Why don't more Scottish citizens wear kilts?

[scotswelshrunner]

So, after my topic regarding Scottish men as to how many kilts they own and seeing a very low number % wise, it begs the question: why?
Sure, I do understand that a handmade wool kilt is indeed an expensive acquisition and wouldn't expect many people at all , even here on this forum, to own many bespoke kilts. But in this 21st century there are many companies making basic and deluxe kilts out of other materials that work very well and are super affordable.

Is this an issue with comfort or fashion from a modern Scottish point of view or is the typical Scottish male simply not interested in wearing a kilt in his own country? Are blue jeans (ack,yuk and ugh) just so much still the average that there is no going back? A decent kilt will last many years while a pair of blue jeans or nice trousers tend to be made less well these days.

I'd love to see a survey done in Scotland where men are asked about the kilt and it's place in historical and modern dress. And to ask them if they would wear a kilt more often, even daily, if other men did so as well.

Thoughts?

Seumas Dòmhnal Ross

[Jock Scot]

Can I suggest you put a couple of hours aside, and read two threads. Followed by two more, amateur surveys, if you have the stamina, that illustrates how some Scots think about the kilt.

Highlanders discuss Highland attire, by David L Pope.

Two telling comments, by Jock Scot.

Food for thought, by Jock Scot.

Food for thought 2(F4T2), by Jock Scot.

[scotswelshrunner]

Thank you! I shall commence reading!

[Jock Scot]

The links for the first two threads I mentioned, can be found in a current thread called "Light Bulb Moment" in the "general kilt talk" section here.

[tpa]

People in all countries tend to wear what they are brought up to wear. Scots are no different. Prior to the advent of Pakistani imports, the only kilts available were relatively expensive wool kilts. Most of those few who owned one would have bought it for a special occasion and because it was a) expensive and b) for special occasions would no more consider wearing it every day than you would consider wearing a dinner jacket every day.

Few Scots had the advantage I had of being bought a kilt at a young age and wearing it at least once most weeks and going for walks wearing it. As a result when in my 30's I got a second so I could wear one more often without having to worry about spoiling the special occasion one. However only the relatively recent advent of cheaper kilts allowed me the luxury of wearing one daily for most activities.

There is another consideration too which I have, I think, mentioned in a previous thread and that is that when attired in a relatively high waisted kilt, waistcoat and jacket for a special occasion, you can feel constrained and not necessarily all that comfortable especially if you have to indulge in any form of physical activity. As a result few Scots will have had the experience of wearing a kilt casually so won't have felt the advantages of doing so.

The advent of the Tartan Army and imported kilts may have changed things a little but I'd warrant that few Tartan Army fans would think of wearing their kilts to anything other than to go to a football match because that is what they have bought them for and others are doing the same. I'm guessing a bit here because I stay as far away from football as I can and also since the advent of the Tartan Army I have been living in England for most of the time.

I have to admit that, prior to Jock's posts, it had never occurred to me that any Scot wearing a kilt in Scotland would be taken for a tourist, any more than prior to joining this forum, I was aware of the interest in kilts in the US and the regular wearing of them. The tourist element is, I think, a relatively recent thing and again for most of my resident time in Scotland, I'd say that the only kilts I saw were being worn by Scots. I have been asked if I am American, but not when wearing a kilt.

[Jock Scot]

Well yes and no, TPA. I certainly think that some of the younger generation's concerns about the tartan kilt and the tourist industry is a fairly recent occurrence. However the general thought of "playing at being a Scot" has been a good natured thought/comment that has been about for all of my life as has the rather more cutting term of "pocket Scot" which thankfully seems to be falling out of use these days.

[tpa]

However the general thought of "playing at being a Scot" has been a good natured thought/comment that has been about for all of my life as has the rather more cutting term of "pocket Scot" which thankfully seems to be falling out of use these days.

Never come across either, thank goodness, but then my hearing has never been very good.

[Peter Lowe]

Ok! So I wear a kilt some 40 to 50 times a year. I wear it to social events and the very occasional rugby match. Why do I wear it? Because there are two kilts in my wardrobe!

My parents bought me a kilt and I also wore one while member of my university TA Unit. I then stopped wearing kilts for thirty years due to the fact that I had out grown them and it was not percieved as being cool. In the early 1990's I hired a kilt for a special occasion, rediscovered how comfortable it was and the rest, as they say, is history.

I know that very few wear a kilt in Edinburgh but I see more people wearing one now than twenty years ago when there was always someone making smart a*** comments. Now that sort of thing is much less frequsnt and I do not think that I get noticed.

Maybe it is now more cool (pun intended) to wear a kilt.

Peter

[ScottishStuart]

Some interesting points, I'll give my thoughts from what I think is the reason.

I feel that for the majority in Scotland Kilt wearing is only really kept for a special occasion (Weddings, Black Tie Dinners, First Communions, New Years Eve, Burns Suppers, etc.) For casual kilts events such as Rugby matches, sporting events overseas etc.

As these events may only happen once a year or less, the cost of hiring a Kilt outfit makes more sense than spending a larger amount on buying an outfit. For instance, if I only have one wedding in the year, it looks more appealing to spend £100 on a high quality Hire, than £1000 on a high quality outfit. Buying an outfit would save in the long term, but as people grow they perhaps don't want to invest into an outfit they might outgrow. Hiring also gives some flexibility, as they can choose different jackets, accessories etc. for each time they hire.

I feel that there is a strong link between Kilts and Weddings in Scotland, and these outfits are almost 'saved' for these special days.

Just my two cents on this discussion, I thought maybe the ease of access to Kilt Hire in Scotland hadn't been raised. I'm not too sure of the frequency of Kilt Hire shops in the US, but I guess with the size of the States there is less coverage?

[James Hood]

In this admittedly jaded opinion, (most) modern Scots want desperately to impersonate (look as if they were) poorly-dressed Americans, not be "mistaken for" Scots.

Ergo, Scots in: blue jeans, tee shirts with writing or pictures, hoodie sweatshirts, trainers (athletic shoes), dork hats (baseball caps).