I think this place has developed entirely too much angst...

[Inchessi]

You know in the old days most people had a "party piece" they could recite or sing at gatherings.

What a wonderful tradition to try and revive

Cheers

Jamie :ootd:

I still recite the Jabberwocky for my Nieces and Nephews.

[KFCarter]

Isms are not all bad

...

PS My singing and dancing also leave much to be desired.

Well, this "poor, earth born companion and fellow mortal" finds more than a bit of welcome witticism is your versifying.

Nicely done.

[GG]

When men come here asking for advice and walk away seriously worried that they're doing something WRONG and thereby are being BAD PEOPLE by offending hundreds of years of tradition etc. etc. etc.

The more rules followed the more Scottish you look. Being a non-Scot with no intention to "play" something I am not a good taste is to me of far greater importance than some (rigid) rules. And the kilt being to me primarily daily casual wear; what can go wrong?

Trousers are simply being replaced by a kilt, my normal belt by a wider one, a sporran without tassels is to be my pocktes and kilt hose (most often) come in stead of ordinary socks. Then overall coordinated colours, of couse, but that has nothing especially to do with the kilt, it's a daily routine.

Greg

[KD Burke]

For the record, I am positively allergic to the word "Fashion" when applied to Men. "Fashion" is for wealthy women who don't have anything else to do with their time. Wealthy, useless women follow "fashion". Men put on clothes and get something DONE, and worrying about the color of your pocket handkerchief or your garter ties is NOT "getting something DONE".

You know, I also have an aversion to the word "fashion." To me it smacks of anorexic models draped in outlandish and impractical costumes and of people who pay exhorbitant prices for the priveledge of bragging about the "original" garment they purchase.

But I must point out that appropriate attire is necessry to "get something DONE." There are occasions which call for a business suit, just as there are occasions which call for work clothes. You must adjust your attire to suit your task, else you risk failure in your endeavor.

This forum draws people from every conceivable background. We are limited in our conversation to words on a screen, and have no context to read them with. We must each realize that:

(a) the words we type may be misunderstood, taken out of context, or interpreted by someone with a very different outlook from our own, and;

(b) the words we read are not (generally speaking) intended to insult, offend or stifle creativity.

They are only opinions, folks. You pays your money and you takes your choice!

[Panache]

Fashion (when referring to clothing) is simply the dominant styles and "look" for a particular time and this term covers all sorts of different categories ranging from casual work clothes to white tie level formality.

Haute couture is something else. It is the cutting edge precursor of what may influence the Fashion of the times.

Looking at Highland attire in the context of Fashion is absolutely fascinating. The look, cut, and fit of the kilt and kilt jackets and the accessories worn have changed little since the 1930s. Yet it isn’t a period costume! If you look at the highland attire sported in the movie “I know where I am Going“ would any of it look out of place today at a highland gathering or other Scottish event? (If you haven’t seen this charming movie go get it and watch it right now!). So classic highland attire seems to be timeless and works as well now in 2009 as it did in 1939.

But at the same time people like Howie Nicholsby can branch off classic highland attire to create cutting edge Haute couture! Like it or hate it, it is current.

Then you have Utilikilts, R-Kilts, Ameri-Kilts, Freedom Kilts, and all the rest that have taken the basic idea of the kilt and run with it in a utilitarian way making a completely practical work garment for the modern world.

If that wasn’t all then you have folks like USA Kilts and Sport Kilts going for a traditional look but with modern materials. How about our own Stevie Baby at Freedom Kilts that liked the look of the traditional kilt but came up with his own method of interior construction so he could incorporate pockets!

I hope that our traditionalist hold fast to those traditions and pass them on to the next generation of kilt wearers. I also hope there are always those in the next generation that dare to make their mark on kilts and highland attire to make it their own.

The kilt is classic, modern, traditional, individualistic, cutting edge, historical and ultimately timeless.

Pretty impressive for a garment that started off as a bit of cloth that used to be wrapped around a cold naked highlander and was secured with a belt and a pin!

So learn the rules, respect that there are rules, then go forth and decide how you will or will not follow them.

Let's hope in 3009 folks are still debating kilts and highland attire and that they are still classic, modern, traditional, individualistic, cutting edge, historical and ultimately timeless.

Cheers

Jamie

:ootd: :blimp: ith:

[Woodsheal]

There's also a generational aspect in play. I'm in my 50's, so I'm not really into the "kilt, t-shirt,and combat boots" look anymore, though I really like it! I think it's a great kilted look. But, because of my age I tend to lean more towards the sedate - or, I guess, "traditional" - end of the spectrum....

[KFCarter]

There's also a generational aspect in play. I'm in my 50's, so I'm not really into the "kilt, t-shirt,and combat boots" look anymore, though I really like it! I think it's a great kilted look. But, because of my age I tend to lean more towards the sedate - or, I guess, "traditional" - end of the spectrum....

That's me, as well.

[DireStraitsFan]

...about being "proper"..."correct"...and so on.

Just wear the bloody thing with the pleats in the back, be reasonably civil and polite to folks, ignore the guff from the jerks, and get on with it.

This seems to be a common problem amongst groups of this kind (small groups with very narrow fields of interest). Often times there are enough people wanting to lord their knowledge of the subject over other less informed people for whatever reasons, and the feeling changes from one of welcoming and inclusion to judgement and exclusion. I come here seldom compared with some of you but I do recognize that things have changed, and I applaud you for standing up for common sense and decency.

[CameronTaylor]

There was a time when all gentlemen knew how to to dress,

and dance, sing, and compose and recite poetry

These were all just as manly as swordsmanship, shooting, and riding.

Paul H wants me to get a Harley, Sheryl said she'd buy me one .. now that's riding ... My swordsmanship consisted of throwing a sabre as high as I could and running under it ... I'm an excellent shot off the hip with my AK ..

How many men do you know who dance? I do ... my way, my friend Eamonn does too (but he's weird and won't wear a kilt ...)

How many sing? I do ... and my current hit on youtube doesn't sound anything like me ..

How many will even read poetry let alone compose or recite it? How many compose from the seat of an earthmover in a semi-controlled fall into a canyon and back out again ? (going uphill allows much more time for such), yes I do.

For that matter how many men do you know that think of themselves as gentlemen? Only when threatened with weapons (but my tux looked better than Chris' {MacKevlar} and we all looked good )

To me personally this skill of dressing well and appropriately is just one aspect of what a gentleman is.

Cheers

Jamie :ootd:

Because I can.


CT -

[Panache]

There's a little black spot on my apron today
It's the same old thing as yesterday
There's a black glengarry caught in a high tree top
There's a lost fly plaid blowing and the wind won't stop

I have stood here sad and feeling incomplete
Surrounded by angry sheep with threatening bleats
All I want to do is look nice and neat
But it's my destiny to wear angst ridden pleats

There's a little black spot on my apron today
That's my kilt over there
It's the same old tartan as yesterday
That's my kilt over there
There's a black glengarry caught in a high tree top
That's my kilt over there
There's a lost fly plaid blowing and the wind won't stop
That's my kilt over there

I I have stood here sad and feeling incomplete
Surrounded by angry sheep with threatening bleats
All I want to do is look nice and neat
But it's my destiny to wear angst ridden pleats

There's a kilt pin fallen down a high cliff wall
That's my kilt over there
There's a tear in my under apron that’s been there since Fall
That's my kilt over there
There was an unbelievable big sale going on at Scot Web
That's my kilt over there
But I missed it and now my spirits ebb
That's my kilt over there

I have stood here sad and feeling incomplete
Surrounded by angry sheep with threatening bleats
All I want to do is look nice and neat
But it's my destiny to wear angst ridden pleats

There's a Moderator online but it looks like he is out
There's a kiltie who’s looking good but filled doubt
There’s a magnificent sporran I want in a brand new thread
There's an empty wallet that holds only the tears I shed

angst ridden pleats

angst ridden pleats
angst ridden pleats
angst ridden pleats
I'll always have
angst ridden pleats
angst ridden pleats


(With apologies to our fellow kilt wear Sting)