Are these kilts?

[andyfg]

If Hamish wears it, it must be a kilt.

Good argument, though to be philosophically more accurate:

a) Hamish wears only kilts
b) Hamish wears UKs
c) UKs are kilts

In this form it is logically valid, but I fear premise a) begs the question that we already know what kilts are, hence it is circular.

[Blu (Ontario)]

kilt vs. skirt - moot issue
sporran vs. no sporran - moot
modern vs. traditional - moot
regimental vs. undergarments - moot
moot vs. moot - moot
moot... moot... moot...

I say the most important thing is to wear whatever style brings a bit of joy into your life and let the other guy do the same.

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[Caradoc]

moot... moot... moot...

But I thought we were mooting the question already.

[Panache]

So between Chris Webb's (Kilts subset of skirt) and An t-Ileah's (kilt descended from blankets) theories we can come up with a third theory: that kilts are the illegitimate offspring of a 13th century wanton skirt and a wool plaid blanket looking to sow a few wild oats

Seriously though what we think of as traditional kilt (the infamous 8 yard tartan) is a fairly recent incarnation of the kilt. Check out Matt Newsome's site www.albanach.org for a lot of interesting facts about the development of the kilt. I think it's pretty wonderful that the kilt isn't being regulated to being just a period costume piece. It exists and continues to evolve. Creating new subsets of it's own.

By the by, I think it's fine for someone to refer to a kilt as a skirt in jest...
AS LONG AS THEY THEMSELVES ARE WEARING A KILT!

Cheers

[Hamish]

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Seriously though what we think of as traditional kilt (the infamous 8 yard tartan) is a fairly recent incarnation of the kilt. Check out Matt Newsome's site www.albanach.org for a lot of interesting facts about the development of the kilt. I think it's pretty wonderful that the kilt isn't being regulated to being just a period costume piece. It exists and continues to evolve. Creating new subsets of it's own.
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Cheers

You are SO absolutely spot on. My sentiments exactly.

By the way, if I am questioned (and it very seldom happens thesedays) about my unusual kilts (that would be my Utilikilts), I always refer to them as my "American kilts". This is usually received with surprise since 'Joe Public' in the United Kingdom just cannot understand how kilts, even American ones, can possibly come to be made in the USA! This, in turn, leads to an opportunity for me to explain the phenomenon that has been the amazing explosion of kilt-wearing and kilt manufacturing, both traditional and contemporary, by our brethren across the pond in the past six years.

When anyone questions ANY of my kilts, they leave me wiser and more understanding than when they posed the question!!

[Kilted Stuart]

I thought also that this thread was going to be a can o worms so to speak.
So far I am impressed that everyone is trying to keep there emotions in check. This has been a heated discussion topic in the past.

Although i'm not a big fan myself of the UK style kilt it's nice there is a choice for everyone. The same thing is happening on the Camo kilt thread. Not everyone will conform to the norm and will branch out into alternative styles.
It's great we have that choice for individual style and comfort.

If you look at womens clothing section in any mens and womens clothes store catalogue the womans section is always huge compared to the mens. We don't have a lot of choices in clothes except for different colours and sizes and slight style variations. We don't have a lot of choices.

It's the same thing here, tartans,solids and camos. A few choices can be had and the individual has the choice of what to wear.

Who am I to say there wrong because there different!!!!.
All the kiltmakers have there slight diferences in there kilts and fabric choices.
Wear what you want to wear.

Just a thought
Kilted Stuart

[Panache]

Kilted Stuart wrote:

It's great we have that choice for individual style and comfort.

That's why I like having both traditionals and my UK. When I want to look nice I have my SWK acrylic Hunting McCleod. When I want to be dressed up I have my SWK Black all wool "Shadow Tartan" When I've got errands to run and work to do it's my UK Mocker I wear. My lightweight Blackwatch tartan kilt falls somewhere between. I don't own just one set of pants I have several. Each are appropriate for different occassions / uses. Same with each of my kilts. I like them all.

Cheers

[NewKilt]

I consider the Utilikilt to be a contemporary kilt, although I don't own one. I do have Amerikilts and consider them to be contemporary kilts as well. I don't consider them to be Scottish kilts, but rather a kilt that was adapted from the traditional Scottish kilt. If someone wants to call them a skirt, I have no problem with that.

Darrell

[Retro Red]

If someone wants to call them a skirt, I have no problem with that.

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other word would smell as sweet."

William Shakespeare--From Romeo and Juliet (II, ii, 1-2)

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[KiltedCodeWarrior]

I have to agree with prior posts, call it what you will. It is a garment that I am comfortable wearing. I don't dictate to anybody else what they can wear, and would never condescend to pass judgement or ask questions about anything someone else choses to wear.

And I have to echo Kilted Stuart's comments, everybody is being very polite on this (very often repeated) thread.