Oh NO! I'm a Kilt Snob

[Mark Keeney]

I just worked all day at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival and I saw many men in kilts. Then I heard myself tell my wife, "There are a lot of bad kilts here." Several kilts were cotton shirt (read thin) material wrapped around themselves or very shallow pleats, or pleats and apron that went the wrong way. One person had even used thin cotton material several yards long and instead of pleating it he wrapped it around himself many times and belted it on.

I am glad I know the joys of a well made kilt that looks good and feels good to wear and I felt bad for the ones who were trying to imitate the look without much sucess.

I do realize that I am glad to see so many men wearing a kilt of sorts and finding out the benefits of a kilt, even if the don't get the full benifit of a well made kilt.

I need to be more tolerant and help those who are trying and help educate them to the true meaning of being kilted.

I also saw some good looking kilts too.

[Roan Carter]

Ha ha. I know how you feel. I went to a Celtic fest in Roanoke Virginia a while back, and I felt the same way. I wanted to take a few of them by the hand and instruct them a bit.

But then I saw this one guy in a really nice Confederate tartan kilt, and I almost died at the site of it. ^_^

[auld argonian]

Oh...you spotted the lads from Clan MacTablecloth....I saw a couple at the local Highland Games this year. Last year at Chicago Celtic Fest there was a guy who just must have been SO excited to get his new kilt on that he left the basting stitches in...that or he planned to try to return it on Monday morning.

We ought to have some guidelines for dialogues that we can engage these guys in so that we can encourage them to get their outfits together.

Stuff like, "Hey...you're trying out the kilt, huh? You should check out Xmarksthescot on line...there's a lot of good tips on there." You're right, they should be encouraged and not made sport of.

And, Roan, you are right...that Confederate Taran is smashing...makes one wish that he had some rights to wear it (though I know for a fact that parts of my family fought on both sides in the War Between The States). Maybe there should also be a Union Tartan that complimented the Cofederate one.

Best

AA

[MacWage]

Maybe there should also be a Union Tartan that complimented the Cofederate one.

Best

AA

I wonder what peole would think if you wore them together????


Aren't Clan MacTablecloth and Clan MacWal(mart) connected :rolleyes: ?

[Chris Webb]

I bought my first kilt at a Ren Fair about 4 years ago, got a cotton 'kilt shirt' and put the outfit on right then and there. I felt great! My wife loved it and all the folks in the kilt tent really got me excited about wearing it. They even helped me adjust the length.

I'm just a little under 5'7" and the kilt was way too long so the fellow fitting me to it rolled the waist over itself and covered it with my belt. It felt wonderfully cool on that hot day hitting my legs just above the knee. All fixed up I couldn't wait to get out into the fair and really enjoy it.

I hadn't gone 5 minutes before three rather heavy gals in period clothing stopped me and gave me trouble over the length of my kilt ... I was expecting a compliment, instead they said, "that's a boy's kilt, not a man's kilt and started laughing." Well, my wife jumped to my defense and asked exactly what they meant. "A Mans kilt goes past his knees, HIS kilt is too short!" My wife said, "The shorter the better!"

Right then and there, before I knew anything about all the 'rules' of proper fitting and types of kilts and meanings of tartans, I decided that I would never be one of those folks who nitpicked other folks' kilts. Whether it's a guy in a pleated table cloth or a piper in his full regalia I just want to go, YEAAAHHHH.

I've found that folks who find out they like to wear kilts will very quickly learn about them and start to save money for a 'real' kilt however we define that. I'm thankful that I didn't let those 3 gals of the kilt police embarrass me out of trying kilts ... and I'm thankful that my wife defended me and made me feel like a total stud the rest of the day.

Any man, young or old, should be encouraged while going about kilted. What's it to any of us if they wade in slowly in a home-made kilt no matter how funny it may look to those of us with 'real' ones. Mark's got it right and it really is important for us not to become kilt snobs. Thanks for this thread, Mark, I'll be a better kiltman for having read it.

Kilt On.

Chris Webb

[Raphael]

At least they are trying.

[GMan]

I wouldn't say snob, just a realist!

[pdcorlis]

I too spotted several "kilt don'ts" at the local Highland Games. I didn't chat with any of them but someday I hope I have the right encouraging words to help someone down the path to the kilted life.

I do see this as a right of passage- at least I know what a good kilt and a well turned out kilted man looks like!

[MacWage]

On a more serious note, and after a 4 hour nap, I'll make useful comments.

If you are in a kilt and it is worn correctly, it shows. Others who have no idea what they are doing, but want to, WILL walk up and ask you questions. By the nature and manner of the questions it is usually quite clear if they are seriously wanting to get and wear a kilt,or if they are just messing with "the guy in a skirt" ! Most of us started with a less than accurate kilt before we figured out what we were doing and fixed our problems.

Those who really want help will seek it, and if we are nice in our presentation to them, and respectful of thier person, we can make a BIG impact on them (and direct them here for more advise). I had (I thought) unconventional views on kilts and thought most of those like you were "blow hards" based on bad experiences early on. Now, I realize that most actually AGREE WITH ME on most kiling aspects. It took me asking and involvement in people having FUN kilted that I realized it.

What cracks me up are those who really aren't interested in actually wearing a kilt, so they make fun of it, showing the depth of ignorance. YET, when they come to me and express interest in real kilting (as opposed to costuming), I leave them more knowledgable and excited. MANY, many times I have had couples where the man says "I never thought of wearing my kilt to something like this . . . " and the wife says, "Well, you should have!"

[munnin]

Well I went out kilted for the first time today at the highland games in Altamont NY. I was wearing a royal Stewart affordable (casual) kilt from kiltmart.

It was purchased for a wedding on the 16th. While a more traditional kilt would have been preferable this was the best the groom could afford. After walking around for a while I felt like I was wearing a table cloth so obvious was the difference in look and feel my kilt had.

So I can understand the snobbish part o it, though my wife did say she liked me wearing the kilt.