'Garb' and the Kilt

[Shay]

Alright- in this thread and this thread there's been some mention of people thinking of kilts as costumes.

Since the kilt is both an ancient and a modern garment, it is easy to see where confusion would come in, especially with the paucity of records on everyday/peasant clothes from insiders to the Highlands compared to other cultures and the perfidy of some sellers in presenting their kilts as authentic.

I'm sure there are folks coming here researching kilts for Ren Fairs and costumes, there are people who wear their Ren stuff as everyday wear, and there are people who get into kilts as costumes and continue to wear only the kilt as clothing, I'm wondering where you draw the line. That thread I mentioned is cool and all, but I think this merits a broader discussion in terms of the narrower subject- namely, what are your thoughts on kilts as 'garb'?

[John M.]

I may have only started wearing a kilt a short while ago, but I've always thought of them as a style of clothing. :grin:

[Verlyn]

For me, I use my kilt in my garb, although my wife said I'm cheating since I wear my kilt as everyday clothing too. Although its debatable if the kilt was really around much for the period of the renaissance, I think it was there in some form or another and I get to express my heritage. My son is and ACTOR at our local faire and researches his given character to add historical reference to his portrayal. As he put it, "most patrons don't have a clue; they're there to be entertained and that's what we do, but if we can add some form of education to the fun, then its good". This from a kid we had to fight with to do homework in HS. This year, he is Lord Chancellor Sir Christopher Hatten. Of course, he admits that he is 23 years too young, but only the staff and history buffs know that, so he takes the character as his own and makes the best he can while still being entertaining. If he comes across someone who actually knows the history of his character, he's thrilled to engage in conversation about how he's pulling it off. As someone said earlier, its an entertainment business, not re-enactment, so its a lot loose on the history. As you pointed out, though, alot of times its the inspiration some need to actually go research it and become educated.

[bubba]

Personally, with the possible exception of hiking, I'd consider the Great Kilt as a costume today. In it's day is served multiple purposes. It was clothing, a backpack and a blanket. Today it just doesn't fit generally as daily clothing. The tailored kilts we wear are a bit different. They're accepted formal, semiformal and casual menswear, depending on the accessories and other clothes worn with it. Of course, at a Renn Faire, as opposed to a reenactment, it really doesn't matter. The Faires are primarily playtime for grownups more than anything else and, frankly, most anything that doesn't cross the bounds of decency is pretty much ok.

[bear]

I'm sure there are folks coming here researching kilts for Ren Fairs and costumes, there are people who wear their Ren stuff as everyday wear, and there are people who get into kilts as costumes and continue to wear only the kilt as clothing, I'm wondering where you draw the line.

I'm not sure that line is visible to the naked eye. At the very least, it moves around a lot and is tough to corner.
My last blog was partly about this very subject and partly about overstressing about wrinkled pleats.
http://macbitseach.blogspot.com/
The relevant part was, "I can see a traditionalist trying to look his best, trying to keep wrinkles from his kilt as a man in a nice suit would try to keep wrinkles from his trousers. His kilt and accessories are a statement and are often worn as a costume or uniform to a formal function.
Some of you think I dislike this. I don't object to kilts as costumes. I object to kilts as ONLY costumes. They were garments first."
I haven't worn pants for almost three years, so to me, they're garments.
To a guy who wears his kilt twice a year, it's a costume.
Can you wear them as costumes on a daily basis without them being garments?

[Robert Lamb]

[ To a guy who wears his kilt twice a year, it's a costume.
Can you wear them as costumes on a daily basis without them being garments ?
Not in my way of thinking..
Robert "the kilted" Lamb

[macwilkin]

[ To a guy who wears his kilt twice a year, it's a costume.
Can you wear them as costumes on a daily basis without them being garments ?
Not in my way of thinking..
Robert "the kilted" Lamb

I think some folks around here are way too hard on the gents who only wear their kilts two or three times a year. I myself do not wear my kilt every day, and generally only wear it to Scottish functions, games, Burns Nights, meetings, church, etc. I consider my kilt a "special" garment worn to honour my Scottish ancestry, and wearing it everyday turns it into just another piece of clothing. My kilt is a symbol of my heritage, so I take great pride in it -- yes, I have worn it "casually", but even then I wear it with "pride of place".

That is just my opinion, I don't expect everyone else to conform to it, btw. I respect those who wear kilts everyday, even though I may not.

Regards,

Todd

[arrogcow]

I'm not sure that line is visible to the naked eye.
The relevant part was, "I can see a traditionalist trying to look his best, trying to keep wrinkles from his kilt as a man in a nice suit would try to keep wrinkles from his trousers. His kilt and accessories are a statement and are often worn as a costume or uniform to a formal function.

Just checked your Blog, and for the record, I have ironed a UK three times in 4 years (everytime I have volunteered to sell at an event). I was rumpled in jeans, and I'm rumpled in (casual) kilts (my tartans are kept nice).

Back on topic. I have worn a kilt as a costume, but mostly that is because I'm lazy. I wore a rugby shirt with my tank on halloween one year and just told everyone I was a soccer hooligan.

Adam

[davedove]

I've got absolutely no problem in wearing a kilt as part of a costume. When I do, however, I do my best to accessorize is in such a way that it does not appear to be everyday wear. For instance, I wore my kilt to the Renn Faire the other day, but wore a rennaisance style shirt, boots, and the works. That way it looked like a costume and not like I was going about my normal business.

There are some people who only see the kilt as a costume, and that's a shame. And there are some who would say that wearing the kilt as part of a costume enforces that generalization. While I respect that opinion, and can even see some truth to it, I will not let that restrict my own use of the kilt. You know, personal freedom and all that. I'll wear a cowboy hat and boots even when I'm not out riding the range, so I can wear a kilt even if I'm not acting the part of a highlander.

[Prester John]

I can appreciate this as an Orthodox priest.

We wear, typically, cassocks and crosses as "street wear" that is, the same as a coat and tie.

Whenever we attend some function with heterodox clergy, I'm pretty certain they think we are in vestments (items worn for liturgical worship, stoles, et al)

Likewise, some think it's a costume or that I'm a monk in a Catholic order of some kind, until they see my wife and kids (THEN you should see their faces!)
Some Jewish people even think I'm a rabbi - "The cross threw us off," they often comment!

In reality, ignorance of such matters as dress is everywhere, but just because the barbarians are at the gate, doesn't mean we have to dress in animal skins and burlap, obviously.

With the kilt, I suspect it's not so bad, but over time will become a normal "part" of recognizable American culture.

By the way, I did finally get my boys out of the rental kilts that came yesterday...at 10:30pm!