Why don't people wear their kilts more?

[Farmer Jones]

Then Jock, I must have more Highland blood in me than even I knew. You've seen a couple of pictures of me with my kilts and a jumper. On those days... I felt like it. No occasion, just, I wanted to wear it. Not every day is like that but there are some.

When I have worn a kilt to go shopping I have been asked what the occasion was, and received all sorts of approbation when I said "I just felt like it".

[Shinenotburn]

To be very clear here and it is as well for people to be aware of it, the kilt is a very special piece of clothing to many Highlanders and many are very uneasy about it being hi jacked by the rest of the world......including Lowland Scotland.For sure nothing can be done about it, but please be under no illusion that whilst the kilt is worn by some Highlanders when it suits them as a matter of course and without comment from other Highlanders the kilt is far from being “ just a piece of clothing”.

To be sure for all of us kilt wearers, it has more to do with where your heart is than on what ground you stand on. The very thought of it connects us to our forefathers and that brilliant highland spirit. Romantic or otherwise, it is in our blood.

[DyerStraits]

I do think it is important to correctly "pick your spots" when opting to wear or not wear the kilt, but as I've said before, regardless of the occasion or circumstances, every time I've actually debated whether or not to kilt up and chose not to, I've regretted it (and was often met with, "Hey! Where's your kilt?!?!?!?). I also have often the experience when I do wear a kilt to a particular event and other men in attendance pointed out that they too own a kilt, and my response, of course, is always "So WHY aren't you wearing it?" (their sheepish reaction and their wives' nodding approval is always amusing). So perhaps it is ultimately a matter of "conditioning", as they say in Psychology.

Aside from all that, I'm still convinced that the kilt will, in the not too distant future, experience a major Pop Culture/Youth Culture/"Fast Fashion"/"On Trend" discovery (I'm a bit surprised it hasn't happened already--perhaps it's time for Scotland to produce another really, really good, internationally successful--and kilt-wearing--superstar rock band). It may not last, but it will probably be fun to watch, and we, gentlemen, will be way, way Ahead Of The Curve...

[Tobus]

Aside from all that, I'm still convinced that the kilt will, in the not too distant future, experience a major Pop Culture/Youth Culture/"Fast Fashion"/"On Trend" discovery (I'm a bit surprised it hasn't happened already--perhaps it's time for Scotland to produce another really, really good, internationally successful--and kilt-wearing--superstar rock band). It may not last, but it will probably be fun to watch, and we, gentlemen, will be way, way Ahead Of The Curve...

I, for one, hope that doesn't happen. When something hits the modern pop culture fashion trend, it's usually hideous. Or it's a grotesque alternative bastardization of normal clothing, meant for shock effect. As a fairly traditional kilt wearer who respects the culture from whence it came, I don't want the noble kilt, or its image in the mind of the public, to be turned into a fashion spectacle. And since I highly doubt such a trend would involve wearing it respectfully, I'd rather not see such a thing happen.

That's just my opinion, of course.

[DyerStraits]

I, for one, hope that doesn't happen. When something hits the modern pop culture fashion trend, it's usually hideous. Or it's a grotesque alternative bastardization of normal clothing, meant for shock effect. As a fairly traditional kilt wearer who respects the culture from whence it came, I don't want the noble kilt, or its image in the mind of the public, to be turned into a fashion spectacle. And since I highly doubt such a trend would involve wearing it respectfully, I'd rather not see such a thing happen.

That's just my opinion, of course.

I completely agree--I didn't say I actually DO want it to happen because it undoubtedly would be a full-blown travesty, albeit likely short-lived. Regardless, I would still welcome a really, really good, internationally successful rock band from Scotland--kilted or not...

[JScottG]

I currently live in a small town (~20k) outside of Tulsa, and I have counted as many as six other locals who wear the kilt and that does not count the local Celtic band of five members who wear kilts when performing.

The most common question I get when the answer is not obvious when wearing a kilt is, "What's the occasion?" My usual answer is either "It's Saturday" or "It's Sunday".

[Queenslander]

If I had more occasion to wear it I would wear it more. Given that where we live anything more than tshirt, shorts and thongs is relatively dressy, wearing the kilt is really going to stand out. I prefer to wear mine to events that I can enjoy wearing it at, rather than feeling odd wearing it, and I suppose not having to explain why I'm wearing it.
We were down in Newcastle for a wedding last year. My wife and her mum were getting their hair done earlier in the day and as we were visiting we were already dressed for the wedding. While driving to the hairdresser the heel on my shoe came loose. I dropped my wife and mother in law off and set off to see what I could do about my shoe. Three steps out of the car and the whole sole fell off. So there I was in my kilt hobbling around the shopping centre on a Saturday with a soleless shoe looking for a suitable replacement. Not only did I feel really out of place in what I was wearing and already drawing more attention to myself than I wanted to, I was also dealing with the wardrobe malfunction. Needless to say I wasn't enjoying the experience.
So I like to wear mine to suitable occasions, but less so just down to the shops.

[DyerStraits]

If I had more occasion to wear it I would wear it more. Given that where we live anything more than tshirt, shorts and thongs is relatively dressy, wearing the kilt is really going to stand out. I prefer to wear mine to events that I can enjoy wearing it at, rather than feeling odd wearing it, and I suppose not having to explain why I'm wearing it.
We were down in Newcastle for a wedding last year. My wife and her mum were getting their hair done earlier in the day and as we were visiting we were already dressed for the wedding. While driving to the hairdresser the heel on my shoe came loose. I dropped my wife and mother in law off and set off to see what I could do about my shoe. Three steps out of the car and the whole sole fell off. So there I was in my kilt hobbling around the shopping centre on a Saturday with a soleless shoe looking for a suitable replacement. Not only did I feel really out of place in what I was wearing and already drawing more attention to myself than I wanted to, I was also dealing with the wardrobe malfunction. Needless to say I wasn't enjoying the experience.
So I like to wear mine to suitable occasions, but less so just down to the shops.

Spot On. There are times when I will kilt up several days in a row--weekdays, weekends, work/play/dining-out/shopping/golfing/concerts/parties/whatever--but there are also times when I won't. It just all depends. And you're right: there is that matter of not wanting to look or feel conspicuous or out-of-place, which, ironically, becomes more manageable with experience and good judgement. You learn to Pick Your Spots.

[figheadair]

I'm sitting in Edinburgh Airport en route south to given lecture. The airport is mobbed, I'm the only one in a kilt. That said, most people appear to be going on holiday so their choice of clothjng is understandable.

[Queenslander]

Spot On. There are times when I will kilt up several days in a row--weekdays, weekends, work/play/dining-out/shopping/golfing/concerts/parties/whatever--but there are also times when I won't. It just all depends. And you're right: there is that matter of not wanting to look or feel conspicuous or out-of-place, which, ironically, becomes more manageable with experience and good judgement. You learn to Pick Your Spots.

Don't get me wrong though- I'd love to wear it every day but where we live it would just be too odd. My hope (however unrealistic) is that as we live in a multicultural society and other ethnic groups seem to be more comfortable embracing their own traditions, that in time it wouldn't be so strange to see.