Wearing a kilt but not being Scottish

[ardchoille]

To which I said - nothing he says or anyone, for that matter, will make me stop from wearing my kilts.

That's the spirit! Good on you

Gunnar, there's one very important question everyone must themselves.. "Who writes the rules you live by?". My family is Scottish, we go waaaay back.. and I'd actually like to see every male on the planet wear the kilt.

[Cynthia]

My husband has Danish, Swedish, and Italian roots. He has discovered one line that goes back to Wales and is looking forward to getting a few Welsh tartans. His last name is Danish and we both fell in love with the Danish tartan -- we're hoping to get that someday. If that's his "main" tartan, that's fine with me and I'll wear it with him happily.

One of his family (I can't remember if it was a great grandparent) claims to have had Scottish ancestry, but we haven't been able to find out for sure yet. She's the one who married into his Danish line.

My husband felt a little strange at first wearing the kilt and not having obvious Scottish connections. He felt a bit better when he discovered the Welsh connections.

The point is, he loves the kilt and while he may not wear it out every day, he wants to wear it and has found some tartans and connections that make him feel a little better about wearing it.

I'm just glad he does, because regardless of ones ancestry, it's a very nice garment!

[Andrewson]

From another full-blooded Scot: I say you certainly can wear the kilt if you want to. If you really want to then I am sure you'll wear it well, and that is all that matters.

As for dealing with the comments, ardchoille has it right:

Is it wrong for a person who isn't a cowboy to wear jeans or a cowboy hat?
Is it wrong for a person who isn't a baseball player to wear a baseball cap?
Is it wrong for a person who doesn't play tennis to wear tennis shoes?
Is it wrong for a person who doesn't ride a bicycle to wear bicycle shorts?

[Ryan Nielson]

I'm in your boat as well. Mostly Danish with some German and English. Did extensive family research as far back as I could and there is no scottish at all. There was someone many generations back in the family with the name of Kennedy but they were most likely Irish. I first wore a kilt as requirement to compete in highland games but now I just like to wear it. I'm not a cowboy either but have worn a cowboy hat when fishing before.

[CDNSushi]

From another full-blooded Scot: I say you certainly can wear the kilt if you want to. If you really want to then I am sure you'll wear it well, and that is all that matters.

As for dealing with the comments, ardchoille has it right:

Except for the last one... About the bicycle shorts... Umm, well -- some people just shouldn't.

[McFarkus]

There was a strong Norse presence in Scotland for centuries. Thorfinn the Skullsplitter was the Viking Jarl of Orkney. It is thought that the red hair that is often seen in Scotland comes from Norse blood, so there is a close affinity between the Scots and those of Norse descent. But none of this matters

What matters is that you want to wear a kilt. If the Orkney connection makes sense to you there is and Orkney district tartan

[sharpdressedscot]

Wear it, and don't give a flying duck about what other people say.

[ScottEPooh]

Well, I do have some Irish blood in me, which always seems to be enough for the uninformed, should they ask. But most often, if asked if I'm Scottish, I generally respond," Nope, I just happen to like being comfortable." And if you can be amazingly well-dressed to boot, well, why WOULDN'T anyone wear a kilt? As many have said here, you don't have to be Scottish to be comfortable!!

[gilmore]

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***Anybody who has pictures of Asian men in Kilts, please PM me or post here - so I can send it all to my friend so he can get used to it. *** [Maybe somebody could start a thread on "Kilted Asians" :-]


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There were----and are---quite a few south Asians who wore and wear kilts, those in the British army in the Indian Subcontinent, as well, I believe, some Indian and/or Pakistani regiments who still wear them on ocassion.

[highlander_Daz]

you could, Of course argue that its ludicrous for someone from Glasgow to wear the Kilt, after all its Highlandwear, You dont have to be a Highlander or indeed a Scot to wear the Kilt, and of course its not ludicrous for anyone to wear it, its an item of clothing and as such can be worn by anyone (with style) !! anyone who suggest that only Scots can wear the kilt is ignorant of Scots history, besides if anyon asks you why your wering the Kilt , simply answer
"with legs like mine its a crime not to !" As an asian person Im sure youd be delighted if people respectfully wore symbols of you culture and, indeed many western people study Martial arts, imagine if someone suggested only Asian people were allowed to study Martial arts, or that Bruce Lee should not of studied Kung-Fu becasue he was born in the US.

wear it with style my friend.