The Importance of knowing the Rules of Kilted Fashion

[Abax]

You raise some interesting points.

With all due respect, perhaps there is another misunderstanding in this thread. The Scots present are not critiquing the wearing of the kilt by non-Scots.

And yet that is precisely what many people on this forum - outside of Scotland - are asking for. And then some people read the answer and try to apply it to their situation, not realizing that they may have different goals in wearing a kilt and everything that goes with it.

This thread is about “kilted fashion” and what we are trying to get across is that the Scottish kilt is just a part of the Scottish National Dress;

In my vernacular, "just" would diminish what follows. I think I'm correct in saying that Scots are proud of the kilt.

if one wants to wear Scottish National Dress (including the Scottish kilt) there are customs/conventions to be followed.

Perhaps that pride justifiably leads some to protect their national dress from change by external forces. I could understand that (if it's true).

It is not the kilt we are referring to, you see, but to its accompaniments and the manner of wearing them.

The quote above is one of the the most important distinctions I've read in this thread yet. Good!

It could not and cannot evolve outside Scotland and still be called Scottish National or Highland Dress.

But wearing a kilt outside of Scotland *will* evolve, and many people will confuse that with Highland Dress.

When a question is asked about how that dress is worn today – the conventions -- it is not possible for the answer to be expressed in terms of current custom or fashion in New South Wales, or Ontario, or Nebraska, or Cape Town, or Amsterdam -- but only in Scotland.

The tail does not wag the dog.

You've made it clear for me that there are really three different discussions going on here:

1) Highland Dress in Scotland.
2) Emulating Highland Dress outside of Scotland.
3) Everything else about how kilts are worn. This category is broad not to be facetious, but to more accurately describe something like "How kilts and their accompaniments are worn outside of Scotland."

I'm in the last category. Perhaps I'm diluting the national dress of Scotland, but then I'm not very likely to wear a kilt there casually (I'll be visiting in the next few years).

I hope there's room on XMarks for all the different categories of people I've described. Conventions for wearing the kilt seem likely to vary based on the goals and perhaps even the location of the person wearing it.

Abax

[davedove]

...

You've made it clear for me that there are really three different discussions going on here:

1) Highland Dress in Scotland.
2) Emulating Highland Dress outside of Scotland.
3) Everything else about how kilts are worn. This category is broad not to be facetious, but to more accurately describe something like "How kilts and their accompaniments are worn outside of Scotland."

...

I hope there's room on XMarks for all the different categories of people I've described. Conventions for wearing the kilt seem likely to vary based on the goals and perhaps even the location of the person wearing it.

Abax

You are correct about the different categories. I was just thinking along those lines myself.

If one is trying to dress as a Scotsman would (or more specifically, a Highlander), especially a formal outfit, then there are certain standards and expectations, as have developed over the years.

If one is just trying to put together a good looking kilted outfit, then only the standards of appearance and good taste apply.

There are, of course, some overlaps between the two categories, but they are two different standards.