I think i'm turning into a kilt snob...

[BoldHighlander]

On the other side of the coin, I see the the Renn Faire regualrs at Highland Games and I must admit, I get my back up a bit. I have wanted to tell more than one such attendee that we are NOT playing at being a culture, this IS our culture, and the tartans, coats of arms, etc are very real and mean something special to us.

These "types" (and others) annoy me at our local Highland Games if what they are wearing (or the way they are wearing it) is like one big caricature of those of us who do see it as our culture. Then it just makes us as a whole look like a big joke to the unkilted masses attending our local games

That being said, there are many different ways to wear the kilt, accesories to choose, and being able to put together a look that is comfortable and somewhat "together" is the key. My two cents.....

I agree

[Chef]

Ayin, join us, embrace the power of the dark side

Glad to have you join us; it's a small but distinguished brotherhood.

[DTrain]

I understand your point of view. There are probably others at the same event who were "medieval snobs" and heartily critical of some of the other modes of dress other than kilts.

I wish you had some pics for the "kilt don'ts" thread (or at least for our entertainment). It's funny how I myself wouldn't have known proper kilt attire one year ago--you learn a lot reading threads here at XMarks. Maybe you should direct those offenders here.

[Ayin McFye]

LOL You guys are great.

Ok then, so what it comes down to is this. When someone that is more educated in wearing a kilt sees someone in the mundane "real" world drastically wearing their kilt wrong (for example pleats all the way around instead of just in the back) we have a few options. Which one is right?

1) Approach them and inform them that they are wearing the kilt incorrectly and advise them to join www.xmarksthescot.com for more info?

2) Just leave them alone and let them enjoy the "attempt" at wearing a kilt.

3) Just go stand next to them, and let everyone else around notice the difference between a sharp dressed kilt, and a table cloth?

Everyone is going to react differently and I'd hate to really upset or dissuade someone from embracing a kilted lifestyle. It's hard to predict how someone will react when you tell them they are doing something wrong. Some people will embrace the information, while others will take it personally.

I'm just trying to be a "snob with morals".

[SteveB]

The avatar is my Sunday coming home from church wearing of a tartan kilt. -Properly shined shoes, sporran, kilt pin kilt hose, matching tartan flashes, belt, matching tartan tie, dress shirt, and someday a vest and jacket.
I also have a self colour denim kilt that is worn with work boots, rolled socks, solid colour T-shirt or golf shirt. - this being for kicking around town, work, or general rough service.
Then the SWK thrifty is great as my "lounge wear" kilt in the house.
Just as the trousered community has levels of dress, so do we in the kilted community. Above is the "business suit", "jeans and work shirt", and loungepants after the shower".
I do not yet own a clan tartan PC "tuxedo' level, but that will happen soon.
This is my take as a sort of kilted full time snob.

[BoldHighlander]

Everyone is going to react differently and I'd hate to really upset or dissuade someone from embracing a kilted lifestyle. It's hard to predict how someone will react when you tell them they are doing something wrong. Some people will embrace the information, while others will take it personally.

That's the crux of the issue, isn't it?
I would think of the person wearing pleats all the way around one could say something to the effect of:
"that's an interesting way to wear the kilt, never seen it done that way before. Could you tell me more about that style?"
Might open up a conversation that then would lead into (gently) guiding them in the correct way.

[SteveB]

Now that I have my style posted..... here is the rest of the story.
I have occasionally tried the large piece of plaid fabric, pulled into pleats on the floor, and then belted around my waist with much left over to to tuck and wrap in many manners. The Great Kilt is a wonderful garment when first put on. After several train, subway, and bus changes the effects of the pleats have been known to become a Big Plaid Knot. (This was the fate one day when several pleats were caught in the trolley doors between two stops on the green line in a rain storm.) I fully sympathize with the results of such at festivals, ren-faires and the like.
I do attend a few events a year at which I get to see the "kilted" in various forms. Mostly it boils down to the "Amercan" kilted - Utilikilts, Freedom kilts, Amerikilts, and others of the non-tartan variety. Versus the "Scottish" kilted - Tartan kilt of semi traditional to full tank, with the accessories. I enjoy silently critiquing the quality of the kilt, by the standards that are in Barb's book.
----Entertainment made easy----
Steve

[auld argonian]

Personally, things being what they are these days what with communications and the internet and all, I can't figure HOW anybody can go through all of the trouble to wear a kilt...even as a quick costume for a ren-fair or whatever,,,and still get it radically wrong. Some slight errors might be understandable but it sounds like you're encountering some truly egregious weirdness.

I've seen a couple of guys who have done stuff like not remove the basting stitches and one guy who very obviously had a checkered tablecloth wrapped around his waist (although most of it was crawling up the crack of his @$$...and this at the Highland Games, no less...but the guy was also obviously SOOOO plastered that he couldn't tell the difference anyway).

You can only be a genial kilted emissary...I like the suggestions that you just strike up a chummy conversation and ask about their garb...maybe not even offer any overt criticism...let's face it, nobody likes a person who walks up and starts giving unsolicited criticism. Just do your best to set a good example and maintain an even strain.

Best

AA

[Colin]

I would think that it's better to give them the link here. I can't imagine being the guy that is told that kilts don't have pleats all the way around, or that my basting stiches are still in. What would make it worse is still having to wear it for the rest of the day knowing that others will likely notice the mistake. Better to let them enjoy the day and learn the error later on than to make the kilt a traumatic thing that they won't touch again.

[Retro Red]

Yes, if I see another gent wearing a kilt, I admit that I do find myself critiquing how well put together his outfit is. But that's a judgment I generally keep to myself; how they choose to dress isn't any of my business.

However, if they're exhibiting a major faux pas, like wearing the kilt backwards with the pleats in the front, I might try to point this out discreetly to him in a similar manner as when one notices that one of the poor trousered masses has failed to properly zip their p**ts.

I would first compliment him on wearing a kilt & then inquire if he's been wearing kilts for very long. If he mentions (as is most likely) that he's just started wearing a kilt, then I would ask if he was aware that traditionally the pleats are worn in the back with the apron in front. Now, if he says that he is aware of that or he says he's been wearing kilts for awhile, then I drop the subject - obviously he's made a conscious decision to wear the kilt backwards - no skin off of my nose.

Like the quote in my signature line says, "I used to be disgusted, now I try to be amused."

.