Kilt Do's and Don'ts

[ThistleDown]

Well yes. I can't help but consider that the traditional kilt is not and never has been "costume" and as such, there are certain dress conventions(not rules) that should be observed to do justice to my national dress. I do quite understand that there is a certain amount of leeway for personal choice and flair. In my humble opinion, there are limits though, and when a person has gone far beyond those limits, they are then laying themselves open for friendly comment. However, as I have always said:"each to their own".

For sure, my friend. I guess what I was trying to say is that so many folk even on XMTS are totally confused about Highland dress (mine, too, Jock ). On other threads we have seen the kilt worn with Stetsons, high-tops, and other relatively minor deviations from convention. We try to gently correct these folk as we go along. In this particular case, however, the man (we don't know him) was attending a costume party as evidenced by the woman who is the main focus of the photo. He thought he was wearing a costume. The focus for educating him (if we knew him) should be on the fact that Highland dress is not a costume. The fact that he is wearing it at all is the criticism, not whether he has a baseball cap, a straight tie or the wrong shoes.

[Monkey@Arms]

For sure, my friend. I guess what I was trying to say is that so many folk even on XMTS are totally confused about Highland dress (mine, too, Jock ). On other threads we have seen the kilt worn with Stetsons, high-tops, and other relatively minor deviations from convention. We try to gently correct these folk as we go along. In this particular case, however, the man (we don't know him) was attending a costume party as evidenced by the woman who is the main focus of the photo. He thought he was wearing a costume. The focus for educating him (if we knew him) should be on the fact that Highland dress is not a costume. The fact that he is wearing it at all is the criticism, not whether he has a baseball cap, a straight tie or the wrong shoes.

We are getting off-topic here, but I can't help but question some of the assumptions being made. I understand the person in question is wearing a kilt a Celtic festival. Why should that open him to criticism, particularly on this a forum for kilt wearers? While you may not agree with his fashion choices, in terms of hat style, etc., those are just that, fashion choices. Fashions (and tastes) differ, he might think you dress funny too.

Best regards,

Jake

[Highland Logan]

We are getting off-topic here, but I can't help but question some of the assumptions being made. I understand the person in question is wearing a kilt a Celtic festival. Why should that open him to criticism, particularly on this a forum for kilt wearers? While you may not agree with his fashion choices, in terms of hat style, etc., those are just that, fashion choices. Fashions (and tastes) differ, he might think you dress funny too.

Best regards,

Jake

Then why have a do's and don'ts thread? The purpose of this thread was to highlight the mistakes of others so that anyone; member or guest websurfer, could see how not to wear Scottish attire. It was also meant to illistrate what proper dress looked like. The example that was sited showed a whole sampler of incorrect dress. Would you also defend someone wearing tennis shoes, ball cap with a tux? There comes a time when fashion and taste are not being shown and it all boils down to ignorance on the part of the wearer. The spirit of this post is to help educate those who read it. If every fashion mistake should be taken as "my own style", why even bother with this board. If a new member asks how something should be worn/done, perhaps we should just tell them to do/wear it whatever way they like.. after all it would be their own personal style.

Frank

[Monkey@Arms]

Then why have a do's and don'ts thread? The purpose of this thread was to highlight the mistakes of others so that anyone; member or guest websurfer, could see how not to wear Scottish attire. It was also meant to illistrate what proper dress looked like. The example that was sited showed a whole sampler of incorrect dress. Would you also defend someone wearing tennis shoes, ball cap with a tux? There comes a time when fashion and taste are not being shown and it all boils down to ignorance on the part of the wearer. The spirit of this post is to help educate those who read it. If every fashion mistake should be taken as "my own style", why even bother with this board. If a new member asks how something should be worn/done, perhaps we should just tell them to do/wear it whatever way they like.. after all it would be their own personal style.

Frank

Perhaps I did not express myself clearly. I was referring specifically to the highlighted comments in which it was assumed that the man pictured was wearing his kilt as a costume and thus should be criticised. We have had many debates on this forum about whether western (meaning cowboy) styles can ever be mixed with kilts. Although its not my style, opinions vary. That's because they are just that, opinions.

I don't accept the premise that all deviations from "convention" are necessarily dont's. Sometimes they are clearly the result of ignorance, but sometimes they are intentional expressions of individual style. Whether they work or not is in the eye of the beholder.

Indeed, some on this forum have expressed extremely strong views that wearing white hose with formal wear is an absolute don't of the highest order, and frankly white hose is quite conventional nowadays. The point is not everyone agrees on what constitutes a don't. I'm not saying its not up for discussion, I'm just suggesting that a little humility goes along way. Unless of course, your a card-carrying member of the kilt police like me.

Best regards,

Jake

[Highland Logan]

...I'm just suggesting that a little humility goes along way. Unless of course, your a card-carrying member of the kilt police like me.

Best regards,

Jake

Humble man, pulling out a badge... besides everyone knows the "real" kilt police don't have badges.. they just follow you around in unmarked black cars after you've been seen in white hose... then there's a bright light, and the next thing you know you wake up with no memory and you're wearing pants!

Frank

[greenguzzi]

Humble man, pulling out a badge... besides everyone knows the "real" kilt police don't have badges.. they just follow you around in unmarked black cars after you've been seen in white hose... then there's a bright light, and the next thing you know you wake up with no memory and you're wearing pants!

Frank

Well put. My wife bought me a kilt for my birthday in January. So I found this site, and have been following this thread since then. Judging by some of the comments I've read here it's almost impossible to wear a kilt correctly. I think I'll stick to trousers, it's so much simpler. When one wears trousers it's pretty much up to common sense and personal expression and style. But kilts seem to come with too many rules and too much "baggage" for me.

[Birddog]

Green, I hope that you don't give up wearing the kilt. Did you read this thread from the start?(Daunting task, I know!) I believe it was started as a humorous way of gently pointing out ways that wearing the kilt could be disastarous. I can't speak to what it has grown into, though.
I believe that since the kilt has so much historical connection, many people want to make sure the kilt is worn "properly". This still leaves room for some personal flare, so to speak. Look at Hamish, whom so many of us look to and use almost as a measuring standard for our own dress. He now has a reflective safety kilt, for Pete's sake.
We all have our own tastes. Many have no problem going out kilted while wearing sandals; I personally hate the look, and will never do it myself. But I say good on them if that is what they want to do. In trousers, I always have a ball cap on; but I won't do it in a kilt. Perhaps I lean a little towards tradition. But again, I have seen it done and they looked good.
So don't worry so much about the rules, put the trousers down, and throw the kilt on. And if you choose not to wear the kilt any longer, what is your waist size...?

Well put. My wife bought me a kilt for my birthday in January. So I found this site, and have been following this thread since then. Judging by some of the comments I've read here it's almost impossible to wear a kilt correctly. I think I'll stick to trousers, it's so much simpler. When one wears trousers it's pretty much up to common sense and personal expression and style. But kilts seem to come with too many rules and too much "baggage" for me.

[Mr. MacDougall]

Frankly, I suspect this thread has outlived its usefulness. Originally, its intent was to help folks avoid mistakes on the order of wearing a kilt back-to-front, and holding up examples of people who look sharp in a kilt. Over time, it's more and more degenerated into sniping at noobs. I think I'm not following it any longer.

[ThistleDown]

Perhaps I did not express myself clearly. I was referring specifically to the highlighted comments in which it was assumed that the man pictured was wearing his kilt as a costume and thus should be criticised.

You mistake what I said. I said that if he was wearing what he was wearing because he saw it as a costume, it was his perception of Highland dress as a "costume" that is open to criticism, not the individual items that made up his costume.

Indeed, some on this forum have expressed extremely strong views that wearing white hose with formal wear is an absolute don't of the highest order, and frankly white hose is quite conventional nowadays.

I am entirely in agreement. There was a time, not so long ago, when the only hose that could be afforded by the "common man" in Scotland -- to wear with his very costly kilt -- was a Lovat green. Perhap a poor choice as a fashion match to some kilts, but that was what was commercially available. Wives recognised this and began knitting wonderful off-white and undyed kilt hose. We all wanted our wives (girlfriends, mothers, aunts, whatever) to make us a pair. They did and the industrial knitters were soon on the bandwagon. Those thin, stark white hose are the result, but there is nothing quite so fine to wear as hand-knitted hose -- regardless of the colour that is "in" today.