kilts in Scotland

[Phil]

This subject seems to come up regularly and I see it as part of the misconception the rest of the world has about Scots and their customs (and I am not including the majority who actually think we are English!). Scots see themselves as a modern, forward-looking society, not some mist-shrouded anachronism leaping from glen to glen in a ridiculous parody of "Brigadoon". Apart from a few tourist guides, kilt shop employees and, yes I have to say it, American tourists, few actual Scots wear the kilt on a daily basis. For one thing it costs too much to risk it getting torn or stained and for another most work places have dress codes which discourage it. For us it is a dress for special occasions when we want to look our best. I was married in a top hat and tails as was the custom in Scotland thirty odd years ago. Few people owned a kilt then and the only ones I ever saw were in pipe bands and on the occasional boy scout. I am sorry to disappoint but probably the last place you can expect to see a kilt is in Scotland as it genuinely is not worn regularly by people here.

[Monkey@Arms]

This subject seems to come up regularly and I see it as part of the misconception the rest of the world has about Scots and their customs (and I am not including the majority who actually think we are English!). Scots see themselves as a modern, forward-looking society, not some mist-shrouded anachronism leaping from glen to glen in a ridiculous parody of "Brigadoon". Apart from a few tourist guides, kilt shop employees and, yes I have to say it, American tourists, few actual Scots wear the kilt on a daily basis. For one thing it costs too much to risk it getting torn or stained and for another most work places have dress codes which discourage it. For us it is a dress for special occasions when we want to look our best. I was married in a top hat and tails as was the custom in Scotland thirty odd years ago. Few people owned a kilt then and the only ones I ever saw were in pipe bands and on the occasional boy scout. I am sorry to disappoint but probably the last place you can expect to see a kilt is in Scotland as it genuinely is not worn regularly by people here.

Might I venture a guess about the reason it comes up? The members of this forum are by definition people who are enthusiastic about kilts. I suspect that on occasion a poster is looking for a place where kilt wearing is a norm, and where better to look than the birthplace of the kilt? They are therefore disappointed to learn that daily wearing of kilts is as infrequent in Scotland as it is in the U.S., if not more so.

Additionally, for those enjoying the comfort and freedom of the kilt for the first time, they may feel that they have discovered something that had been hidden from them all of their pants wearing life, and be thinking, "Boy, if this was my national garb I'd have never adopted pants as my daily wear."

This thread has provided lots of thoughtful explanations as to why the kilt fell out of fashion for daily wear in Scotland.

Best regards,

Jake

[auld argonian]

I would guess, too, that asking about the status of kilt wearing in Scotland has a lot to do with how you would be received if you show up in Scotland wearing a kilt.

A lot of us would certainly love to go to Scotland and, being Xmarksers, would be thinking that they should wear their kilts. Would the locals say, "Oh, you wore a kilt! How nice...do you have Scottish ancestors? Well, we're deeply honored that you thought so much of us to have worn the kilt." or "What the hell are you dressed up for? Oh...another damn tourist! If we went to the USA do you think that we'd be wearing cowboy hats?"

Obviously either extreme and everything in between would be a possibility. In my travels, I often encounter people who say that they have some connection with Chicago and I always try (in spite of my frequent tendency to be terribly anti-social) to be positive and polite and ask about it...when were they here, where did they stay...etc.

I used to have after-work cocktails with a guy who represented the tourist industry of another Celtic country that's just West of Scotland...I don't want to get him in any trouble so I'm circumlocuting the actual name of the country...let's just say it rhymes with "Fireland". Anyway, he used to go on about the descendants of "Firish" emigres that got off the plane and expected expected leprechauns and everybody wearing green...and that there was plenty of that for those who wanted it but there was so much else going on for those who had somewhat more contemporary expectations. Of course, if you're coming over here, you can go to Colonial Williamsburg and any number of "ghost towns" out West...

I'm certainly NOT trying to be negative about anybody's tourist expectations...it's your trip, hope you get what you want. We actually have an "Untouchables" tour and restaurant here in Chicago for all of you gangster fans...come and spend your money.

My roundabout point being that I think that many of us are curious because we wonder how we would be received if we showed up kilted.

Best

AA