White Tie Kilt Dress

[fortcollinsjerry]

I've come across a number of strings and posts discussing what is or is not proper and PC attire when wearing the kilt at various functions and activities - most recenlty a topic of when and how to wear the dirk.

Where does all this information come from? Is there a "Rules-of-wearing-the-kilt" book somewhere that is the ultimate authority and that a majority of authorities agree with or is it more a matter of convention in various places.

How's a guy to know?

[Twa_Corbies]

I've come across a number of strings and posts discussing what is or is not proper and PC attire when wearing the kilt at various functions and activities - most recenlty a topic of when and how to wear the dirk.

Where does all this information come from? Is there a "Rules-of-wearing-the-kilt" book somewhere that is the ultimate authority and that a majority of authorities agree with or is it more a matter of convention in various places.

How's a guy to know?

Hands down, the very best guide you can get on the subject is a small book called "Tartans and Highland Dress" by Charles R. MacKinnon of Dunakin, though I believe it may now be out of print (try a used books seller). A second choice would be "So You're Going to Wear the Kilt" by Scotty Thompson - though this is written by an American and some of his advice is a bit questionable, whereas Mackinnon of Dunakin is a native born Scottish chieftain and an indisputable authority.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

A second choice would be "So You're Going to Wear the Kilt" by Scotty Thompson - though this is written by an American and some of his advice is a bit questionable,

I purposely omitted Thompson's book from my list because he paraphrases and quotes selectively from the original sources in my list-- and, as you rightly pointed out, much of his advice is questionable.

If one really wants to know how things are done properly, and by properly I mean in Scotland, the home of the kilt, then they would be advised to find copies of MacKinnon's book, as well as Way of Plean and Squire's book.