Kilts and guts...

[Blu (Ontario)]

The membership of XMarkstheScot is as diverse in kilts as it is regionally and culturally. There are those who stay strictly on the "traditionalist" side and those who stay strictly on the "modern" side. There are also those who embrace both. Heritage, cost, style, and functionality are obvious factors at work.

Traditional tartan kilts are undoubtedly an internationally recognized masculine garment and for the novice in particular, a good starting point. While I applaud anyone for wearing any kilt out and about, in my experience it takes more nerve to wear a modern (non-tartan) kilt as they don't carry the same "cultural shielding".

Question...
As a modern kilt wearer, would you consider wearing a traditional kilt and if not, why not?

or

As a traditional kilt wearer, would you consider wearing a modern kilt and if not, why not?

For those who wear both, did you find it took more audacity to wear a modern kilt? In your opinion, are your modern kilts just as much a "kilts" as your tartan traditionals? Do you experience different reactions from people between the two styles?

Wear 'em if you got 'em!

blu

[Dreadbelly]

Oooh I want to see how this turns out. I hope we keep it civil.

[David Thornton]

Blu
For me it's all traditional, I guess I haven't warmed to the modern. But I have an open mind.
My wife has suggested a camo model to wear to sporing events, so who knows? I looked at a couple, but they were too long and I didn't really have to decide.
David

[Dreadbelly]

Some moderns look to skirty. I don't know how else to say it. They don't look kilt like.

Some moderns do. Like a PK or a FK. They are cut and made like a casual traditional, with waist, hip, rise, and drop.

I am a tartan addict... But I do have plans to order some solids someday.

[sav]

I used to be a hardcore traditionalist, tartan tanks were it for me! But I have loosened up in my old age (20! )...I now own two UK's that I wear for VERY casual occasions, but I still wear tartan 85% of the time...As I am now (for two years now!) kilted full time, I get closer and closer to giving in to more moderns, but I still love the feel of wearing a tank...

[Dreadbelly]

It's funny how I think that UKs look ok on other people, but have serious doubts that they would look good on me.

I confuse my self at times you know.

Edit.

I should clarify. When I wear a tartan kilt, I look like I belong in it. Like I should be off sacking some village or something. It suits me. Many people have commented with a lot of enthusiasm that I look natural in a kilt. I am unsure if I could pull it off in a solid. I am going to try, some day, but I am curious as to how I would wind up looking. Not that I give a damn what others might think about me, but, I do have to look at my self in a mirror and I have to like what I see.

[arrogcow]

While I was never a hardcore traditionalist, I wanted a kilt because of my Scotish heritage.

I started with a great kilt (and no I didn't go and buy some palid at the fabric store, I had 9 yards of Aberdeen woven for me - it ended up as a great kilt because the sett is so large that you can't see it all in a wee kilt), that I ended up wearing only to ren fests and a couple of times to a celtic fest - just not practical for everyday wear.

I then bought a traditional kilt. Again wore it to a few black tie affairs, occasionally to the local Scottish pub, but still not more than 5-7 times a year. Yes it was more comfortable than pants, but sporrans are so small that it was/impractical for me for everyday wear. I'd have to start carrying a purse, and that just brings up issues I didn't want to deal with.

Then I saw Utilikilts. I instantly thought, "I must have one. It's everything I've ever wanted." I now own 10 (and 1 PK - not to mention that I still have the Tank, the great kilt, and a Stillwater) and don't wear pants except in the direst emergency. I consider them all to be kilts, but I agree that some are more masculine than others. I've never been really thrilled with the UK mocker style, just seems more feminine. The same goes for Amerikilts, and Savanah kilts. On the other hand the other UK models, RKilts, Freedom Kilts, Union Kilts and Pittsburgh kilts all just scream male clothing to me.

While I don't think it took more audacity to wear the modern kilt (I put it on the minute it arrived and then went out to a film shoot), it had just never really occurred to me to wear my tank daily. There was a little trepidation. I spent the first six months thinking, "This is the first time I've gone to Home Depot in a kilt", "This is the first time at the post office", "I'm stopping for gas in the 'hood' in a kilt", but as negative reactions never arose, these feelings went away.

As for peoples reactions, once you say kilt they tend to go, "Ok." And frankly most people that come up to me in a modern say, "cool kilt", so I think they get it.

Adam

[Kilted_John]

As most people here know, I wear both... I find that I get less response wearing the Utilikilts. I tend to blend in more. That said, what response I do get is from young guys who usually say "kick-*** kilt!!" or something like that. The traditionals tend to get more response from the females and the older people... Especially in the rather loud Lennox District kilt...

Wearing a kilt doesn't really take that much more in the way of guts than having longer hair, or wearing facial hair, in my opinion... Even the extremely macho Hispanic community here in the Seattle area doesn't seem to notice. I've had some young kids stare at me, especially young girls, but that's about it.

-J

[Riverkilt]

Seeing a Utilikilt is what hooked me. Loved the concept of a casual kilt.

Now own 11 of them. Also have modern kilts from FK, PK, and AK...and two sportkilts.

Only have one traditional tartan tank, from Kathy's Kilts. She's waiting on fabric for another, both clan tartans, Macdonald of the Isles Hunting and Macdonald of Kingsburgh. And she's gonna be making up my X Marks tartan traditional when that cloth comes in.

So skipped from modern to traditional tartan...Have yet to back fill into casual tartans like Bears, USA Kilt etc. Go figure why?

I LIKE the pockets on the contemporary kilts...I do a lot of sitting at work and sporrans seem sort of in the way for that.

Ron

[Alan H]

The three kilts I have now are tartan, and the next two will be a Macnaughton and the X Marks kilt.

But sitting on the floor of my study is 3.8 meters of carhart caramel canvas, and I'm going to make my vision of what a contemporary kilt might be. That will be my first non-traditional-inspired kilt.