kilts in Scotland

**Monkey@Arms** · 9th January 08, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

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.

Forgive me if you answered this before, JS, but as a resident of the Highlands, on what type of occasions do you personally choose to wear your kilt?

Best regards,

Jake

**Jock Scot** · 9th January 08, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by Monkey@Arms

Forgive me if you answered this before, JS, but as a resident of the Highlands, on what type of occasions do you personally choose to wear your kilt?

Best regards,

Jake

Hello Jake,I don't think I have answered that specific question before so let me try to.Most weddings,most funerals,dinners,lunches,some business meetings,grouse shooting in August provided the midges are not too bad,Just popping out to town or going to see some one,fishing sometimes,going for a walk to see the farm,school functions,and whenever the mood and practicality suits.I would be one of the more regular kilt wearers around here I should say.Does this answer your question?

**Jock Scot** · 4th January 08, 04:02 AM

Originally Posted by hxtonhouse

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!

I am generalising here and with a bit of added guesswork too. I would say that kilts are in no way as popular as jeans.Kilts for rugby,football,weddings,parties,funerals,highland games would be the norm and even then only a small percentage of Scots would wear the kilt.

The modern non tartan kilts are certainly not the norm.Until I saw this website I did not even know that they existed,although I knew about the Irish and tweed kilts.I know Arlen and Cessna wear the modern non tartan type kilt but they are the only Scots that I know of, that do.

Very, very, very few Scots would wear the kilt as a first choice for daily use.Most Scots that wear the kilt for a function would hire one and I am sorry to suggest that most Scots would not recognise one tartan from another.I also have no doubt whatsoever that the knowledge on this site,from you non Scots,about kilt matters is far superior than most Scots.

However much the Scots may deny it and however much they may huff and puff to the contrary, on the whole the kilt rarely enters into the mind of most Scotsmen.Unless they are bull*******g a tourist!

**Rab Gordon** · 4th January 08, 04:38 AM

Generally only worn on special occasions.
Although I personally have quite a broad definition of a suitable occasion many would only wear a kilt at a wedding if ever.

Rab

**graham_s** · 4th January 08, 05:35 AM

I wear one maybe a couple of times a week. I rarely see anyone else wearing one unless there is a rugby match on.

**Woodsheal** · 4th January 08, 06:01 AM

I suspected this was the case, but reading it firsthand from all of our Scots friends makes me kinda sad!
The odd thing is that kiltmakers both here and abroad barely keep up with their orders. Sounds like lots of kilts being purchased - then not worn....

**bjproc** · 4th January 08, 03:14 PM

Originally Posted by graham_s

I wear one maybe a couple of times a week. I rarely see anyone else wearing one unless there is a rugby match on.

i don't have a kilt, but theres only a couple of guys i've seen here that wears one from time to time

@ Chef

very well put.

**Dhuni** · 4th January 08, 03:45 PM

Chef's last post got me thinking.
I've only got a few posts on here; but I have been wearing a kilt for over 40 years and have loads of people back in Scotland. When I see these posts from folks that have dozens of kilts I'm amazed!
Unless they're a piper, working at a clothing store,tourist shop or as a distillery guide, most people I know back in Scotland usually get a kilt for their wedding and have to make it last the remainder of their life.
I met one of the old Fraser brothers from Moniack many years ago and his nickname was Scraps; a reference to the state of his well worn kilt!
And he lived in a Castle!

**Howard Clark** · 4th January 08, 06:06 AM

When I purchased some Robert Noble tartan from an ebay seller, I had it shipped to a friend in Plymouth who was coming to visit me some time later, as he so willingly cooperated in bringing it, saving me some post money. His comment was "Kilt, kilt, what are you going to do with a kilt ? Those are sold to tourists on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, and you'll never see one otherwise, except at weddings, rugby, and football."

My observation is that likely many Americans and Canadians wear a kilt more frequently than most Scots do. Strikes me as curious, but I am sure the reasons are numerous and complex.

**cessna152towser** · 4th January 08, 06:22 AM

I wear a kilt almost daily. I can often be out and about all day and not meet anyone else wearing a kilt, yet on another day I may encounter lots of guys in kilts, for example is there is an international soccer or rugby match being held that day. My wardrobe contains more kilts than trousers, however my next door neighbour only owns two kilts and wears them much less regularly than I do. The next again neighbour only owns one kilt and so far I have only seen him wearing it once. My neighbour on the other side does not own a kilt but hires one occasionally to wear for a special event. So yes, nearly every Scotsman wears a kilt at some time, but most only wear them infrequently.