Wearing the kilt in Scotland

[tpa]

I have just spent 8 days in central Scotland, kilted all the time. Some of the time in a "proper" woolen kilt and some of the time in a cheap acrylic. Only got 2 comments to my face, both favourable; one from a guy, who when asked said he had a kilt he wore all the time. He was wearing shorts. I did overhear a female commenting to her partner about the lack of socks at Culzean castle, but that was of necessity because of the rain. (See my 8 Days in Scotland thread.) I don't recollect seeing another kilt anywhere.

I also discovered another kilt benefit I had not thought about before. When using the showers at the campsite, because there is water all over the floor, it is almost impossible to pull on a pair of trousers without getting them wet, no problem with a kilt!

[CeilidhDoc]

I think I'll look for stone ground oats and Ir'n Bru elsewhere.

If only I could find these in good supply in California, USA!!! I miss them...

Slàinte!

[Nathan]

If only I could find these in good supply in California, USA!!! I miss them...

Slàinte!

Bit of a sidebar - I didn't grow up with Barr's Irn Bru, I grew up with McKinley's Pop Factory in Glace Bay, Cape Breton and they produced their own beverage called Iron Brew. It was brown with a fruity cola taste. Havelock Home in the next city over also produced an Iron Brew. When McKinley's shut down in about 1990, yet another company, Cape Breton Beverages Ltd., the local pepsi bottler, produced the drink locally as 'Cape Breton's Irn Bru'.



The orange Barr's stuff from Scotland, which is probably the original, is similar but it doesn't really satisfy the nostalgia my taste buds crave but I buy it because it's the closest thing available.

[Liam]

Bit of a sidebar - I didn't grow up with Barr's Irn Bru, I grew up with McKinley's Pop Factory in Glace Bay, Cape Breton and they produced their own beverage called Iron Brew.



The orange Barr's stuff from Scotland, which is probably the original, is similar but it doesn't really satisfy the nostalgia my taste buds crave but I buy it because it's the closest thing available.

Nathan... I believe that the Scottish version was originally "Iron Brew", but because it was actually "brewed as an alcoholic beverage" is and because it doesn't actually contain iron the makers had to change the name.

Bill

[Nathan]

Nathan... I believe that the Scottish version was originally "Iron Brew", but because it was actually "brewed as an alcoholic beverage" is and because it doesn't actually contain iron the makers had to change the name.

Bill

Interesting. Ours had a "not a source of iron" disclaimer on it and the imported Irn Bru to Canada still does.

So, anyone else have good or bad experiences wearing the kilt in Scotland? To the Scottish members living in Scotland who kilt regularly, where and when do you like to wear the kilt? In what contexts?
@Jock Scot @Calgacus @Jordan @MacRobert's Reply ?

[Jordan]

Interesting thread, I haven't read it all the way through yet but I will.

I didn't know anything about Irn Bru being alcoholic originally, does anyone have any more info on that?

As to wearing my kilts I do it anywhere I fancy. Having been playing tour guide recently I've been in Edinburgh and Glasgow in a kilt without any problems (Although cycling in a kilt gives its own unique scenarios!) as well as also visiting Highland games and other places where kilts are more "expected" I think if you wear it with confidence you can get away with anything.

[Jock Scot]

I have no idea what all these new features mean! No doubt most will understand their uses straight away, but this technodunce may take more than a wee while to cotton on!

Just tried this newfangled techno stuff and I come up as another Jock, not me.

Anyway, to the question. I wear the kilt whenever I feel like it and/or is appropriate to the occasion, so, possibly three times a week on average. I rarely wear the kilt outside the Highlands and even more rarely South of the Scottish border. These days I do not have the puff for formal dances, but I do dress for dinner in kilt attire either at home, or with friends about twice a week during the winter months--north of the border. I do not wear the kilt in Scotland for casual daywear when visiting beyond an area of about 60 miles from home, however, if there is a suitable function then I will. For example, I did not even consider wearing the kilt whilst visiting the Hebrides a week or two ago and would no more consider wearing the kilt to the Edinburgh Tattoo(I do go from time to time) than fly to the moon.

[CeilidhDoc]

I wear the kilt whenever I feel like it and/or is appropriate to the occasion

If you don't mind me asking, in your opinion, when is it NOT appropriate for an occasion in Scotland? The answer to that may be quite helpful, to me at least.

I have basically been slowly replacing my saxon (read: pants / trousers) suits in favor of the highland equivalent. About the only time I don't wear the kilt if a suit level of attire (or better) is called for is if it is a scenario where I could draw attention to myself when it is supposed to be on someone else.

Here in the USA where I am I rarely see other men in kilts so (unfortunately from my perspective) a man in a kilt tends to generate some attention due to the perceived novelty.

So if I am lecturing for work, or have to dress up for a party, fundraiser, fancy dinners, my own graduation ceremonies, etc., then typically I am kilted. But a good example of the exception would be a wedding that is not a celtic themed event, by which I mean there won't be others in kilts, and in particular no others in kilts in the groom's party, unless I have first received approval from the groom and bride. This summer I am attending my cousin's wedding and I will likely be the only kilted man there but the bride and groom are all for me wearing the kilt so no issue but I am sure people can agree one should never be perceived as stealing attention from the bride and groom on their wedding day. I can think up various award ceremonies where I am not a recipient that might also be an occasion where I would not want to steal attention from those being honored. But I am curious if in Scotland you would identify other scenarios where the kilt would be deemed to be widely inappropriate.

For example, you mentioned that you would never have thought to wear the kilt to the Hebrides. I would have thought that would be a fantastic place to wear the kilt, since it is the stronghold of Scottish Gaelic and is rich with traditional highland culture. So that surprised me.

I always appreciate your opinions and tips which have helped me out a lot in the past so I am quite curious to hear what you have to say.

Mòran taing and Slàinte!

[Jock Scot]

If you don't mind me asking, in your opinion, when is it NOT appropriate for an occasion in Scotland? The answer to that may be quite helpful, to me at least.

I have basically been slowly replacing my saxon (read: pants / trousers) suits in favor of the highland equivalent. About the only time I don't wear the kilt if a suit level of attire (or better) is called for is if it is a scenario where I could draw attention to myself when it is supposed to be on someone else.

Here in the USA where I am I rarely see other men in kilts so (unfortunately from my perspective) a man in a kilt tends to generate some attention due to the perceived novelty.

So if I am lecturing for work, or have to dress up for a party, fundraiser, fancy dinners, my own graduation ceremonies, etc., then typically I am kilted. But a good example of the exception would be a wedding that is not a celtic themed event, by which I mean there won't be others in kilts, and in particular no others in kilts in the groom's party, unless I have first received approval from the groom and bride. This summer I am attending my cousin's wedding and I will likely be the only kilted man there but the bride and groom are all for me wearing the kilt so no issue but I am sure people can agree one should never be perceived as stealing attention from the bride and groom on their wedding day. I can think up various award ceremonies where I am not a recipient that might also be an occasion where I would not want to steal attention from those being honored. But I am curious if in Scotland you would identify other scenarios where the kilt would be deemed to be widely inappropriate.

For example, you mentioned that you would never have thought to wear the kilt to the Hebrides. I would have thought that would be a fantastic place to wear the kilt, since it is the stronghold of Scottish Gaelic and is rich with traditional highland culture. So that surprised me.

I always appreciate your opinions and tips which have helped me out a lot in the past so I am quite curious to hear what you have to say.

Mòran taing and Slàinte!

Oh gosh its just a feeling really. UMMMMmmmmmm how do I explain? Alright lets try this. If wearing the kilt is going to raise my profile above the general norm then I start to consider if wearing the kilt is appropriate. Therefore using the Hebridean trip as an example. No local wears the kilt as general day or even informal evening attire, so why should I? Frankly as a nearly local I should------ and do----know better. There are also uses that the kilt just is not suitable for, or better kit is now available such as for deer stalking, shooting and deep wading whilst fishing in a river.

Does this help?

[CeilidhDoc]

It does, and I thank you for your exceedingly prompt reply!

I suppose that for me some of that would be lost, because anywhere I have ever worn the kilt outside of St. Andrews when I was at Uni (with the one exception of highland gathering events) I have typically been the only kilted man present. Thus an internal sense of worry about raising my profile is moot because it is always a given in my situation. This is especially true when I wear the kilt casually because it is even more rare than kilted men at formal events.

I greatly enjoyed your story about the improperly kilted tourist on the ferry. But I do wonder, what would your thoughts have been if you had run into an impeccably kilted tourist on the ferry?

I do see your points about fishing and shooting. Midges up the kilt sounds rather unpleasant as well. So there are certainly times when the kilt may be less practical than a more modern invention and that seems quite legitimate. But it would seem that this is more of a soft impression than a rule of thumb as you are describing it, which may give some more leeway for interpretation... assuming one who is going kilt-clad does it with respect to highland tradition even if they are wearing it when you might not. Am I correct with that?

Slàinte!