I've not seen many people in kilts except last year in Inverness at a Clan Celebration, so I know little about tradition. The folk I met were congenial and hospitable; we had a wonderful time, so I am inclined towards adopting Traditional Highland Dress when wearing a kilt.

That said, the artist in me recognizes the importance of looking forward, of modernisms, and I rather like some of the stylistic innovations around the kilt and its related incumbrances.

Then again, my various Scottish ancestors left the home country in the 1600s and 1700s, so I suppose I could adopt an anachronistic style in recognition of those times.

So what is the ordinary American to do? We do a bit of each of the above of course, resulting in the usual American cacophonous mess. And oddly, I see that too as not so different from wearing various cacophonous tartans and leathers and not caring too much. Perhaps somewhere in here we have found a core Scottish quality beyond tradition?