'Garb' and the Kilt

[Alan H]

In other words, I'm against people telling me I can't wear my kilt however I please.
I think there's a hell of a lot more people telling guys in casual kilts they're dressed funny than guys in traditional kilted gear.

Raaaaaght ON, bro! I'll wear my kilts when, and how I want to!

***...which might not be every day, BTW, but I wear them a LOT, trust me.***

And you're for darned sure spot on with the second comment I selected out, up there.

[Hamish]

There's a strong bias on this board for wearing casual clothes.

With respect, I'd suggest that this is because this forum is American-based and is peopled predominantly by Americans. I believe it is true to say that Americans are much more relaxed with regard to their clothing styles (such as what constitutes 'formal' and what does not), than many of us in other parts of the world.

Just me throwing another stick on the fire!!!

[macsim]

With respect, I'd suggest that this is because this forum is American-based and is peopled predominantly by Americans. I believe it is true to say that Americans are much more relaxed with regard to their clothing styles (such as what constitutes 'formal' and what does not), than many of us in other parts of the world.

Just me throwing another stick on the fire!!!

I tend to agree with you Hamish. I'm almost 47 years young and I remember when I was a youngster, you always wore a coat and tie to church, you dressed up to go out to eat and you wore nice clothes to school. Even in high school there were plenty of guys wearing "double knit" pants and those awful "leisure suit" shirts with wide collars and flowery designs, cuffs rolled to the inside, not the outside. At some point though, don't exactly remember when, I began to notice people at fairly nice restaurants in jeans, then shorts (never kilts I must say) and now it's just casual everything.

My department is being outsourced and all of us interviewed with the new outfit coming in to take over. Out of 14 people I was the only one who wore a coat and tie. I like to dress casually myself and it's probably a lot to do with that stubborn, independent American attitude (and the southern humidity!) but I do like to see a little formality when formality is warranted. It just shows a certain respect and maybe the ability to do something because you want to, not because you have to. That said...to each his own!

[flyv65]

Personally, with the possible exception of hiking, I'd consider the Great Kilt as a costume today.

To split hairs, I'd say that the Great Kilt is too hot for hiking, and would be better suited for camping: then again, if I lived somewhere humid I might change the tune I'm singing now.

Bryan...flyfishing deepwater in a wool kilt can make you smell like your dog....

[Archangel]

Bryan...flyfishing deepwater in a wool kilt can make you smell like your dog....

sheep, you smell like a sheep, as I found out after getting soaked last weekend.

I think the kilt becomes a costume when it's out of place. Like anything else, it shouldn't be dressed down for a formal event, or formal for a pub concert. If there's too much planning, it's a costume. If it's over-accessorized, it's a costume. "Scottish" souvenirs (shirts, flags, pins) with a kilt are redundant and makes it a costume (well, one of my pet peeves).
A relaxed individual with self confidence is wearing clothes.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

What makes the difference between "clothing" and "costume" in many cases is the attitude of the wearer.

When I got married, myself and all the groomsmen were in identical outfits: kilt, hose, flashes, black shoes, sgian dubh, sporran, belt, tux shirt, black bow tie, and black Argyle jackets. I had been wearing the kilt regularly for many years at that point -- most of my groomsmen had never worn a kilt before in their lives.

Though we were all dressed identically, several people (my wife, her brother, etc) made the comment that they all looked like they were wearing costumes, while I just looked like I was wearing clothes.

Chalk it up to the fact that I was comfortable in the kilt and carried myself in a comfortable and easy manner. The other guys were excited about wearing somethign different and new and were more self conscious about the fact that they were kilted. It's nothing conscious that they did differently, just an inner attitude.

So I would say that if you are wearing the kilt in a manner, or with a purpose, that says, "Look at me, I'm kilted!" then it is a costume you have put on. If you wear the kilt as another form of clothing (either every day, or just on special occasions) then it is clothing.

I had a recent post in my blog that touched on this a bit. I was making the point that if you wear the kilt as clothing, not costume, avoid the danger of having every last bit of your outfit scream 'Scotland!' and let the kilt speak for itself. I brought up the instance of the man I saw in a very nice kilt, with hose embroidered with thisles on the cuff, a rugby shirt that said "Scotland" across the breast, and a ball cap that also said "Scotland" on it. His whole ensemble looked like he got up and said "I'm going to put on all my Scottish stuff today!" He looked like a walking advert for the Scottish Tourist Board. That was a costume.

Had his shirt and hat not been blazoned with the country's name, the outfit would have been just fine.

Matt

[Blu (Ontario)]

Physicaly, a kilt is nothing but a piece of cloth.

All of the other stuff is the perception, connotation, and emotion we humans tend to attach to things.

A kilt is nothing more or less than what we make of it.

The important thing is that, whatever our modus vivendi, it enhances our enjoyment of the human experience.

[Freelander Sporrano]

I wouldn't call a well tailored suit a costume. In the same way I don't concider my three kilts that way. When I put on my kilt I don't take on another personality I'm not acting in a play .I'm just well dressed

My wifes sister wanted me to come to a fancy dress party in the kilt I said no because the kilt to me isn't a costume it's clothing. I wear them casually or formally.

I wear my two wool kilts as would a person wear his suit or a smart jacket. My Bear as anyone would a pair of jeans.

I'm with Bubba I can't see me ever getting a great kilt (Well maybe just to have) However I like to see them worn by others .It does however just seem to be as a re-enactment or ren faire or the like.So I would call it a costume even though I know better.

[MacConnachie]

Most pipe band members I know do not speak of getting "costumed" up, they speak of "kilting up," which means dressing for the occasion. When we speak of details of what we're to be wearing at a certain type of performance, typical detail attends to type of shirt, hose, shoes, sporrans, in the "uniform" but never/rarely is the kilt mentioned. It's obviously a given (to be repetitively redundant) that the kilt will be worn.

There are a number of pipe bands out there with enough money from various sponsors and/or fundraising endeavors to spend on fancier dress. While some might well argue that all of that extra gear (doublets, crossbelts, ostrich feather hats) could be viewed as "costume," whether it looks like a costume or dress gear really depends on the deportment of the wearer(s).

Occasionally I will wear a kilt as part of an ensemble for a Hallowe'en or other costumed event. Then, I agree, the intent is clearly that it is part of a costume. Other times, when I've spent considerable time "getting it right" (as in a preparation for a Burns' Nicht Dinner), any suggestion that I'm costumed for such an event would most likely be met by the rejoinder, "I'm dressed for the occasion." More or less . . .

Mac