Just plain kilts

[Jock Scot]

No, I'm truly not in the least bitter and, of course, you are qualified to talk about country matters. But I am anxious that, to outsiders, your ex cathedra statements are taken as universally held opinions.

Alan

My opinions are based on a lifetime of experience and advice , including on kilt matters, gained from all walks of life.I also learned that there are many points of view on everything. My views to a greater or lesser extent are based on those experiences and one does not get to my age without realising that not everyone will agree. Nevertheless my advice, experience and thoughts on assorted matters are shared freely to all who might be interested and in this case, was actually requested. What people do with it is entirely up to them.

[MichiganKyle]

I'm glad to see both points of view and how different they are. It actually demonstrates exactly what's in common in both of your ways of looking at things - that there are huge differences between peoples' experiences, even in a very small area.

And as has been brought up on here before, I can say from first-hand experience the same is true in the USA, and I suspect the same is (and has always been) true everywhere else in the world. I've heard from several folks from outside the USA who visited here for a vacation who have commented that they were surprised at how non-uniform the USA was, and that they ended up seeing the individual states more like European countries. Even here on the west side of Michigan, Grand Rapids has a very different culture than the Holland/Zealand area, and they're both very different culturally from Detroit. Heck, the predominantly Polish northwest suburbs of Grand Rapids are culturally different than the predominantly Dutch southwest suburbs. But we all consider ourselves Americans.

With all that said, it's pretty cool that, despite our differences, we can all unite behind kilts as the superior garment for men!

[Pleater]

I was born in York and grew up in the south of the West riding of Yorkshire, but I have some tartan which I intend to use - an ancient colour Armstrong, because my father had a strong affinity to the Armstrong Siddeley car manufactory - his joy at encountering one of their vehicles was quite impressive. His mother's family, the Wilsons were even greater enthusiasts, and at least one was very involved in the design of the Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire.
The Wilsons were farmers and engineers - working with the traction engines on the land and the local factories, the 'dark satanic mills', and my innate ability to fettle machinery has been a great advantage to me all my life, particularly since leaving home.
At the moment it is making a difference even in the lockdown as I'm being sent items for repair.

The Wilsons were from Scotland, Dad always wore tweed jackets, 'flannels' and brown brogues - he might have put on a suit to get married, but I never saw him in one. I'll wear the Armstrong tartan to acknowledge the strong allegiance his family felt for the name. The only reason I have not done so before was that I could not have justified the price of the fabric.
The family were quite wealthy at one time, but grandad, in the best tradition of such things, lost the lot when I was about seven years old. We were living with Dad's parents in a house with a bit of land and the Wilson family were always around - I was spoilt rotten - lace blouses, woollen kilts, patent leather shoes and red leather sandals - oh, and a light blue coat, with a poke bonnet and muff all with swansdown trimmings. I never quite had my own pony, but used to go riding at weekends - a little grey called Melody - I was rather a hellraiser - climbing trees in the orchard, falling in the stream and fighting the kids who came to take the fruit, chasing the geese and trying to keep a hedgehog as a pet.
After leaving home I went back to kilt wearing, and soon had a motorbike and a small yacht - then I moved inland and bought a house, oh and I joined John Lilburne's regiment of musket and pike, an English Civil War re-enactment group - they were a bit lively even by my standards. There was folk music and morris dancing too -
All in all - life is just better in a kilt.

[Crazy Dave]

All in all - life is just better in a kilt."

What a fantastic experience you had growing up!

Dave

[Pleater]

It just sort of happens to me - like a magnet attracts random bits of iron just sitting in a drawer.

Anne the Pleater

[Quarter Scot]

It just sort of happens to me - like a magnet attracts random bits of iron just sitting in a drawer.

Anne the Pleater

Very nicely said! Love it!

[matchlock]

At the beginning of the thread, i was going to say something about how in the USA a tartan kilt to an 'uneducated observer' could possibly be mistaken to be a kilted skirt such as in a catholic schoolgirl uniform, due to those being a lot more common here than seeing a kilted gentleman. It doesn't help to sometimes have kilts getting worn backward or guys in mini-kilts, even if it's a start or the closest thing you could find.

Also from 'enough' distance those kilt Suits with fully matching tartan kilt, vest, and jackets, usually do look like someone is wearing a dress.

However just going off of design and secondary characteristics, it seems the modern Utility kilts having a closer similarity to non-bifurcated garments worn by people of the female persuasion. Solid colors, smaller apron, different construction, no sporran, whatever socks... but there's not the concern of a ''you aren't entitled to wear that" accusation

In any case, kilts are pretty awesome. It's always interesting seeing the various spins put on them from around the world. No matter the type you prefer, it usually beats pants or shorts.

Although since a few pages back i'm not quite sure what thread i ended up in. So i believe i'll just step back into the shadows.

[Katia]

At the beginning of the thread, i was going to say something about how in the USA a tartan kilt to an 'uneducated observer' could possibly be mistaken to be a kilted skirt such as in a catholic schoolgirl uniform, due to those being a lot more common here than seeing a kilted gentleman.

Yes-- I think it was one of the piping forums where one of the pipers said he found out after years of going from house to car dressed for band gigs, that his neighbors thought he had some sort of weird schoolgirl-attire fetish (I assume perhaps his band wore white hose, which didn't help?). It's also the reason I usually don't swap out my argyle hose for plain-colored ones; makes it more obvious that perhaps it's not just a "skirt" (because I am way too old to look like I'm going around dressed like an elementary-school child). People not in the know about kilts will definitely default to "plaid skirt" because those are far more common to see.

[Tobus]

Yes-- I think it was one of the piping forums where one of the pipers said he found out after years of going from house to car dressed for band gigs, that his neighbors thought he had some sort of weird schoolgirl-attire fetish (I assume perhaps his band wore white hose, which didn't help?).

When I first started wearing the kilt out in public, I wore white (well, ecru) hose because I thought that was the most appropriate choice. I had not yet been educated on the subject. I remember a lot of titters from teenage girls. After I switched over to coloured hose and a more traditional overall presentation (such as tattersall shirt/tie, jacket, etc.), that sort of reaction went away.

Ironically, the girls on the television show Derry Girls wear my clan tartan (Colquhoun), so I have to be extra careful to avoid the Catholic school-girl look!

[Crazy Dave]

Never had an issue where anybody did not recognize my kilt as a kilt. I do live in the Washington DC suburbs where people are multicultural, and occasionally you do see a man in a dress. There difference is obvious. Of course I wouldn't consider wearing a mini-kilt. I would expect that to be taken quite differently. With all the kilts in the popular media from the 3 Stooges to Outlander, you'd have to be pretty isolated to not recognize one! Actually, I feel pretty macho in my kilt.

Dave