Trendy Question

[GMan]

Personally I dress for the occasion. If it's a formal event, I will break out the Argyle and the waistcoat. If it's a kilts night I may wear my hose rolled down, boots, and a rugby shirt. I see nothing wrong with either approach.

Colin speaks my language on this. I guess he knows my thoughts, this is scary! LOL

[Colin]

Colin speaks my language on this. I guess he knows my thoughts, this is scary! LOL

Great minds think alike Glen, it must be the mountain air.

[Hamish]

Kilts are moving towards being, not only formal wear, but everyday clothing.

Most people don't dress up every day, so kilt-wearing styles are reflecting that.

I think it's a good thing, since it gets kilts out of the mode of being only a formal costume (like a tuxedo).

What's bad form is to wear a dressed-down kilt outfit to a formal occassion. It's akin to guys wearing tennis shoes with a tuxedo or a tuxedo-print t-shirt instead of the real thing.

True! Every word is true, Bill.

[Dreadbelly]

So, does anybody here besides me think that clogs, like the ones I posted, look darn good with a kilt?

Ham?

There is something somewhat Celtic about the look. I get compliments about it on occasion. I was just wondering what my fellow kilt wearers think.

[GMan]

I have seen clogs with kilts before, and they do look fine to me, but I'm not a fashion expert.

[Bob C]

Shoes with the casual outfit have long been a source of minor consternation for me.

I have settled on a pair of rather plain black leather shoes that I sometimes wear to my office, mostly because they match my belt and day sporran. Nonetheless, I always feel that they're too dressy for games and the like.

I like them just fine with my tweed argyll jacket on slightly dressier occasions.

I think the hiking boots look is ok, but the things are too damned hot to wear in the summer, when all the games and festivals around here take place.

My flat feet will not tolerate sandals all day.

I'm done complaining, now. Carry on!

[Hamish]

So, does anybody here besides me think that clogs, like the ones I posted, look darn good with a kilt?

Ham?

There is something somewhat Celtic about the look. I get compliments about it on occasion. I was just wondering what my fellow kilt wearers think.

You have asked me, so here's my reply! Personally, I do not care for the look of the clogs, not that I have seen anything like them here in the United Kingdom - they're too much like sandals and therefore, to my mind, should not be worn with socks or hose and are, consequently, casual footwear. However, I have to keep reminding myself of the differences in opinions and, indeed, standards, between you in North America and us here in the United Kingdom. You chaps will wear combinations of clothing items that most of us would rather die than wear, especially in public!! I mean no offence - it's just they way we all are.

As regards footwear and kilts I have learned, through experience, to abide by the following rules:

1) To help maintain a thoroughly masculine appearance (this is for those observers who do not 'understand' kilts), it is vital to keep footwear looking heavy and solid. This also serves to keep the balance of our overall appearance in order. If our footwear looks heavy, it gives the impression that we are 'anchored' to the ground. You see, kilts in themselves look solid and heavier than trousers, and some types of lighter footwear that might work with trousers just do not strike the right note with the kilt - we need that weighty aspect of our clothing to be as close to the ground as possible to achieve the balance and, if our kilts look heavier than our footwear, it just doesn't work!

2) Boots (which look heavy) worn with pulled-up hose just do not look right. So when wearing boots, I always roll the hose down. This also gives the appearance of thickening the calves and making our legs look more sturdy.

3) Shoes worn with rolled down hose look ghastly if not slovenly, and so, if I want to wear shoes, the hose is pulled up to just below the knee.

4) Sandals are just one step up from having bare feet and are therefore extremely casual. Wearing sandals with a kilt breaks my 'law' of keeping the weighty look as close to ground level as possible. Therefore the kilt has to be worn in the most casual manner, perhaps topless but certainly with nothing more on top than a light-coloured T-shirt. That just about works. For me, sandals are for the beach, not the city, and so that governs the rest of my chosen kilted outfit too.

Years ago, I did wear socks/hose with sandals from time to time, but I was never comfortable with the way I looked when I did that. In recent years,I have learned why - it is a visual thing. It just does not look right - any more than wearing boots without socks or hose looks right.

OK - Not very clearly explained (it is getting late!) but those are my feelings about footwear and kilts in general. Oddly enough, appropriate footwear is the most difficult kilt-wearing accessory to get spot-on, but I still maintain that the secret is in the bulky, heavy look being at ground level.

[Dreadbelly]

You have asked me, so here's my reply! Personally, I do not care for the look of the clogs, not that I have seen anything like them here in the United Kingdom - they're too much like sandals and therefore, to my mind, should not be worn with socks or hose and are, consequently, casual footwear. However, I have to keep reminding myself of the differences in opinions and, indeed, standards, between you in North America and us here in the United Kingdom. You chaps will wear combinations of clothing items that most of us would rather die than wear, especially in public!! I mean no offence - it's just they way we all are.

As regards footwear and kilts I have learned, through experience, to abide by the following rules:

1) To help maintain a thoroughly masculine appearance (this is for those observers who do not 'understand' kilts), it is vital to keep footwear looking heavy and solid. This also serves to keep the balance of our overall appearance in order. If our footwear looks heavy, it gives the impression that we are 'anchored' to the ground. You see, kilts in themselves look solid and heavier than trousers, and some types of lighter footwear that might work with trousers just do not strike the right note with the kilt - we need that weighty aspect of our clothing to be as close to the ground as possible to achieve the balance and, if our kilts look heavier than our footwear, it just doesn't work!

2) Boots (which look heavy) worn with pulled-up hose just do not look right. So when wearing boots, I always roll the hose down. This also gives the appearance of thickening the calves and making our legs look more sturdy.

3) Shoes worn with rolled down hose look ghastly if not slovenly, and so, if I want to wear shoes, the hose is pulled up to just below the knee.

4) Sandals are just one step up from having bare feet and are therefore extremely casual. Wearing sandals with a kilt breaks my 'law' of keeping the weighty look as close to ground level as possible. Therefore the kilt has to be worn in the most casual manner, perhaps topless but certainly with nothing more on top than a light-coloured T-shirt. That just about works. For me, sandals are for the beach, not the city, and so that governs the rest of my chosen kilted outfit too.

Years ago, I did wear socks/hose with sandals from time to time, but I was never comfortable with the way I looked when I did that. In recent years,I have learned why - it is a visual thing. It just does not look right - any more than wearing boots without socks or hose looks right.

OK - Not very clearly explained (it is getting late!) but those are my feelings about footwear and kilts in general. Oddly enough, appropriate footwear is the most difficult kilt-wearing accessory to get spot-on, but I still maintain that the secret is in the bulky, heavy look being at ground level.

That makes a lot of sense.

Clogs are chunky and bulky looking... At least mine are. I have a EEEE foot. I can sorta see what you mean by looking like all your weight is down at your feet.

[Archangel]

You have asked me, so here's my reply! Personally, I do not care for the look of the clogs, not that I have seen anything like them here in the United Kingdom - they're too much like sandals and therefore, to my mind, should not be worn with socks or hose and are, consequently, casual footwear. However, I have to keep reminding myself of the differences in opinions and, indeed, standards, between you in North America and us here in the United Kingdom. You chaps will wear combinations of clothing items that most of us would rather die than wear, especially in public!! I mean no offence - it's just they way we all are.

<snip>

OK - Not very clearly explained (it is getting late!) but those are my feelings about footwear and kilts in general. Oddly enough, appropriate footwear is the most difficult kilt-wearing accessory to get spot-on, but I still maintain that the secret is in the bulky, heavy look being at ground level.

Actually, it's very well explained and should not offend anybody. Maybe it's because I agree with what you've said. My "rule" is to go for the military look and back off to where you want to be, which lines up with what you've said. Sensible walking shoes are best and they should match what's on top in terms of formality. I've worn sandals outside with my kilt only twice: once on purpose along the beach where I knew I'd be walking barefoot in the surf; once, by accident, when I had just rushed out of the house from guitar practice for a coffee and the drive-thru was closed, so I had to go in feeling inappropriately dressed. As if anybody knew. Actually, some biker types there were snickering and I stared them down. Got back to my car saying to myself what was I thinking.
My feeling is that the military look is where our image and the public's image coincide. It's is recognized, expected, and validated. Understand me though, I'm not saying wear a uniform or anything like that, just a hint that the "ignorant" public may recognize. Hmm, I think, Hamish, I'm starting to muddy your picture.

[KMacT]

2) Boots (which look heavy) worn with pulled-up hose just do not look right. So when wearing boots, I always roll the hose down. This also gives the appearance of thickening the calves and making our legs look more sturdy.

Ham,

You say "rolled down," but when I look at your pictures I think I would call that "folded down." Rolled down, in my understanding, would result in a thick round roll at the bottom (like rolling up a cigarette, maybe). But your pics show a thinker fold(?) of hose above the boot. Am I making sense? Can you comment, please.

Kevin.