Trendy Question

[lrpddrummie]

For me it is about personal style but with careful consideration for the event. When I am at a club listening to one my favorite bands (shameless plug "Barleyjuice") am not about to sit around in my ghille brogues and Prince Charlie, so its the casual kilt and my Docs/Sketchers but if its a more formal event well then the ghilles come out and the Docs stay in the closet. Once in a while I like to mix in my tartan tanks in my casual look but never the other way round. My only pet peeve is when people don't dress for the event, i.e. I was at a Burns dinner and someone showed up wearing a great kilt and ren faire gear. So I say be yourself and wear what you like as long as it is appropriate for the event.

[macwilkin]

I usually will go for the "L.L. Bean" look at games, especially in the fall -- hiking boots (although I do wear my hose up), a British commando style sweater or "expedition" or "safari" style shirts, earthy colours, a walking staff -- the typical "country gent".

A friend of mine wears his Barbour with his kilt on cold & damp days, and you just can't beat that look, especially with a tweed flat or "scally cap" and walking or shooting stick.

Cheers,

Todd

[macsim]

I've leaned more toward comfort than tradition lately. In the beginning I would wear a Jacobite shirt, hose, brogues, etc. I wanted to be as accurate as possible. After taking the job as clan convener however, highland games became a lot of work. The shirt was hot, the shoes were uncomfortable, especially after a day of standing up and putting up and dismantling the clan tent. I got a pair of boots to be a little more comfortable at the games and I don't have to constantly retie the laces. If it's a 2 day (or 3 day at Grandfather Mt.) game then I tend to dress more casually the first day (Utilikilt, t-shirt, boots and rolled down socks). It's the "work" outfit I wear while setting everything up. Then I try to "show the colors" a little more on the second or third day. Most of our NC games can be very warm. I've never been so hot as I was at Flora MacDonald about 3 years ago. Anytime I'm at some formal or semi-formal occasion I break out the whole deal of course.

[Dreadbelly]

I dunno, call me crazy, but I like how my Birkenstock clogs look with a kilt. Something of a Celtic look. They are plain and brown and simple.

And they look nice with hose.

Some folks may find fault with my black belt and black sporran though. Hah!

[bubba]

Ok, you're crazy. Happy? Clogs don't do it for me. I like shoes I can run in without running out of em.

[Dreadbelly]

Ok, you're crazy. Happy? Clogs don't do it for me. I like shoes I can run in without running out of em.

With my limpy gimpy leg, I can't run.

These clogs make walking so much easier for me. They greatly reduce the pain felt in my feet, back, and legs.

As an aside for running, properly fitted and worn in clogs stick to your feet like glue. People have worn these types of shoes for thousands of years so their must be something good about them.

[Mike n NC]

Ok, gonna make the purists angry and maybe, if they are lucky, make some people think. For those that don't wear a kilt full time I guess I can see how it might become a question but wearing it all the time makes this a moot point. I've argued this with my MiL (yep, dare to argue and even win once in a while) several times. She is one that can only picture the kilt in its full dress mode. Nothing wrong with that but what about times that we don't want to dress up?

Stop and think about what you are talking about. Its a garment not a grail. Kilts were worn for years before they became formal attire, at work, at play and at war. Do you really think that high lace brogues and hose were the footwear of choice in those activities? I've yet to see a picture of a highlander on the battlefield wearing a P. C. and vest.

Had I spent last weekend in dress shoes and hose at the Grandfather Mountain games I wouldn't have been able to walk on Monday and even though the temp only got into the 70's, anything much heavier than a tee shirt would have been uncomfortable. Just ask the people that were dressed that way. For casual wear, work or recreational activites I see nothing wrong with a comfortable pair of boots and the hose at half mast. Rolled or scrunched? A matter of taste, just keep it neat and tastefull, I turn over one roll and then scrunch the rest.

A kilt is a kilt is a kilt is a garment and like a pair of trousers is as dressy or as casual as you want to make it. Do I wear boots with a tank? Yep. Do I wear oxfords with a casual? Yep. While I tend not to wear my tanks when there is a chance they might get damaged, they are still everyday wear.

So venerate the kilt if you will, dress it as much as you like but I will ask that you don't accessorize to the point of embarassing the rest of us, a P. C. at breakfast is prolly a little much. ;) Wear it, wear it in good taste but just wear it!

Mike

[macwilkin]

Mike, this "purist" agrees with you -- a Prince Charlie is not appropriate at the games or other outdoor activities.

At several games I have attended over the years, I will see at least one person (usually the MC at the opening ceremonies) dressed in the full formal rig, Prince Charlie, Ghillie Brogues and dress sporran -- and usually it's a hot summer day, and the fellow looks miserable, or just plain out of place. In the cooler months, a tweed day jacket with a nice shirt (tie is optional), or even a turtleneck would look so much better -- and in the summer, a nice polo shirt or the "LL Bean" look (not totally casual) would fit in so much better. Yes, they are the "Master of Ceremonies" -- but at a Higland Games. A day jacket in a nice tweed (the Scottish equivalent of the sport-coat) is the most formal I would go, the "country gent" look.

Besides, everyone knows that black tie should NEVER be worn before 4.00 pm?! :mrgreen:

Cheers,

Todd

[jkdesq]

A kilt is a kilt is a kilt is a garment and like a pair of trousers is as dressy or as casual as you want to make it. Do I wear boots with a tank? Yep. Do I wear oxfords with a casual? Yep. While I tend not to wear my tanks when there is a chance they might get damaged, they are still everyday wear.

I agree that the "Rules" of kilt wearing shouldn't be seen as sacrosanct. However, there are fashion guidelines that people follow. Some people follow far more restrictive codes than others. Examples: shoes match your belt, no loavers with a tie, no white after labour day.

I don't think it should be discouraged for people to find similar guidelines when wearing a kilt. I for one either where brogues (ie. shoes I wear with my business suit) or ghillie brogues with kilt hose when wearing my kilt to something formally. When going casual, I always where a pair of work boot type boots with regular socks. Nothing dogmatic or sacrosanct. Its just want I do.

I have seen people and pictures of people wearing the kilts with no socks and with sandals (same as clogs in my mind). Seems like a good look, but its not for me.

If I were to propose a rule for "footwear to go with a casual kilt", I would suggest that anything you can wear with shorts (ie. a pair of Bermuda or walking shorts and not a pair of surfers) is good for a kilt. Dress shoes? No. Sandals or clogs? yes. Sandals with socks? not going to get into that disagreement. Loafers? no. Lace up casual shoes (including work boots)? yes.

My proposal -- not put forward as anything I would defend to any length.