Why should I wear a kilt?

[Jock Scot]

I have been reading the replies with interest and apart from agreeing wholeheartedly that the ladies do like a man in the kilt,I can honestly say that if I were not a Scot I would not wear the kilt. An academic answer I know, but honest------I think.

[lethearen]

I can honestly say that if I were not a Scot I would not wear the kilt. An academic answer I know, but honest------I think.

Hey, Jock... but if you weren't Scottish, would you still have the same predispositions towards kilt-wearing you do now?

[Jock Scot]

[QUOTE=lethearen;830298]Hey, Jock... but if you weren't Scottish, would you still have the same predispositions towards kilt-wearing you do now? [/QUO


One thing is for sure, I would not be brave enough to wear the kilt if I was not a Scot!

[NewGuise]

One thing is for sure, I would not be brave enough to wear the kilt if I was not a Scot!

That I do not believe for an instant. You're brave enough to take on any and all of us here, as you regularly do. Clearly a kiltie to the core.

[Jock Scot]

That I do not believe for an instant. You're brave enough to take on any and all of us here, as you regularly do. Clearly a kiltie to the core.

Well alright I do wear the kilt regularly,but in all honesty I have been doing so for so long,over 60 years,that I have forgotten why,its just part of me and my country.So in my youth,did I wear the kilt for comfort?No I don't think I did. Did I wear it to attract the girls? Yes most definitely! Did I wear it to show off?Yes on occasion.Funnily enough these days, I am so sick sorry and tired of having my picture taken wearing the kilt that I wear my kilt even less now, and that is a very conscious thought. Do I wear the kilt to demonstrate my nationality? Yes most definitely!So if I were a non Scot would I wear the kilt?The answer is still no.Why?I am sorry chaps,but I have to say this, deep down I still feel the kilt is Scotlands national attire and whilst I try to understand non Scots wanting to wear the kilt, I can't. Although, in reality, I have to accept that non Scots do wish to wear the kilt and I feel that worn properly, the kilt worn by a non Scot, is a compliment to us here in Scotland. Also I could not put up with all the hassle that some of you chaps seem to put up with.I don't need the kilt to show off and get the reactions that some of you get. I could not put up with "the question" being asked, I have never been asked by the way. I could not put up with the danger of a kilt check, its OK GRANT I have never had a kilt check either! I could not put up with all this agonising over what colour this, that, or, the other goes with whatever. I could not put up with all this worrying which clan might accept me. For me, I am lucky to have to not worry about all that. So yes! I would not be brave enough to wear the kilt if I was not a Scot and I take my bonnet off to you non Scots who do!

[GG]

One thing is for sure, I would not be brave enough to wear the kilt if I was not a Scot!

… So yes! I would not be brave enough to wear the kilt if I was not a Scot and I take my bonnet off to you non Scots who do!

Jock, please, forgive me. I’m one of these guys who, despite they are not Scottish, do wear a kilt. And, honestly, I don’t think I need to be especially brave to do it. As a matter of fact it is rather uncomplicated, even if I must confess that I have never worn a kilt in Scotland. But I got inspired to wear kilts when in 1996 I was on a short holiday in Scotland with my wife and daughter. There I tried on a kilt and realized how wonderful a garment it is. You can read more about it here http://mansfeldt.net/p0012.htm

Reading the posts here I tried to get an overview and I have thus come to eight different major reasons to wear a kilt. I have listed them in order of importance TO ME and ranked them:

30% Comfort, being comfortable, ease of movement, unrestricting
25% Difference, being different, out of conformity
20% Variety, addition to wardrobe
10% The look, looks good, stylish, like the tartans
8% Versatility. The same garment can easily replace trousers and shorts, dress up and dress down.
5% Health, healthy due to no boundaries
2% Influence on other people: Attracts attention, entertaining, interesting, conversation starter
0% Heritage reasons, national attire

So what is the most important thing to you as a Scotsman cannot – per definition – be it to me. However, I don’t feel it wrong that I and other non-Scots wear something that to you is a national symbol, or should I understand it a “monopoly”? Everyone here is doing it with respect, I'm sure.

Let me explain it a little bit: You say

Generally speaking the kilt in Scotland is reserved for special events and I doubt if a third of Scots actually own a kilt.

To me a product, like a kilt, used by only a minor part of a small population and at very few occasions (rental business should be appropriate) is in real danger of disappearing from the market (like in Germany and Austria the Lederhosen).
Therefore, to my opinion, the kilt market is best saved from dying out if more men, no matter their nationality and heritage, would wear a kilt – like women all over the world will wear kilted tartan skirts if and when fashion ‘dictates’ it or men and women who are wearing (once American) blue jeans.
And frankly, I think that we are more and more non-Scots out there who are doing our best and often on a daily basis to keep the kilt very much alive and to the surprise and wonder of the Scottish light users.
If it seems a little bit cynical or rude, believe me, it is not my intention; on the contrary.

Greg

[Jock Scot]

GG.

I respect your views entirely and for you, your reasons for wearing the kilt are as valid as anyone else's, native Scot ,or,not.

[GG]

GG.

I respect your views entirely and for you, your reasons for wearing the kilt are as valid as anyone else's, native Scot ,or,not.

Thank you!

Greg

[MacBean]

It is a good introspective question, perhaps even a soup question, as evidenced by the number of views and responses.

For those who doubt motives and suspect trolling, I ask, do you think it possible to make useful or valid judgements about someone on the other end of an ethernet cable, whose only manifestation is a few hastily typed phrases? I find people misjudge in teleconferences with some frequency.

I can honestly say that if I were not a Scot I would not wear the kilt.

And there you have it; nailed and delivered. A kilt is an identity attribute. Jock thinks of himself as a Scot and has the papers to verify it (another identity attribute). In fact, he might be more Viking, or French, or Irish, or Pictish, or some horrible mixture of the above! The beautiful thing about identity is that it can be fluid, can be reformed at will. A kilt is an attribute of someone bold enough in their Self, that they can reform their identity at will. Some prefer pinstripe suits, country club memberships, and golf clubs (another Scottish attribute!). Your identity is yours to create, and in the end, only a shell.