Why don't people wear their kilts more?

[jthk]

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.

Last I was in that same airport, I saw three other men in kilts. One was an American who had just returned from visiting his grandmother and looked quite good, although casual, in his choice. A very pleasant conversation.

The second man was a Scot who was going to Rotterdam, I think, to visit friends. He still had his basting stitches in.

The third was also a Scot who was from someplace on Skye. Being that I was after spending a week there, we had ourselves a nice conversation -- even tried to communicate in our various Gaelics (he: Scottish and me, Irish). That was very enjoyable. With the exception of Mr Basting Stitches above, the two others were chatty and very comfortable in their gear. Mr Basting Stitches nodded hello and walked on.

Good luck with your event,
Jonathan

[jthk]

I live in Lancashire and wear my kilts all the time. I don't get comments like this at all. Maybe not far enough south?

I currently live in Massachusetts (USA) and have only once received a man-in-skirt comment and even that was in jest. Hrm! And I've been wearing kilts daily for 4 years. A highly interesting social experiment for sure!

[jthk]

Steve, if I understand it correctly, this is an American "Ren-faire" which again, as best I understand it, is a group of people who like to dress up in ways that they'd never do to walk down the street, portraying their fantasy of how history might have been. It is neither historical, nor accurate, just done for fun.

I've never been to one of these, but that's my understanding of what they generally are.

I've attended a few of these events and you've got the gist of it, Bill. However, most of the folks I've chatted with are aware that what they're wearing is probably not historically accurate. They know it, and simply don't care because they're not re-enactors, they're folks out for a good time and for something different from their day-to-day reality.

To my understanding, there are a few ren-faires around where people DO put a lot of thought and attention into being period appropriate. I've simply not attended those yet.

Best,
Jonathan

[Tobus]

If that garment is a Scottish tartan then it is reasonable to assume that the wearers have some remote or more direct Scottish association and the reason they are wearing it is to honour and celebrate that heritage. If, however, they have no knowledge or understanding of Scottish culture and confuse it with an English one, then they really should not be wearing any sort of Scottish tartan.

...

If people wish to wear Scottish kilts then the least they can do is assimilate some understanding of Scottish history and culture.

I agree completely with these sentiments, but be careful or you'll be accused of being the kilt police. Some folks here don't take kindly to being told what they should or shouldn't have to do in order to wear the kilt.

[Father Bill]

Thanks for your interpretation, Father Bill, and, if I have understood you correctly, there is a lack of knowledge about British history and, in particular, the distinct differences between English and Scottish history and culture. This is perfectly understandable but, hopefully, a site such as this might help to educate those who mistakenly imagine that Scotland is just a northern part of England, if they even appreciate that difference, rather than a distinct nation with a long history of its own. If people wish to wear Scottish kilts then the least they can do is assimilate some understanding of Scottish history and culture.

Steve, I don't think it's lack of understanding or knowledge so much as that in this venue they don't care. They're just wearing something that they want to wear because there are no rules there.

[jthk]

I agree completely with these sentiments, but be careful or you'll be accused of being the kilt police. Some folks here don't take kindly to being told what they should or shouldn't have to do in order to wear the kilt.

Ultimately a person may put on whatever clothing they wish whether or not some folks like or dislike their choices.

[Me cousin Jack]

I agree completely with these sentiments, but be careful or you'll be accused of being the kilt police. Some folks here don't take kindly to being told what they should or shouldn't have to do in order to wear the kilt.

Must be Scots.

[Steve Ashton]

If I may interject a comment.

It was said earlier - "...a site such as this might help to educate those who mistakenly imagine that..."

While many of our members do have an interest in history and culture, I feel I must remind everyone that those are not the chosen topic of this forum.

Within our mission statement is -"This is a Kilt Forum. Our members come here to learn about, discuss and share a love for the kilt. This is not a Scottish specific forum nor is it a highland wear specific forum, just as it is not a modern wear specific forum. We keep our focus on the kilt. It is what brings us here and what makes this forum unique in the world."

[Dollander]

Of course they can. There is no prohibition or otherwise apart from a few protected tartans. And, of course, anyone can pretend that they are Scottish or that they have an entitlement to some tartan or other. At the end of the day, however, the only people they are fooling is themselves and that is something they need to come to terms with. Provided they are happy to continue in some sort of “Walter Mitty” fantasy then who cares?
What is not acceptable, however, is the pretence that 16th century English people were happily wearing kilts. As Jock Scot has posted, if you happened to be a Scot in York at that time it was open season.

Unacceptable to fantasize about a more liberal, tolerant alternative past? As someone who's half Italian, should I have been offended rather than amused by the pizza stand selling "Italian pies"?

I haven't been to a Ren Faire since the early 90s, so I don't know what they're like now. But back then you'd be just as likely to see Wiccans and other neo-Pagans in their ritual garb pretending to be wizards and witches and druids, which was of course a capital crime in England until 1736. People would dress as Vikings, who were long gone by the time of the Renaissance. And while I've personally not seen it, I've heard of people showing up in Star Trek uniforms, claiming to be on a time-travelling away mission. So I don't think it's such a travesty for someone who's proud of their Scottish heritage to don a makeshift great kilt for the Faire, simply because a Scot parading around a real post-medieval English village would've faced a difficult time...

[Jock Scot]

If I may interject a comment.

It was said earlier - "...a site such as this might help to educate those who mistakenly imagine that..."

While many of our members do have an interest in history and culture, I feel I must remind everyone that those are not the chosen topic of this forum.

Within our mission statement is -"This is a Kilt Forum. Our members come here to learn about, discuss and share a love for the kilt. This is not a Scottish specific forum nor is it a highland wear specific forum, just as it is not a modern wear specific forum. We keep our focus on the kilt. It is what brings us here and what makes this forum unique in the world."

What you say Steve, is a laudable intention and yes, the kilt is the centre of attention, of that there is absolutely no quarrel from me. But.........

This is an international website, with members from all walks of life and from all over the world and with varying amounts of kilt attire knowhow and varying amounts of historical knowledge connected to the kilt and all that ranges from amazingly well informed to none and when we add to that, individual pride in what they are wearing based on aspects that possibly only they understand and those that could not care less. Add all of the above and give the mixture a stir and then add a whole load of inponderables, then I think this website does extraordinarily well with maintaining civility.

However, we all need to be aware----and many here aren't------ there are very real differences of opinion on aspects of kilt appropriateness from the Highlands of Scotland and the rest of the world and we cannot escape that fact. Inconvenient and unpalatable though that may be for some. Therefore it is as well for all members here to be aware of that and a thread such as this one does make all members aware of that and in consequence no one who reads a thread like this one can say that they didn't know. No one has to agree with what is said and there are ways of disagreeing without being disagreeable. A touch of humour does help too!