With time more diverse kilt wearing

[Jack Daw]

For daytime, I've only worn the kilt at Highland games. When I'm not competing on the pipes, I like to wear a piper's shirt, a Craigie sporran, hiking boots, and pulled-up hose with flashes. Except for any utilitarian value, I hate to wear hats. I've been rather rigid in this informal dress code, but I have gotten accustomed to seeing the "relaxed" hose (w/o flashes and garters) and now I think that wearing hose as such is rather cool-looking. Right now, that's all I'm willing to do. I'm almost 49 and haven't worn trainers/sneakers and T-shirts, except for the health club, in years. But, to each his own, and I don't get upset at those woh wear T-shirts and sandals. A buddy of mine, who is 58, wears those, but he used to be a pot-smoking hippy.

[Highland Logan]

No.

I have been wearing a kilt for over 40 years. Casually (not as casually as some), for business, and for formal, but I would never leave the house without a sporran, I have never worn crew socks and sneakers with a kilt and I don't think I have worn a t-shirt with a kilt more than three or four times in my life. However I am very comfortable wearing a kilt and always have been. I don't think you can equate how comfortable/confident someone is with wearing a kilt with how casually he wears it. I don't think a proper kilt is that casual a garment.

I have to support Chef on this one, although I do wear t-shirts on occasion during the summer (company shirt for work, and one with the logo of my own small business).

I have disagree with the kilt snob here. A kilt with all the trappings is something that it had to evolve into. A 'proper' kilt would be everyday wear with no rules regarding this or that. The Scotsman of yesteryear didn't go hunting for supper in full PC regalia. I'm sure if a particular item had no function he wouldn't wear it. Dress up or dress down if it makes live easier (as I'm sure it does) then all the power to you.

I would remind people that what a Highlander would have worn while hunting in the 16th-17th century has no bearing on the rules and etiquette of proper modren Scottish attire, nor should it. Otherwise we end up surrounded by people dressed as "cartoon" Highlanders wearing all the latest fashions found on the newest bog body to be dug up.

Frank

[SportBilly]

I have to support Chef on this one, although I do wear t-shirts on occasion during the summer (company shirt for work, and one with the logo of my own small business).


I would remind people that what a Highlander would have worn while hunting in the 16th-17th century has no bearing on the rules and etiquette of proper modren Scottish attire, nor should it. Otherwise we end up surrounded by people dressed as "cartoon" Highlanders wearing all the latest fashions found on the newest bog body to be dug up.

Frank

Without wishing to pee on anyone's ghillie brogues, I'd suggest that 'enforced' etiquette (outside of 'dress' occasions of course) is exactly why most people who have considered kilts don't wear them

Speaking from personal experience, the realisation that a kilt can be worn without ruffles and a PC jacket was a revelation for me and led directly to my recent first kilt purchase.

[Jock Scot]

Without wishing to pee on anyone's ghillie brogues, I'd suggest that 'enforced' etiquette (outside of 'dress' occasions of course) is exactly why most people who have considered kilts don't wear them

Speaking from personal experience, the realisation that a kilt can be worn without ruffles and a PC jacket was a revelation for me and led directly to my recent first kilt purchase.

What a shame you have thought as you did.Wearing the kilt with a PC is not a common event for most of us,but the truth is that the kilt can be worn in a more informal style without looking sloppy.I amongst others feel that the kilt looks wrong when worn with a T shirt,no sporran,hose down at ankle,sandles etc.

For me,informal wearing of the kilt means,traditional wool kilt,hose drawn up to the correct height,well polished shoes,sporran,opened neck collared shirt,with or without pullover.People are quite at liberty to have other ideas but for me, I feel that any more casual than along the lines I suggest is doing kilt wearing no favours in the long run.

[SportBilly]

What a shame you have thought as you did.Wearing the kilt with a PC is not a common event for most of us,but the truth is that the kilt can be worn in a more informal style without looking sloppy.I amongst others feel that the kilt looks wrong when worn with a T shirt,no sporran,hose down at ankle,sandles etc.

For me,informal wearing of the kilt means,traditional wool kilt,hose drawn up to the correct height,well polished shoes,sporran,opened neck collared shirt,with or without pullover.People are quite at liberty to have other ideas but for me, I feel that any more casual than along the lines I suggest are doing kilt wearing no favours in the long run.

You mean it's a shame that I thought formal was the only way to wear a kilt? If that's the case then you're absolutely right. I should point out, though, that I'm not advocating dressing as you suggested for a moment, and as I said earlier, casual to me is kilt, sporran and shirt. Admittedly I wear my black hose down with boots but still think that looks casual and smart without being formal. That's the kind of casual that I think should be encouraged

[Highland Logan]

Without wishing to pee on anyone's ghillie brogues, I'd suggest that 'enforced' etiquette (outside of 'dress' occasions of course) is exactly why most people who have considered kilts don't wear them

Speaking from personal experience, the realisation that a kilt can be worn without ruffles and a PC jacket was a revelation for me and led directly to my recent first kilt purchase.

Well if you take a quick read of the past posts in the thread, no one said that all day, everyday was black tie and PC. Wearing the kilt is just like wearing a good pair of jeans or kakis with a nice shirt, correctly coloured socks and shoes. There are rules to dressing yourself. Would you wear white socks with black dress shoes and pants? Some tend to feel that the kilt is a symbol of "freedom". Well guess what, it isn't. A kilt is no more a symbol of freedom than a pair of kakis.

Frank

[SportBilly]

Well if you take a quick read of the past posts in the thread, no one said that all day, everyday was black tie and PC. Wearing the kilt is just like wearing a good pair of jeans or kakis with a nice shirt, correctly coloured socks and shoes. There are rules to dressing yourself. Would you wear white socks with black dress shoes and pants? Some tend to feel that the kilt is a symbol of "freedom". Well guess what, it isn't. A kilt is no more a symbol of freedom than a pair of kakis.

Frank

And that goes back to what I said earlier - the very reason that the trousered majority will never switch to kilts for anything other than weddings or Ren Faires because they regard kilts as too stiff & formal. I might be new to kilts but don't recall reading anywhere that they can only be worn by Sean Connery lookalikes for audiences with The Queen. They're far too comfortable to just be worn when wanting to look like a doll in an Edinburgh tourist shop ;)

[Highland Logan]

What part is the shame? I'm not advocating dress as you suggested for a moment, and if you read my earlier post you'll see that casual to me is kilt, sporran and shirt. Admittedly I wear my black hose down with boots but still think that looks casual and smart without being formal. That's my point

Not to be flip, but people think lots of things.. it doesn't make them right, or fact. The fact is however, that wearing kilts comes with the same dress rules as all other clothing (albeit some extra special ones). The casual dress of a red-neck would get him laughed out of most night clubs. But "he" thought he was comfortable and looked good.. but if he dressed correctly, he'd still be there dancing the night away.

Frank

[Jock Scot]

You mean it's a shame that I thought formal was the only way to wear a kilt? If that's the case then you're absolutely right. I should point out, though, that I'm not advocating dressing as you suggested for a moment, and as I said earlier, casual to me is kilt, sporran and shirt. Admittedly I wear my black hose down with boots but still think that looks casual and smart without being formal. That's the kind of casual that I think should be encouraged

Even with the age gap between us it looks as though we nearly agree!I will try to get you to see the error of your ways with the crumpled hose bit though!Out of interest where does your casual finish and formal start?For me, formal starts at a PC or a silver buttoned black Argyll. A tweed Argyll,for example,would range from smart to almost casual depending on the look I am wanting and the event.

[Highland Logan]

...the very reason that the trousered majority will never switch to kilts for anything other than weddings or Ren Faires because they regard kilts as too stiff & formal

Who's asking them to switch? The point is for those who choose to wear a kilt, wear it correctly.

Frank