5 People You Meet in Heaven

[Colin]

I had an eloquent answer, yesterday, to Colin's original complaint about being picked on, but my computer locked up yesterday and I didn't feel like typing it all again. Essentially, he, and others, wear the equivalent of fine suits, while we wear jeans. We both represent examples of non-costume wear, but you and I advocate casual wear, while they advocate formal wear.

And, for the record, I am also an occassional wearer, the kilts are in rotation with the rest of the shorts and slacks in my wardrobe.

Firstly, it was not a complaint about be "picked on" as I had just joined the thread. It was a complaint about lack of mutual respect. Two members of the forum were calling down people that only wore their kilts to weddings. I wanted to point out that not everyone wants a dozen $100 kilts to wear all the time. I am completely middle of the road. I have 2 casuals (just sold the other 2) and one traditional.

I am not advocating formal wear, but ask that people that wear their kilts as formal wear get some respect here too. We have heard stupid *** terms like "weekend wallace" thrown around for the folks that only bring their kilts out a few times a year. I suspect that if those people (usually people with a lot of Scottish heritage) started calling members of this forum with little to no Scottish heritage, that wear the kilt "wannabe wallaces" there would be an uproar. It's about common respect.

As for formal versus casual, I am off to the pub Friday night, and I will be wearing my traditional kilt. You can dress it up and dress it down. I wish I could say the same about the casual models I have.

[Colin]

I disagree. A traditional kilt can be worn "casually" as well as "formally". That is why they are so versitile. I wear my traditional "casually" (a la LL Bean and Woolrich) to games and other functions all the time. You can't really compare a traditional to a suit because of that very reason.

T.

Sure you can Todd. I used to wear my suit in many different ways.
Shirt, tie, jacket - for very dressy
dress shirt and jacket (no tie) - for a bit more casual
slacks and dress shirt (maybe with a v neck sweater)- even more casual
slacks and a golf shirt - very casual

A suit is versatile for a lot of different occasions, but usually still looks classier than a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. I'm not going to wear a suit gardening, but I likely wouldn't wear a kilt for that either.

[UmAnOnion]

I hope you are not implying that I am "uneducated" because I am not a full-time kilt wearer and a trouser-wearer.

T.

NO NO NO NO NO!!! NOT BY ANY MEANS MY GOOD MAN!!!

by that i meant the common person who has never seen a kilt other than on a bad piper and/or insists on calling them skirts (had a bit of a 'dialogue' with one of thoise saturday night. all i can say is OY!!!)

Anyone who has spent any time at all on here & has the fortitude to wear a kilt ON ANY OCCASION cannot be called uneducated - at least not by me :-D

I am a fellow part timer & doubt that i coudl ever go full time - there are definately times in my life when trousers are the better choice. maybe not the preferred choice but definately the better!

[Ugly Bear]

Lead by example my good man - that's often the best way. Just keep wearing your kilts at every available opportunity and in ways that show the uneducated that they are viable alternatives to the dreaded trousers and slowly you will win them over.

I don't think that's gonna do it. Maybe I'm not approachable or something, but people don't seem all that interested in my "example." Besides, I'm not terribly patient, and winning people over slowly ain't what I'm after.

Come to think of it, I did come up with a T-shirt design for Pittsburgh Kilts that says, "...'cause no one can stop you." That's exactly the anti-trouser message I want to send: "You have a choice, dammit." Now I just have to make people wear the T-shirt.

So that's ONE thing besides just leading by example. What else can I do? Help me out here, I'm on a deadline (1 January 2013).

Dude!! One person will not change a culture!

Well, not with THAT attitude, he won't. Besides, it's not true! Look at ... uh ... uh ... that South Park episode where Kyle singlehandedly brought down the Communist regime in Cuba.

Even if I can't do it alone, it doesn't hurt to aim high. And maybe I'll influence someone who WILL change the culture. I don't think it would take much effort to get Donald Rumsfeld into a kilt. I don't know why, he just looks like he's ready. Ditto Jon Stewart; I think the Royal Stewart tartan would appeal to his vanity. There's just this pain in their eyes that makes you know they're longing to ditch the trousers.

If that fails, I will re-animate the dead and raise a Kilted Zombie Army of Doom.

...Upon further reflection, I may not pursue that option.

Anyone have anything else to say about "5 People You Meet in Heaven"? We might be slightly off-topic at this point.

[way2fractious]

The occasional wearer... helps reinforce the "kilt-as-costume" stereotype

As with other previous responders, I am also an occasional wearer of the kilt - I just try to expand the list of occasions during which I may wear one. They are very comfortable and extremely FUN to wear. I take pleasure in the pleasure others receive, either in their compliments or in their trying to discomfit me by their crude comments or questions.

Some time ago the topic of "uniforms" crossed my mind. When I go to karate, there is the karate uniform; cycling has its own specialized clothing (almost every sport does); workplaces attempt to define the acceptable uniform through formal and informal means. The list goes on and on. It seems that dressing appropriately to the occasion or activity makes the most sense. In fact, this board freely gives individual members advice on that subject.

(If anyone finds the two cents I dropped...)

[Rigged]

We keep having this dicussion come up because it's important.

For many people here, the kilts is mainly about culture and heritage. Common acceptance of the kilt means to them a dilution of it's cultural meaning.

I understand and appreciate that. For me, the kilt is mainly about having a viable alternative to trousers. The cultural aspects are secondary, but I do own a tartan kilt that I have a family connection to. My eight other kilts are non-tartan kilts that I wear instead of trousers.

[macwilkin]

We keep having this dicussion come up because it's important.

For many people here, the kilts is mainly about culture and heritage. Common acceptance of the kilt means to them a dilution of it's cultural meaning.

I understand and appreciate that. For me, the kilt is mainly about having a viable alternative to trousers. The cultural aspects are secondary, but I do own a tartan kilt that I have a family connection to. My eight other kilts are non-tartan kilts that I wear instead of trousers.

Well...yes and no, at least for me, on your comment about "dilution of cultural meaning".

Look at all of the tartans for non-Scots that are available today -- American, Canadian, Irish, English, Welsh, German, Italian, Breton, Dutch, Russian -- I could go on and on naming other nationalities, countries, corporations, etc. that have their own tartan. I regularly recommend these tartans to folks who may not have Scottish blood, but are interested in Scottish history and culture, and love to wear the kilt. So, that statement really doesn't take into account the fact that the tartan has expanded above Scottish borders.

Also: modern "casual" kilts, as Hamish is always pointing out, are not "Scottish" per se -- I'm really not concerned about them "diluting" my heritage -- they're just not for me.

I understand what you're saying, though.

Cheers,

Todd

[GlassMan]

For me, a kilt is something I wear every day. It's not only a matter of culture but also of comfort. And it also provides an opportunity as a conversation opener so that I can help educate others about our past.

That being said, I actually much prefer that kilt-wearers are in the minority. I'd hate to think of what would be done to kilts if everyone wore them.

[bubba]

That being said, I actually much prefer that kilt-wearers are in the minority. I'd hate to think of what would be done to kilts if everyone wore them.

Levi 501 button fly kilts?

[Iolaus]

Levi 501 button fly kilts?

Well, UK already did the zip fly, didn't they?