how to wear modern kilts

**CMcG** · 25th May 10, 02:13 PM

I was under the impression that modern kilts are like a pair of jeans; wear them however you like and casual is the name of the game. And then I came across this article in the Seattlest called "Lads, Learn How To Wear Your Kilts"...

The article is specifically about Utilikilts but I think we could extrapolate the opinions expressed to be applied to many types of modern kilts. The author admonishes Utilikilt wearers for being too causal and calls for "knee-highs, spats, and dress shoes" or "knee-high boots," sitting with one's legs together, and "fitted" tops preferably worn with a jacket or vest. I don't think I've ever seen anyone wear spats with a modern kilt and I thought the point was to be casual!

Granted, the only modern kilt I own is a tartan Sportkilt that I wear for hiking or lounging about the house, so I'm no expert on them... anyone else care to comment about this article? How do you approach wearing a modern kilt in 2010?

**Whidbey78** · 25th May 10, 02:45 PM

I think you're right...wear a UK how you like. I think that is part of the design concept.

Dress shoes with a UK is like a tux with flip flops...it just doesn't quite fit though some guys could make it work. Spats? That's a bit much.

The guy who wrote this probably tries to polish Chuck Taylors and eats his Snickers bar with a fork...makes about as much sense.

Perhaps the author should be encouraged to write about things he knows about.

**NewEnglander** · 25th May 10, 03:16 PM

I have to agree that the author's tone didn't do much to make me inclined to listen to much he had to say. That being said, here's how I wear my Utilikilt, a mocker:
Shirts: Tees most often, with a sweater or fleece over it in cooler months, occasionally a polo shirt or casual button down. ALWAYS TUCKED IN. No matter what shirt it is, I tuck it in. Wouldn't want to hide any lovely pleats, now would I?
Footwear: Usually a pair of 6-8" high logger-style boots or my hiking boots if I'm on the trail. I don't quite have the confidence to go with lower shoes yet and I always scrunch down my socks (SmartWool style) with my UK. Or if I'm at home, I'm barefoot.
Knees: One of my favorite things about my UK is how the narrow apron falls between my knees when I sit down. Of course, I'm careful to maintain my modesty, but sitting with my knees together is just not comfy. And I'm wearing the kilt for freedom and comfort, dang it!

Kilt On!

**Monkey@Arms** · 25th May 10, 03:45 PM

I agree with what NewEnglander said, and just about nothing in that blog. The writer is entitled to his opinion, but mine is that he knows squat about wearing kilts of any variety, and UKs in particular.

Best regards,

Jake

**Alan H** · 25th May 10, 04:22 PM

The writer of that blog has all the "attitude" and "snobsnottery" that I associate with "Fashion" in the very worst sense. He's welcome to his opinion. If he has a job with the newspaper, I suppose he can get his opinion printed.

However, as far as I am concerned, he can take his opinion and his overstuffed, self-important know-it-all attitude and dump them both in the Sound.

**DeWayne Ross** · 25th May 10, 04:43 PM

Opinions are like what? Yeah everyone has one.

You know you see everything now days, from cowboy hats with shorts and flip flops to cheap polyester suits with a tie made to look like a fish, to the hoard of mindless zombies in wal-marts across the US in various states of disarray.
My personal favorite to make fun of is the female zombies in said wal-marts with unkemp hair in their filthy pajamas, you've all seen them, admit it.

Having said all that, for what ever reason.

It's your kilt, your the one wearing it, wear it how you want.

**Riverkilt** · 25th May 10, 04:50 PM

Utilikilts Olive Mocker with a (gasp, gag, choke!!) necktie....

AmeriKilts putty with nice sweater for the office.

Maroon Freedom Kilt dress model with white shirt and fancy Pentleton Vest at the office.

Macdonald tartan SportKilt with white shirt for work

USA Kilts Casual in Scottish National with nice sweater.

Modern kilts can be dressed up - IF you want to...

**GDub** · 25th May 10, 04:57 PM

I wear my UKs more or less just like I wear jeans. Sometimes I wear a button down, casual shirt, sometimes a t-shirt. Some times tucked in, sometimes not. If it's chilly I'll wear a sweater, sweat shirt, henley or maybe a piece of fleece. Often I couple a UK with a jean jacket. If it's hot I'm in flip flops (I'm not partial to sandals), but usually I'm sporting a well worn pair of 6" black leather boots (that I don't bother polishing) and scrunched down kilt hose. In my view, there are no "have tos" with UKs. Wear it how you want and don't let the stuffy kilt police tell you otherwise.

**Alan H** · 25th May 10, 05:21 PM

Originally Posted by GDub

Wear it how you want and don't let the stuffy kilt police tell you otherwise.

Jeez, the guy in the blog isn't even the kilt police. He's some wiseass, stuck-on-himself bozo who's seen a few kilts, writes for the paper and thinks he should tell everybody what to do while he holds his snobby nose in the air. At least the tartan kilt police have some vague notion of WHY they say what they do, and some actual tradition to refer to.

**GDub** · 25th May 10, 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by GDub

Wear it how you want and don't let the stuffy kilt police tell you otherwise.

Originally Posted by Alan H

Jeez, the guy in the blog isn't even the kilt police. He's some wiseass, stuck-on-himself bozo who's seen a few kilts, writes for the paper and thinks he should tell everybody what to do while he holds his snobby nose in the air. At least the tartan kilt police have some vague notion of WHY they say what they do, and some actual tradition to refer to.

Saved by a winky emoticon--I think.

I originally wrote "bastards" instead of "stuffy kilt police", but I chose to be less harsh because I know there are those HERE who don't totally disagree with the author of the article. In fact, there are some here who don't like anything about "contemporary" kilts (or MUG) wear. We've all read enough anti-contemporary threads on the XMTS to attest to that fact. And I figured it wouldn't be long before the "tartan kilt police" showed up to shun UK wearing altogether--or at the least to come up with a more "authentic" way to wear a UK. So I did some generalizing, but hey... My point is that UKs are, for the most part, inherently CASUAL. Sure one can dress up-scale-ish in a UK, but for me they are all about wearing them how, when and where I want without ANY "traditional" rules of the kilt burdening the enjoyment. No need for hose, shoes, tucked in shirts (or a shirt at all) depending on the situation. Want to wear a UK with flip-flops? Why not? Going shirtless and barefoot in a UK? Why not? Tank top, lime green Crocs and a well worn Cowboy hat with a UK? Why the hell not?