Wearing A Kilt On Halloween

[tokareva]

I would be very hesitant to wear a real kilt that I own on Halloween. I try hard to make sure that I don't appear to be wearing a costume when kilted already. If I felt it necessary to wear the kilt as a costume I would probably spring for the $30- $50 or so and buy a costume. But that's just me, personally I think Halloween is a little silly anyhow, so I'm not really qualified to answer the question.


I do like this one however.

[WalesLax]

I would disagree with most of the commenters so far. If you wear your kilt in public on Halloween, it gives you a perfect opportunity to see how you feel wearing it in public, with the safety net of “everything goes on Halloween.”

It isn’t inappropriate or appropriation, it is an opportunity to see how you feel kilted in public. It is no different than wearing a kilt for the first time in public to a Highland games.

Whatever anyone says, I’m in favor of you trying out your kilt in public —- even with a safety net.

R

[derosa]

WalesLax makes a great point of it being a perfect opportunity. Personally I am of the opinion that Halloween is a time to really get into the spirit of things so make sure you either wear it as a garment with normal clothes or really make it a costume if you are going to wear it as such. I love the trick or treating with the kids and fully costume up myself and have worn a kilt once prior though I do a different costume each year.

[Bluethunder90]

Let's explore the environment you speak of, college students, Halloween, odd attire for all and probably alcohol.

Definitely no alcohol. We're talking about on campus, during the school day, and around the athletic facilities. I guess I should also mention that I coach a female team so dressing up for Halloween for the school day is always an event for them.

[Bluethunder90]

You guys have given me a lot of good food for thought. My intent is definitely not to be derogatory or disrespectful of the kilt or the culture the kilt represents.

[Father Bill]

Thank you for that. The problem is that our best intents may draw reactions/ responses we never intended. My personal rule is that if you're not sure, or if something might go wrong... don't do it. That way you'll never cause yourself or anyone else any problems.

[Tarheel]

Definitely no alcohol. We're talking about on campus, during the school day, and around the athletic facilities. I guess I should also mention that I coach a female team so dressing up for Halloween for the school day is always an event for them.

With this new information. Ignore my previous comment. Dress well, for the sake of the children.

[thecompaqguy]

It's a complex issue, which perhaps could be phrased as

Highland Dress is mere clothing v Highland Dress is a costume

As with many such debates the truth is probably a grey area somewhere between the extremes.

In 19th century and well into the 20th Highland Dress is often referred to, in books on the subject and by the firms producing it, "costume".



Part of this use of the word "costume" could be semantic shift, a continuous process in language. It seems clear that "costume" meant something different to a Victorian Scot than it does to a modern American.

It's possible that today the term "costume" has different shades of meaning in Britain and in the USA. Certainly the term "fancy dress" means quite different things in the two countries.

All of these semantic issues aside, for the people in my community, that of competition Pipe Bands, Highland Dress is certainly not ordinary clothing but a specialised occupational form of dress, much like the orchestral musician's tuxedo or the mariachi musician's costume.

"Costume" would still be interpreted 'fancy dress' on this side of the Pond too. But the word has fallen into disuse... people used to talk of a 'swimming costume' years ago, whereas they may refer to swim shorts (for men) nowadays. But the kilt is not something for Halloween or Trick or Treating in

[Geoff Withnell]

One of my favorite stories is about when I took my grandchildren out trick or treating one Halloween. I wore my kilt without thinking about it, as that was and is my normal clothing. A lady was complimenting my children on their costumes, and then turned to me. "And you're dressed as Rob Ro....No, that's not costume, is it? You wear it much too well. That's your usual clothing, isn't it?"

One of the best compliments I've received kilted.

[OC Richard]

I think there are many terrible costumes that people wear at Halloween that involve cultural appropriation.

I don't mind a kilt as a Halloween costume. I do mind someone portraying a stereotype that is derogatory while wearing a kilt. It's more about the wearer's intent and more importantly, their behavior.

Thanks for that, it casts Highland Dress in the wider notion of respect of traditional cultures. Odd how Native Americans and Highland Scots are fair game for derogatory costumes while the general public has enough awareness to avoid similar treatment of a number of other cultures.

I have worn Highland Dress a few times over the years on Halloween. I didn't feel that I was wearing a "costume" per se yet I felt that dressing up a bit was appropriate.