Questions on the Newsome 4yrd Box Pleat or 8yrd Knife Pleat?

[Semiomniscient]

My preference is for the 4-yard box pleat. Not all of that has to do with living in Louisiana, but I suspect that the hot weather aids my preference.
I personally think that Matt's kilts look better than the average 8-yarder in that the pleats look neater, straighter, and more in line. I think you see more color in the box pleats than in the knife pleats. Also, the issue with the swing for me is that I prefer less swing because I'm a bit of a roudy/lively Scottish Country Dancer and I would prefer to keep the secret of what's under the kilt.

The only time I ever got a school girl comment I was in a knife pleated kilt at a Catholic girls school for a Scottish Country Dance demo. I think Scheihallion is a bit out-of-line with comments of that ilk. Like it or not, the box pleat IS traditional--it's a revived tradition. Whether it's popular in Scotland or not doesn't make it any less Scottish either.

[Paul Henry]

I think Scheihallion is a bit out-of-line with comments of that ilk. Like it or not, the box pleat IS traditional--it's a revived tradition. Whether it's popular in Scotland or not doesn't make it any less Scottish either.

Actually Matt to British eyes, particularly ones over 40, box pleats do remind us very much of school girls' skirts. This is perhaps a cultural thing as I don't know that box pleats in North America have the same connection.I suspect that they don't. Maybe that is why knife pleated kilts are the accepted way of pleating the kilt on this side of the pond.We also do not have the sort of heat that many of you chaps have to endure and of course your winters in the northern parts of North America are something that we over here can only imagine.

I do think that everyone is entitled to comment, and many of us over in Great Britain feel much the same about the 4 yard box pleated kilt, so I don't see why Scheilallion 's comments ( or indeed Jock's) are not as equally valid as yours.

The great thing about forums that they show a wide range of viewpoint, it's up to each us to accept the viewpoints as opinons,

The 4 yard box pleated kilt is an historic garment, not really traditional ( as we have often debated this) in the generally recognised sense.There is nothing wrong with people making it or wearing it , but as Jock and so many others say, it's not a traditional garment in Scotland.

It seems that in the States, the makers and wearers of it are overly defensive of it. I don't think anyone from Scotland has ever said they shouldn't be worn, or indeed might even have been worn a long time ago.

Jock often comments that he worries about appearing like a stuck record, I'm with him and lots of others over here in Great Britain

[Semiomniscient]

I do think that everyone is entitled to comment, and many of us over in Great Britain feel much the same about the 4 yard box pleated kilt, so I don't see why Scheilallion 's comments ( or indeed Jock's) are not as equally valid as yours.

The great thing about forums that they show a wide range of viewpoint, it's up to each us to accept the viewpoints as opinons,

The 4 yard box pleated kilt is an historic garment, not really traditional ( as we have often debated this) in the generally recognised sense.There is nothing wrong with people making it or wearing it , but as Jock and so many others say, it's not a traditional garment in Scotland.

It seems that in the States, the makers and wearers of it are overly defensive of it. I don't think anyone from Scotland has ever said they shouldn't be worn, or indeed might even have been worn a long time ago.

Jock often comments that he worries about appearing like a stuck record, I'm with him and lots of others over here in Great Britain

Ahh yes, everyone is entitled to their opinions, I just find the tact of said opinions... lacking and the intent disagreeable. I'm entitled to that as well.

I really don't buy into the line that they aren't "traditional". There is and has been a tradition of wearing box pleated kilts--an older tradition than with knife-pleated kilts. The tradition simply has not been entirely continuously popular. Whether or not Scots still in Scotland recognize it or not, the diaspora has embraced it, which is worth something.

I think if we are overly-defensive, it's because we tire of the silly criticisms comparing it to a school-girl skirt, etc. The average person can't tell the difference between box-pleats and knife anyway. I honestly think some of the school-girl remarks are just made up rubbish to demean the revival of this old style... for what reason, I don't know. Maybe some sort of grumpiness that its revival is North American? I guess I do similar things with "contemporary kilts" when I rail against them. But those have their defenders too. And everyone of us defends wearing the kilt to non-kilt-wearers. So I really don't see the real point in suggesting that box-pleat wearers are overly-defensive as though its something to do with insecurities with the box-pleat... because we all are defenders of the kilt.

[Slag101]

I do think that everyone is entitled to comment, and many of us over in Great Britain feel much the same about the 4 yard box pleated kilt, so I don't see why Scheilallion 's comments ( or indeed Jock's) are not as equally valid as yours.

The great thing about forums that they show a wide range of viewpoint, it's up to each us to accept the viewpoints as opinons,

The 4 yard box pleated kilt is an historic garment, not really traditional ( as we have often debated this) in the generally recognised sense.There is nothing wrong with people making it or wearing it , but as Jock and so many others say, it's not a traditional garment in Scotland.

It seems that in the States, the makers and wearers of it are overly defensive of it. I don't think anyone from Scotland has ever said they shouldn't be worn, or indeed might even have been worn a long time ago.

Jock often comments that he worries about appearing like a stuck record, I'm with him and lots of others over here in Great Britain

I think there are a couple issues here.

1. Interpretation: The way things are said in Scotland (Jock's post, etc.) may be considered commentary there, and rude in the US. There are things that are considered commentary in New Jersey, that are rude to say in Florida. This might just all be regionalization.

2. Any talk beyond the OP's question is off topic.

Let's move past people feeling like broken records, and people having hurt feelings because other people think box pleat kilts look like schoolgirl skirts. KILTS ARE SKIRTS!!! Get over it.

To quote the movie Tommy Boy, "I could stick my head up a cow's a** to get a better look at a t bone steak, but I would rather just take the butcher's word."