An evening with the Peatbog Faeries and a day out in York.

[mbhandy]

Those shots are great ...Now I really need to get my passport renewed!

I'll second that.

MrBill

[CMcG]

Trying this new concept of a picture thread in the "Modern Kilt wear" section.

<snip>

Good call English Bloke. What I imagine would be different about posting pics in the Modern Kilt Wear sub-forum is that we're going to talk about them, right? Pics in the Show Us Your Pics section tend to generate more "nice pics" or "thanks for sharing" comments...

Of the two handsome kilties starring in this photo spread, I think one outfit is more successful than the other. Would anyone care to make a comparison?

[McClef]

Great shots John - even though it's dangerous (allegedly) to be kilted in York (though I believe you also need to be carrying a bow and arrow before the natives can legally kill you)!

[Mike_Oettle]

CMcG invites a comparison between the two kilted gents, but I am not sure that it would be altogether fair.
John is wearing a golf shirt and a T-shirt underneath. Doublewood is wearing a button-up shirt. John is in a denim jacket that seems about the right length for kilt-wearing, while Doublewood has a longer jacket.
Doublewood is wearing hose with very elegant cuffs, but both are wearing proper kilt hose with flashes.
John is in a synthetic sporran and synthetic shoes, while Doublewood is in a leather sporran and leather shoes.
If one is judging according to tradition, I suppose the leather is smarter than the synthetic, but personally I like John’s style.
Finally, Doublewood’s kilt is covering his knees, which is a no-no by my standards, but I am not sure how anyone else will see it.
Regards,
Mike

[English Bloke]

On this occasion we were without our longbows for exactly that reason Trefor. Y'u can't be too careful wi' them Yorkies abaat tha' nozz.

In actual fact, far from being run out of town, the natives were most receptive. We received many a compliment in fact. Lots of light banter such as "What you wearing under there? [giggle-giggle]" but also lots of respectful smiles, impressed double takes and surreptitious photography rather than silly sniggers. The best comment probably was from an older lady (older than me anyway) in a small book shop we were drawn into who said. "Ooooh, I do love to see a man in a kilt. You both look absolutely marvelous by the way". And that was despite my ubiquitous Levi Jacket.

CMcG. I see where you are going and why but I'd hate to draw a comparison between us. This is the modern wear section after all and the rules are put aside so we contemporary chaps may dress as we please... Plus, I already know Dave dresses better than me! Comments are welcome of course, but I'm not playing.


EDIT: Mike. The shoes I'm wearing are leather synthetic mix, cross trainer. Dave's shoes are stout leather walking boots and cost five times what mine did. Both are comfy as anything for a long stroll round town. My sporran is a Stillwater cargo in butter-soft brown leather. It still has the characteristic zips as closures but I assure you it's made from a top-notch leather and very good quality. Dave's sporran is high quality brown leather sporran, based on a military pattern with tassels added (because it's not really a military sporran). It too is a nice bit of kit.

To get back to the point of modern kilt wear, I think my reasoning is, we are wearing what we have and utilising the kilt as an everyday garment. For us at least it's not 'special occasion only' kit. It isn't bound by conventions and rigid dress standards. At least part of the freedom of my kilt is to be free to wear it as I choose. I'm not having a go at anyone here. There are those who may think I look a hummelin' sight and who choose a different path from mine and they are quite correct in what they do. I have no issue with that and have certainly learned much from many people on this forum. I'm just comfortably wearing my kilt as an everyday wardrobe option and hopefully showing others that it's OK to do that.

[Spartan Tartan]

Great Pictures!! I love me some Cornish Pasties...

You really know how to spend some time wondering about a city. Thanks for the pictures.

[CMcG]

<snip>
CMcG. I see where you are going and why but I'd hate to draw a comparison between us. This is the modern wear section after all and the rules are put aside so we contemporary chaps may dress as we please... Plus, I already know Dave dresses better than me! Comments are welcome of course, but I'm not playing.


...

To get back to the point of modern kilt wear, I think my reasoning is, we are wearing what we have and utilising the kilt as an everyday garment. For us at least it's not 'special occasion only' kit. It isn't bound by conventions and rigid dress standards. At least part of the freedom of my kilt is to be free to wear it as I choose. I'm not having a go at anyone here. There are those who may think I look a hummelin' sight and who choose a different path from mine and they are quite correct in what they do. I have no issue with that and have certainly learned much from many people on this forum. I'm just comfortably wearing my kilt as an everyday wardrobe option and hopefully showing others that it's OK to do that.

Who said anything about rules? Part of the modernist ethos is, as English Bloke says, being free from conventions...

We can, nonetheless, still talk about the relative success of an outfit by other means. Otherwise, the Modern Kilt Wear sub-forum runs the risk of being a place filled merely with platitudes.

Here is one thing I noticed and the rabble can decide if it is a valid comment for this section of the forum. Doublewood's sporran is causing his kilt to bunch up in many of these photos, as compared to English Bloke. If his sporran was a bit higher relative to the top of his kilt, as English Bloke's is, the bunching of the fabric would be lessened.

Now, I'm not saying this because of a rule about one's kilt not bunching up under one's sporran. If Doublewood likes it, then good for him. I personally find my kilt more comfortable when the apron sits flat and I think it looks better too.

How is that for a comment that would help the rabble and isn't based on rules?

[MacMillans son]

Very nice John.

Give us a few hundred years to catch up, and we'll have architecture like that too

Looks like a good time had by all! Thanks for posting.

[Derek]

Looks a great crusade. Great pics. Nice one John. Good to see Doublewood again, and his family as I have never met them as of yet.
More importantly than your kilts etc ... what brews are in those glasses. Knowing you two there should be something 'alf tidy' as we say in my part of the world.
Iechyd Da
Derek

[English Bloke]

CMcG:- Yes, valid comment and exactly the kind of contribution needed in this section of the site. It's good to point out mistakes so that others may avoid a repeat performance. It may be a modern approach but we can still learn from each other. I appreciate your considerations but in my mate's defence, Doublewood has lost a bit of weight recently and had to take his kilt belt in three notches. At one point on our wander he had to take it in another notch as he almost found his kilt round his ankles. (He needs his buckles adjusting back to their original position). For this reason I'd forgive him his sporran being a bit droopy and his kilt being a bit low, I think it was the least of his worries. You have a good eye though and you're right, it can spoil an otherwise well thought out, non-traditional look. It wasn't so noticable "on the day" I assure you, probably because we were moving about rather than being viewed as a captured static image. I know what you mean though I shall brief him and get him to adjust his kilt back to a better fit...

Derek: York Brewery's "Guzzler" As it says in the link. 'Crisp and refreshing', a crackin' beer! We were in a pub called The Maltings, just around the corner from the station by Lendal Bridge. Zara had a glass of draught "moonshine" cider from the Original Cider Co. A lovely glass but has danger written all over it! It tastes like straight apple juice but clocks a hefty 7.5% ABV. Need to take it easy with that one me thinks.