kilts in Scotland

[haxtonhouse]

I have never been to Scotland, and I am curious to know just how many Scots wear kilts on average? Are they as popular as jeans are in the U.S.? Sorry for my ignorance, hopefully some of you can enlighten me!

[beloitpiper]

No, they are not as popular as jeans. Not even close! In Scotland, kilts are primarily worn at formal events, but are increasingly being worn day to day, as casual wear, just as they are in the United States.

[David Dalglish]

Not seen until Rugby or football(when Scotland are playing) matches--or formal events

[TheKiltedWonder]

and by the odd street musician of course...

[Monkey@Arms]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I dare say the average Scot doesn't own a kilt. He rents one for formal occasions in the same way that most men in the USA don't own a tuxedo.

Best regards,

Jake

[Bryan]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I dare say the average Scot doesn't own a kilt. He rents one for formal occasions in the same way that most men in the USA don't own a tuxedo.

That's true for most of them. I have a close friend from Scotland and he's never owned a kilt in his life. Just rents them.

[Jock Scot]

Now that we are back on thread again,here is my slant on visitors(a much more pleasant word than tourist,I think and I must use it more often).Anyway,when I see a kilt being worn in the Highlands,thats my home,I am delighted and I care not one jot which part of the world the wearer comes from.If the kilt is worn correctly,they are not always,I am even more delighted.

When I wear the kilt,I don't think about comfort,am I going to be asked the question,am I going to get comments,am I going to be the centre of attention,am I going to be ridiculed? No I D*** well don't!I wear it-----well----because I always have.

I don't know anything about modern non-wool,non tartan kilts and that is no reflection or critiscism of anyone,just ignorance on my part, if you like,but in truth I have had no need to know anything about them.

Where I do raise a quiet eyebrow,and I think I can speak for many other Scots too,is the wearing of differant tartans(not the same clan).I really cannot get my head around that.However, each to their own and I for one will quietly enjoy seeing a well worn kilt "swishing" its way around the Highlands without saying a word; as is the Highland way.

[Sean_the_Kilted]

Where I do raise a quiet eyebrow,and I think I can speak for many other Scots too,is the wearing of differant tartans(not the same clan).I really cannot get my head around that.However, each to their own and I for one will quietly enjoy seeing a well worn kilt "swishing" its way around the Highlands without saying a word; as is the Highland way.

I know there are no rules, but what are the tartan choice traditions of people in scotland in general? Do people only wear their surname and/or other names they are related to (ie Campbell since its Mothers maiden name, Macdonald since it was Grandmothers maiden name, etc...) If they wear tartans of their ancestry, how far do people go back? Grandparents? Great Grandparents? Great Great Grandparents? What about district tartans? For the average scottish guy if you wear a tartan that you have no connection to, is that looked down upon? Do people even ask? Or is it one of those things where if your best friend or uncle sees you in a Campbell tartan and you are a Brown that you are looked down upon. I know its alot of questions. Just curious.

[Phil]

I know there are no rules, but what are the tartan choice traditions of people in scotland in general? Do people only wear their surname and/or other names they are related to (ie Campbell since its Mothers maiden name, Macdonald since it was Grandmothers maiden name, etc...) If they wear tartans of their ancestry, how far do people go back? Grandparents? Great Grandparents? Great Great Grandparents? What about district tartans? For the average scottish guy if you wear a tartan that you have no connection to, is that looked down upon? Do people even ask? Or is it one of those things where if your best friend or uncle sees you in a Campbell tartan and you are a Brown that you are looked down upon. I know its alot of questions. Just curious.

It depends whether you own a kilt or just hire it. If you are hiring it you will have a limited selection and probably go for one you like the look of unless they actually have one in your tartan. If you are buying your own you are most likely to choose a tartan with which you have a family or marriage connection (in my case my mother's family). Sadly some tartans like the Buchanan and Stewart have become icons of the carpet and upholstery industry or appear as rugs or scarves and in such a case it is likely that another more suitable one will be chosen. I have friends whom I know don't wear their family tartans for just this reason but it is not something for disapproval. For some unknown reason women sometimes seem to consider themselves arbiters of fashion where men are concerned and have been known to express an opinion but men, never.

[Jock Scot]

I know there are no rules, but what are the tartan choice traditions of people in scotland in general? Do people only wear their surname and/or other names they are related to (ie Campbell since its Mothers maiden name, Macdonald since it was Grandmothers maiden name, etc...) If they wear tartans of their ancestry, how far do people go back? Grandparents? Great Grandparents? Great Great Grandparents? What about district tartans? For the average scottish guy if you wear a tartan that you have no connection to, is that looked down upon? Do people even ask? Or is it one of those things where if your best friend or uncle sees you in a Campbell tartan and you are a Brown that you are looked down upon. I know its alot of questions. Just curious.

Good questions Sean.I will try to answer them,but to start with you need to think of the word "convention" rather than rules, at all times.I think we all would like to wear a clan tartan of our father's surname,but of course we all don't manage that, so we wear,if we can, a tartan with a familly connection,or regimental one ,and that is that.No one asks why we are wearing such and such a tartan,BUT we would only wear the one tartan.

I rather suspect that this convention started in the 1850's.Certainly, I vividly recall my grandfather giving my brother a major dressing down for suggesting that it would be a nice change to wear another tartan and that was in the 1940's.

Don't forget that the cost of a handmade kilt(that is all that most Scots know about)does not allow us to have too many.I have three---two are handmedowns and one I bought,all of the same clan tartan.

District tartans are not seen much apart from perhaps a local pipe band.

Please also don't forget that most Scots hire a kilt if they need one and in that case there is very little choice of tartan.