Contemporary vs. Traditional Kilt Perceptions?

[elrond]

I've both.
I prefer traditional for a lot of reason, but in the ot italian summer, oro for doing heavy works or for hiking I prefer modern or casual ones.
The difference in perception it is that here in Italy, a traditional tartan kilt it is most easily recognized as a kilt, while a plain colored one, it is much more seen as a skirt... However, following my way of living, I go on and answer to those who want to know more, explaining simply and shortly the differences between modern and traditional kilts.
Ciao !

[DWFII]

Not yet owning a kilt (I have two traditional kilts in the works) I may or may not have any credibility in this discussion, depending on your point of view. But as a long time observer of kilts, I can tell you that I have always admired traditional kilts worn in with some deference to tradition...ie sporran, kilt hose, etc....and the people that wore them.

I hope that I do not offend anyone when I say that I don't feel so positive about contemporary kilts. IMHO, it's not quite the thing, is it?

Now having said that, this thread is about "perceptions" and the above is just one man's perception...not written in stone, IOW.

[Nick the DSM]

well, when i've worn my solid black people thought it was a skirt than my wallace SK as a kilt.

[The Wizard of BC]

I think it's OK if I chime in on this thread as I am one of the advocates of the Contemporary Kilt. (Heck, I'm the one who started using that term).

And I guess I have a slightly different take on the question because I make kilts that if made from Tartan fabric can easily be taking for a Traditional Kilt, but if I make the exact same kilt from a solid colored fabric or a Camo fabric looks completely different.

I find that, in general, it has less to do with the style of kilt I am wearing as it does with the overall appearance and style I am trying to portray to the public with the accessories I choose to accompany the kilt.

For example, If I wear one of my Contemporary Style Kilts with my usual button-down collar shirt and penny loafer shoes, I get the reaction from the public that I am just a normal guy wearing a kilt with cool pockets. I get comments like "Oh that is a bit different". "I think I could wear one of those." "Where did you get it?"

If I wear the exact same shirt and shoes with the same Model Kilt, but instead of Solid color fabric, made from a Tartan I get asked the "do you play the pipes" question. The Tartan brings the almost automatic assumption that I am involved in some "Scottish Function".

Now let's wear the first kilt in the solid color fabric and pair it with a t-shirt with heavy metal logo on it, a pair of big clunky boots, and add enough accessories with metal studs and chains I would get a completely different reaction.

This idea that it is "not the kilt as much as it is the overall style of the wearer" that is part of something that has been on my mind for a while now, I just haven't been able to put it in words yet.

Here's a rough stab at the idea;

It seems to me that some of us in N. America view the kilt as a way to "dress-down". While the tradition from Europe is to use the kilt as a way to "Dress-up".

You can see the two schools of thought right here on this forum. The Traditionalists among us us the Kilt to harken back to their Heritage, to their Scottish roots. The "I'm American, a mutt and a rebel" among us use the Kilt as a way of showing we are different from those older Traditions.

I'm going to use an example here but please no one get upset. I'm not being negative in any way.
The style presented by The Utilikilts Company is one of "Outside the Scottish Tradition" They are the leaders of the "We're not in a Pipe Band" image.
The UK is a good garment. The people who buy and wear them are not thinking that it is a Traditional Kilt. They know this up front and they know that if they wanted to wear it with the Traditional accessories they could, but they want something different.
A UK paired with a shirt and tie, dress shoes and hose, will pass very well on the street as a Kilt. But the reaction from the public will be very different from the same UK paired with less formal accessories.

So, what I'm trying to say is it is not the kilt by itself that gets a certain reaction. It is the overall style that the kilt wearer portrays that is at the root of the original question.

OK, I'm off my soapbox now.

[ghostlight]

I think it's OK if I chime in on this thread...

Absolutely. I appreciate the input.

And I guess I have a slightly different take on the question because I make kilts that if made from Tartan fabric can easily be taking for a Traditional Kilt, but if I make the exact same kilt from a solid colored fabric or a Camo fabric looks completely different.

This gets right to the heart of the issue for me when the only thing that really changes is the fabric involved.

This idea that it is "not the kilt as much as it is the overall style of the wearer" that is part of something that has been on my mind for a while now, I just haven't been able to put it in words yet.

I was wondering if this would prove to be true, but didn't have enough experience yet myself to know for sure.

The two kilts I currently own are pretty casual models and both black, but I've worn them in different styles (from t-shirt casual at home to dress shirt professional at work, but both still very contemporary) and gotten different reactions as you said even though the kilts themselves didn't change.

As someone who's never followed popular fashion just because it's popular, I was initially attracted to kilt wearing through the UK image you describe. It was different and modern while still lending a nod (however small) to my heritage. But the more time I spend wearing plain black contemporary kilts, the more I want to reach into the closet and pull out something traditional in wool.

- J.

[kfreeouf]

Each has it's place. I tend to get more questions from the younger crowd with the contemporary and more compliments with the tartan.
Semper Fi,
Keith

[The Wizard of BC]

There is also the chance that my using my kilts to answer your question gave you a slightly skewed answer.
When I designed my kilts I wanted something that looked like a Traditional, that had the swish of a Traditional, That did not make a statement on it's own and was just a kilt.
But I also wanted machine washability and pockets. What to do, what to do. My answer was to design a Kilt with all the styling of a Traditional but made of an "Other than Wool Tartan" fabric. I then had to figure out how to put pockets in them that would not detract from or disturb the Traditional look.
What I ended up with wasn't a Traditional Kilt and it wasn't a MUG. So I had to come up with a name and settled on Contemporary Style Kilt.
What I then found was that if I make my exact same kilt out of Wool Tartan fabric most people can't tell that there is any difference.
So maybe my kilts are not a fair answer to your question. They are so close to a Traditional Style Kilt that It may be unfair to use my reactions as applying to other kilt-like garments.
Plus, I make what I like. And my personal style is not for everyone. (I know Steven V. at UK hates my look.) So perhaps someone else with a very different style in one of my kilts will not get the results that I do.

[Howard Clark]

(I know Steven V. at UK hates my look.)

I wonder why ? Not "different enough" ?

[The Wizard of BC]

It is because Steven and I come from two completely different worlds, Two completely different times.
I am a product of the 50's and 60's. You know, the Everly Brothers, and the Kingston Trio. I was raised in the Military.
Steven comes from the age of the Seattle Grunge movement. He prefers big clunky boots, & wears dreadlocks.
When I go down to Seattle and have coffee with Steven we know that we come from different worlds and have different outlooks and styles. So we have agreed to disagree on Kilts.
It really is as simple as that. There is no animosity between us, just a huge gap of age and upbringing.
Steven vehemently denies that his product has any Scottish kilt inspiration. The Company has kilt in its name because it sells better than "Manskirt".
I started with a Traditional Kilt and tried to retain as much of it as I could while using modern fabrics.
I have a great respect for Steven, the success he has achieved and the wealth he has accumulated. I know for sure I'll never have that amount of success.

[ghostlight]

...So maybe my kilts are not a fair answer to your question. They are so close to a Traditional Style Kilt that It may be unfair to use my reactions as applying to other kilt-like garments...

It's valuable input. I'm interested in growing my kilt collection towards more traditional styles now, so it's good to know what kind of reactions I may be getting once we get moved and re-settled and I can start placing some orders.

- J.