

[Pleater]

Having seen the kilt worn mostly in situations where the town is en fete and there are all sorts of weird and wonderful apparitions around, I think that my appreciation of the kilt is somewhat coloured by my experience. It must also affect the people who are watching the goings on.
When there are people dressed up as dragons or horses, troupes of dancers in cricket kit or rugby kit style outfits adorned with ribbons and bells and feathers, some with painted faces, the kilt sort of blends in, and those wearing them have nothing to prove, plus there are dances done with sticks, some large, some small - which involve a great deal of clashing and banging, plus some shoving and sometimes a bit of shouting as well. That could be regarded as the natural environment for kilts in this day and age, imparting a comfortable security.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Liam]

Interesting observations as always, Jock. My thoughts are that most males whether over or under the age of 29,whether in Scotland or elsewhere are self conscious when first wearing a kilt. This thought is bourne out by the comments of many new members to this forum. The more you wear the kilt, the less self conscious one becomes. In addition I suspect with age males become less self conscious and appear more confident, whether kilted or not.
Most tourist to your wonderful country who choose to as you put it live the fantasy are not likely regular kilt wearers and so Sally's observations are likely correct. It is much the same as observing the groom and groomsmen kilted at a wedding. Most look somewhat self conscious and tend to make a bit of a joke about wearing the kilt.
In 1978, my wife's Grandfather related a story of his first time kilted in many years. He had joined the local Highland games committee, bought himself a new kilt and accessories. He dressed himself, but sent Grandma out to see if the coast was clear before making the dash from the house to the car, to remain unobserved by his neighbours. I'm not sure how old he was when this occurred, he was a regular kilt wearer when I met him. This was in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire. He related this story to me to make me less self conscious about wearing one of his kilts for some of the next two weeks as we toured Scotland. Even then, I recall being mistaken as a local by some tourists from Edmonton, Alberta, until of course, I opened my mouth. I suppose, I was politely tolerated by the locals. I was 25 at the time.
Cheers!

[OC Richard]

Just read over this whole thread, very interesting things indeed.

Mostly, it makes me not regret my decision to not bring Highland Dress on my holidays in Scotland. As I've often stated the primary reason is lack of space: when flying to Britain for two weeks, and only bringing a single carryon, space is at an absolute premium. (I do not check luggage.) A kilt, kilt jacket, sporran, hose, etc would nearly take up a carryon by themselves.

If I were a full-time kiltwearer it would be different. But for me Highland Dress is worn when I'm piping and rarely otherwise.

[OC Richard]

We outfitted three wedding parties where Scots had flown over to participate.

By 8 resident Scots, I was told, very strongly, that White Hose with Ghillie Brogues, Prince Charlie with vest and Dirk Belt, Ruche Tie, and White Rabbit dress sporrans were the preferred manner of dress in Scotland for all events, even beach weddings as these were.

This has been my exact experience.

I pipe at weddings all the time, and when family flies over from Scotland they're dressed as you describe. I particularly remember piping at a noon garden wedding, wearing a Charcoal Argyll, and being the odd man out because all the Scots who had flown over were wearing black Prince Charlies.

In similar vein at a local Highland Games a gent stood out because of his dress, a black formal jacket and long horsehair pipe band sporran. Yes, it was a Scot, on holiday.

Americans, on the other hand, both at weddings and at Highland Games, have a tendency to mix modern Highland Dress with quasi-Renaissance costume.

[tpa]

Up until the time I first left Scotland for work reasons in 1973, my recollection is that it was not that uncommon to see someone who wore a kilt on a daily basis, mainly people associated with the hospitality industry, tourism or highland wear shops. However when I last lived there in the 80's there was much less evidence of this. Now when I visit I am usually the only one I see.

[MacMillans son]

One, the visiting kilt wearer wears the kilt almost apologetically. Two, the visiting kilt wearer wears the kilt with a sort of defensive beligarence. It is also noted, quite fairly I think, that it is doubted that the visitor is aware of this.

Not too surprising Jock. The former feels guilty as he is playing make believe in the real land of kilts and accurately suspects that the natives recognize him as such. The later is seen in photos all the time here on xmarks and elsewhere. You know the look, it's the "If I look angry/scowl/tough/belligerent...people won't confuse me for a man in a skirt" look. I assure you it is more often born of a man's insecurity than of actual belligerence towards your culture.

Best to you,
Brooke

[Jock Scot]

Not too surprising Jock. The former feels guilty as he is playing make believe in the real land of kilts and accurately suspects that the natives recognize him as such. The later is seen in photos all the time here on xmarks and elsewhere. You know the look, it's the "If I look angry/scowl/tough/belligerent...people won't confuse me for a man in a skirt" look. I assure you it is more often born of a man's insecurity than of actual belligerence towards your culture.

Best to you,
Brooke

Oh I am quite sure that no offence to our culture is intended in any way. It is interesting though, that the female of the species see things quite naturally that us males seem to be completely oblivious of---------- on second thoughts, perhaps I should not be too surprised!--------and it is so obvious when one comes to think about it and I suppose, if I donned a cowboy outfit in Texas I would show the same traits as visitors apparently do here.

[Damion]

I'd have thought that the major reason the kilt isn't commonly worn is that it's not fashionable. Regardless of where people come from, the larger part of people today wear clothes and follow styles that are more or less dictated to them by the fashion/entertainment industry. Culturally people do follow styles, you still see those in baseball caps, plaid shirts and jeans and maybe sleeveless jackets. You see people who wouldn't look out of place in a biker gang, you get those who dress in sports attire - which would suggest that people are taking cultural cues from tv and identifying with what they see.
I think it should be considered remarkable, both given the near absence of kilts in common entertainment culture and the price of them, that so many people today still wear them who aren't in pipe bands or do highland dancing.
Maybe a few more programmes like Outlander will serve to promote its use but I do wonder if it wont just reinforce the stereotype of it as an exotic garment for special occasions.

Another thing about the kilt, and I know some will not agree with this, is that by its nature of being heavy and longish it doesn't readily fit in with modern life, the kilt being more akin to suit trousers. Maybe it's different elsewhere but here in New Zealand, females seldom wear skirts and dresses these days for everyday wear. They do so for going out at night, weddings etc, but otherwise wear casual shorts or trousers. It's very similar to the kilt situation and females are associated with such clothes far stronger than males are to the kilt.
I'm not meaning to suggest that kilts and skirts are the same, but the use of them has seen them restricted to special events. Now obviously many women do wear skirts and dresses regularly, far more so than men wearing kilts, but something about modern life has made the wearing of functional bland clothing for everyday wear more appealing than traditional skirts and dresses.
If that can happen for women, then it's hardly surprising that men wearing kilts, which were never widely worn outside the military, is not as common as some think it should be.

All things considered, I'll go back to the observation I made earlier and say it's remarkable that so many men do wear the kilt. It shows the level of interest in it despite the lack of support for it by modern "purveyors" of culture.

[OC Richard]

I'd have thought that the major reason the kilt isn't commonly worn is that it's not fashionable...

...by its nature of being heavy and longish it doesn't readily fit in with modern life, the kilt being more akin to suit trousers.

Both of these issues have been addressed here on the west coast of the USA by the inventor of the Utilikilt (now widely imitated elsewhere).

The goal was to make a kilt-like thing that was the equivalent of what we call "cargo shorts" which are common everyday casual wear here, shorts of khaki cotton drill with big pockets, very comfortable and practical because you can carry pretty much anything you want without needing a rucksack.

Another goal was to create an alternate everyday casual 'fashion culture'.

In these Utilikilt has wildly succeeded here. I work at Disneyland where I see tens of thousands of "the general public" every day and Utilikilts are common enough to not excite much notice or comment. The wearers are nearly always from the Pacific Northwest, the Utilikilt's point of origin. While I don't see Utilikilt wearers daily, I would say I see them weekly. Wool tartan kilts are rarely seen. (The Utilikilts are nearly always actual Utilikilts, not knockoffs.)

The "Utilikilt look" tends to be boots, scrunched socks, black t-shirt, hat of some sort (cowboy hat, flat cap, etc), tattoos, and a lot of hair (facial hair, long polytail, etc). In other words the Utilikilt wearers would be noticeable as being in a certain "fashion culture" were they not wearing Utilikilts.

The relationship between Utilikilts and traditional kilts aside, it's obvious that Utilikilts have got a large number of men out of pants.