'Garb' and the Kilt

[Blu (Ontario)]

Physicaly, a kilt is nothing but a piece of cloth.

All of the other stuff is the perception, connotation, and emotion we humans tend to attach to things.

A kilt is nothing more or less than what we make of it.

The important thing is that, whatever our modus vivendi, it enhances our enjoyment of the human experience.

[bear]

I'm sure there are folks coming here researching kilts for Ren Fairs and costumes, there are people who wear their Ren stuff as everyday wear, and there are people who get into kilts as costumes and continue to wear only the kilt as clothing, I'm wondering where you draw the line.

I'm not sure that line is visible to the naked eye. At the very least, it moves around a lot and is tough to corner.
My last blog was partly about this very subject and partly about overstressing about wrinkled pleats.
http://macbitseach.blogspot.com/
The relevant part was, "I can see a traditionalist trying to look his best, trying to keep wrinkles from his kilt as a man in a nice suit would try to keep wrinkles from his trousers. His kilt and accessories are a statement and are often worn as a costume or uniform to a formal function.
Some of you think I dislike this. I don't object to kilts as costumes. I object to kilts as ONLY costumes. They were garments first."
I haven't worn pants for almost three years, so to me, they're garments.
To a guy who wears his kilt twice a year, it's a costume.
Can you wear them as costumes on a daily basis without them being garments?

[Robert Lamb]

[ To a guy who wears his kilt twice a year, it's a costume.
Can you wear them as costumes on a daily basis without them being garments ?
Not in my way of thinking..
Robert "the kilted" Lamb

[macwilkin]

[ To a guy who wears his kilt twice a year, it's a costume.
Can you wear them as costumes on a daily basis without them being garments ?
Not in my way of thinking..
Robert "the kilted" Lamb

I think some folks around here are way too hard on the gents who only wear their kilts two or three times a year. I myself do not wear my kilt every day, and generally only wear it to Scottish functions, games, Burns Nights, meetings, church, etc. I consider my kilt a "special" garment worn to honour my Scottish ancestry, and wearing it everyday turns it into just another piece of clothing. My kilt is a symbol of my heritage, so I take great pride in it -- yes, I have worn it "casually", but even then I wear it with "pride of place".

That is just my opinion, I don't expect everyone else to conform to it, btw. I respect those who wear kilts everyday, even though I may not.

Regards,

Todd

[arrogcow]

I'm not sure that line is visible to the naked eye.
The relevant part was, "I can see a traditionalist trying to look his best, trying to keep wrinkles from his kilt as a man in a nice suit would try to keep wrinkles from his trousers. His kilt and accessories are a statement and are often worn as a costume or uniform to a formal function.

Just checked your Blog, and for the record, I have ironed a UK three times in 4 years (everytime I have volunteered to sell at an event). I was rumpled in jeans, and I'm rumpled in (casual) kilts (my tartans are kept nice).

Back on topic. I have worn a kilt as a costume, but mostly that is because I'm lazy. I wore a rugby shirt with my tank on halloween one year and just told everyone I was a soccer hooligan.

Adam

[davedove]

I've got absolutely no problem in wearing a kilt as part of a costume. When I do, however, I do my best to accessorize is in such a way that it does not appear to be everyday wear. For instance, I wore my kilt to the Renn Faire the other day, but wore a rennaisance style shirt, boots, and the works. That way it looked like a costume and not like I was going about my normal business.

There are some people who only see the kilt as a costume, and that's a shame. And there are some who would say that wearing the kilt as part of a costume enforces that generalization. While I respect that opinion, and can even see some truth to it, I will not let that restrict my own use of the kilt. You know, personal freedom and all that. I'll wear a cowboy hat and boots even when I'm not out riding the range, so I can wear a kilt even if I'm not acting the part of a highlander.

[Prester John]

I can appreciate this as an Orthodox priest.

We wear, typically, cassocks and crosses as "street wear" that is, the same as a coat and tie.

Whenever we attend some function with heterodox clergy, I'm pretty certain they think we are in vestments (items worn for liturgical worship, stoles, et al)

Likewise, some think it's a costume or that I'm a monk in a Catholic order of some kind, until they see my wife and kids (THEN you should see their faces!)
Some Jewish people even think I'm a rabbi - "The cross threw us off," they often comment!

In reality, ignorance of such matters as dress is everywhere, but just because the barbarians are at the gate, doesn't mean we have to dress in animal skins and burlap, obviously.

With the kilt, I suspect it's not so bad, but over time will become a normal "part" of recognizable American culture.

By the way, I did finally get my boys out of the rental kilts that came yesterday...at 10:30pm!

[dano9672]

Garb is not a costume, Garb is my preferred attire. My Garb is usually a kilt, a breacan feile if the weather's not too warm because I'm aiming at the late 16th century. If I must, I'll stretch the era a little and wear the philabeg as the shop I work at is in a vale and the air gets stagnant rather quickly.

A costume is something we wear to convey an altered image of ourselves.

"Appropriate Business Attire" is a costume.

[bear]

From Merriam-Webster's on-line dictionary

Main Entry: 1cos·tume
Pronunciation: 'käs-"tüm, -"tyüm also -t&m or -"chüm
Function: noun
Etymology: French, from Italian, custom, dress, from Latin consuetudin-, consuetudo custom -- more at CUSTOM
1 : the prevailing fashion in coiffure, jewelry, and apparel of a period, country, or class
2 : an outfit worn to create the appearance characteristic of a particular period, person, place, or thing <Halloween costumes>
3 : a person's ensemble of outer garments; especially : a woman's ensemble of dress with coat or jacket

If someone is wearing their kilt for their Scottish heritage, they are, by that definition, wearing it as a costume.
As my post said, "Some of you think I dislike this. I don't object to kilts as costumes. I object to kilts as ONLY costumes. They were garments first."
In other words, I'm against people telling me I can't wear my kilt however I please.
I think there's a hell of a lot more people telling guys in casual kilts they're dressed funny than guys in traditional kilted gear.

[gmcdavid]

I've got absolutely no problem in wearing a kilt as part of a costume. When I do, however, I do my best to accessorize is in such a way that it does not appear to be everyday wear. For instance, I wore my kilt to the Renn Faire the other day, but wore a rennaisance style shirt, boots, and the works. That way it looked like a costume and not like I was going about my normal business.

That is close to my own thinking. If I am in "costume", for Ren Faire or reenactment, then I will be wearing a period style shirt, footware, etc. The kilt (a great kilt) is part of the costume.

However, on other occasions, when I wear a tailored kilt, it is clothing. My shirt, shoes, jacket (if I need one), etc. will be modern.

Operationally, this amounts to:

great kilt: garb
tailored kilt: clothing

This works for me since my reenactment period is 17th century. Those reenact later periods may need a more careful distinction.

Glenn