women in kilts

**Cynthia** · 2nd December 08, 07:19 AM

I have a SWK Thrifty kilt to hold me over until I can afford the kilted skirts I want to get eventually. I wear it lower on my hips, which also makes it hit about low knee. The fell isn't sewn down, and the only kilt-like accessory I wear with it is a ladies round pin/brooch that works nicely as a kilt pin.

I will end up with some better kilts (I'm hoping to try the SWK Standard -- I want to keep it affordable), but that's mainly because I will eventually be competing in the Highland Games and the Thrifty doesn't fit very well. I have an hourglass figure... the Thrifty tends to pop up and shift around on me instead of staying on my hips and that drives me absolutely batty, but it's not worth it right now to bother getting it fitted better.

I hand knitted some garter ties for when I wear a kilt for the Games and will eventually get some kilt hose, but that will be it for accessories (and the kilt pin will not be on that kilt). Eventually, if I end up taking piping lessons, get decent enough and join a pipe band, I'll wear a kilt and accessories as a uniform, but for me personally I don't see myself wearing much more outside of that type of situation. I considered wearing a balmoral so I could wear my XMTS Clan badge, but I might try to find other ways to wear it. I'm still hoping to convince my husband to wear a balmoral so he can wear it (he hates hats and isn't too fond of glengarries or balmorals either).

There was a brief time I was a little jealous, but as long as I have something of my own (even if I don't get to do a full-blown uniform with a pipe band someday) actually I'm happy getting the kilt and accessories for my husband. It's *almost* the same. I enjoy caring for them and getting them out and putting them away for him, and I really enjoy seeing them on him. I even received some birthday cash and contemplated buying him kilt accessories with my birthday money

(I didn't, but I came really close a few times).

So, except for using the Thrifty until I get better fitted kilted skirts or a situation where it's a uniform (I guess you can say the Highland Games would be a uniform of sorts), I would prefer to keep it to the ladies wear for myself if only for a better fit.

There will always be people who don't agree or dislike something regardless of what you do. Life is too short to worry about it that much and you're never going to please everyone all of the time anyway.

**arrg-isle** · 2nd December 08, 07:19 AM

No new position on this, or any big revelation, just a little more weight: my two best friends, both women, attended Highland games with me for about 4 years before deciding that they wanted kilts (one of them is Scottish {a Gordon, no less}, the other is Quebecois); initially, they wound up purchasing a Utilikilt in black denim, and an Amerikilt in sienna canvas (I kidded the latter that she'd joined up with Clan Carhartt) and wore them to our next half-dozen Games.
Two years later, they decided they wanted to go old school, so I referred them to my kiltmaker. He discussed the subject with them on the phone, helped them determine that they did indeed want 100% traditional, wool day kilts, assisted them in choosing tartans, then visited them to take appropriate measurements.
A couple months later, there they were, two very differently shaped women, both looking stunning in their new kilts (which wear, fasten & "operate" just like mine do), which they have since decided to accoutrement with kilt hose, belted sgians & small RobRoy type sporrans.
Now, they not only were those kilts to the Games & Festivals they attend, but have actually gotten motivated to help out at Clan tents, and march in the Clan pararde, calling out their war-cries with great enthusiam.
You know what? I just realized that this story's got an entirely happy ending!
Yayyyy!

**Livingston** · 2nd December 08, 07:33 AM

I'd say go for it. Just make sure you don't over accessorize. Having a sporran just doesn't look right to me.

**Dirk Skene** · 2nd December 08, 07:43 AM

Originally Posted by Livingston

I'd say go for it. Just make sure you don't over accessorize. Having a sporran just doesn't look right to me.

My stepdaughter just said the sporran on a woman makes her think "hermaphrodite."

**Lily** · 2nd December 08, 07:44 AM

I say; why not?
Last weekend in Edinburgh I saw the most beautifull (gents) kilts but for the woman there wasn,t that much to choose from.
Not even at the mill, mayby it,s bacause I come too much in Edinburgh but i,ve seen the ladies kilts again and again ...........
For the men,s kilts there ,s a range of different tartans and colors(ofcourse)
Someday I will buy myself the saltire.

**vmac3205** · 2nd December 08, 07:54 AM

I love wearing the kilt skirts. I tried on my husband's kilts, but the fit wasn't right, and at my age wearing an unbifurcated garment above the knee isn't realy attractive. For those of you over 50, think "Erma Bombeck" saggy knees and all.
I did solve the sporan problem by getting a swatch of fabric in the tartan of the skirt and making a draw-string bag that I wear around my waist.

**arrg-isle** · 2nd December 08, 08:02 AM

Originally Posted by Dirk Skene

My stepdaughter just said the sporran on a woman makes her think "hermaphrodite."

How old is your stepdaughter?

**Barb T** · 2nd December 08, 08:40 AM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

Part of the issue here is not just the wearing of the kilt itself, but also of the various accessories that go with the typical male Highland outfit. I have seen at Highland Games women wearing men's kilts with sporran, kilt hose, garters, sgian dubh, even Argyle jacket, neck tie, and balmoral! In other words, it was a man's outfit and looked rather odd being worn by the woman.

I wander around games looking exactly like this, but I'm there to compete as a piper. So, it may look odd to people, but it's my uniform.

**Dixiecat** · 2nd December 08, 08:53 AM

You men who say that a kilt is only for a man are being incredibly selfish! How dare you keep one of the most comfortable garments known to personkind to yourselves! I have your jeans and I'll be damned if you can keep the kilt away from me! You can wrest my kilt from my cold dead hands, but not before!!!

**auld argonian** · 2nd December 08, 09:10 AM

It's all about attitude. Personally, a woman in a kilt - in full pipe band ensemble, for that matter - doesn't look unusual and often looks dead sexy to me. I can think of one middle aged woman in a local pipe band in particular who's just a total knock-out...but whatever you wear, wear it with the right attitude and you got it.

Best

AA