With time more diverse kilt wearing

**Jack Daw** · 23rd February 08, 12:58 PM

For daytime, I've only worn the kilt at Highland games. When I'm not competing on the pipes, I like to wear a piper's shirt, a Craigie sporran, hiking boots, and pulled-up hose with flashes. Except for any utilitarian value, I hate to wear hats. I've been rather rigid in this informal dress code, but I have gotten accustomed to seeing the "relaxed" hose (w/o flashes and garters) and now I think that wearing hose as such is rather cool-looking. Right now, that's all I'm willing to do. I'm almost 49 and haven't worn trainers/sneakers and T-shirts, except for the health club, in years. But, to each his own, and I don't get upset at those woh wear T-shirts and sandals. A buddy of mine, who is 58, wears those, but he used to be a pot-smoking hippy.

**JakobT** · 23rd February 08, 06:27 PM

Am I the only one beginning to find this thread eerily similar to the "proper kilt" discussion a little while back?

**Jock Scot** · 24th February 08, 02:13 AM

A good point well made there,Jamie.

**David Dalglish** · 24th February 08, 02:54 AM

I think that the original question is how far do you let you standards slip while wearing a kilt. I would not wear tee shirts or sneakers, just because I think that I look crap in them. My casual outfit would be wool kilt,sporran, hose & flashes, polished shoes, open neck shirt-with short or long sleeve pullover, depending on the weather, thats as casual as I get. I have worn boots with scrunched down hose before, but not very often. I am not a kilt snob, as I think that other people look great with tee shirts etc. But I do try to dress smart when I wear my kilt.

**Erisianmonkey** · 24th February 08, 03:12 AM

I dress very casually. I wear muscle shirts and sandals with my kilts, and I don't really give an airborne rodent's posterior what the kilt snobs think. It startles some people, but it has also turned some folks on to kilt wearing that never would have thought of it. I know the snobs say that that is a bad thing, but I don't. I'd like to see a lot more people wearing kilts, formally, casually, sloppy or neat-because they are one of the best garments available.

I'd like to point out to the kilt snobs that kilts are clothing, not uniforms. Especially when it comes to my kilts, as I made them, not you. The only real rule I can think of that should be drummed into anyone about kilt wearing is pleats go in back. And even then, as long as someone knows it, if they decide to wear it wrong it is their business. Other than that, the kilt snobs trying to dictate that a kilt must only be worn with hose, flashes, sporran, sgian dubh, ghillie brogues, and a certain type of shirt are really trying to turn the kilt into a "Scotsman costume."

THE KILT IS NOT A F

COSTUME!!!*
*and that is as politely as I can put it.

**Chef** · 24th February 08, 08:43 AM

Originally Posted by Erisianmonkey

THE KILT IS NOT A F

COSTUME!!!*
*and that is as politely as I can put it.

Your right, it is not. A kilt is however recognised as a form of national dress. Because of that, you should recognise it represents more to some people than a way to thumb their nose at the establishment or to let their privates hang free. I'm not a kilt snob because I think everyone should dress more formally, I'm a kilt snob because the kilt means something to me. It represents my history, my heritage and my family.

Many people wear a kilt for no reason other that they like it. That is fine, I don't have a problem with it. I only have a problem when they thumb their noses at those for whom the kilt has more meaning. If someone wants to wear a dirty wrinkled UK or an AK half way their backside with a Bud Light shirt and sandals I don't care because it doesn't mean anything to me, but if you do the same with traditional kilt (or anything that passes for one) yes it bothers me. I doesn't mean I am going to call my congressman and ask them to legislate against it but in a forum where someone asks a question I am gong to answer honestly.

I understand the wearing of a kilt as an anti-establishment statement for many on the forum. I don't agree with it but I respect it. All I'm asking is while you might not agree with those who feel there is more meaning to a kilt you at least understand and respect that view.

**SportBilly** · 24th February 08, 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by Chef

Your right, it is not. A kilt is however recognised as a form of national dress. Because of that, you should recognise it represents more to some people than a way to thumb their nose at the establishment or to let their privates hang free. I'm not a kilt snob because I think everyone should dress more formally, I'm a kilt snob because the kilt means something to me. It represents my history, my heritage and my family.

Many people wear a kilt for no reason other that they like it. That is fine, I don't have a problem with it. I only have a problem when they thumb their noses at those for whom the kilt has more meaning. If someone wants to wear a dirty wrinkled UK or an AK half way their backside with a Bud Light shirt and sandals I don't care because it doesn't mean anything to me, but if you do the same with traditional kilt (or anything that passes for one) yes it bothers me. I doesn't mean I am going to call my congressman and ask them to legislate against it but in a forum where someone asks a question I am gong to answer honestly.

I understand the wearing of a kilt as an anti-establishment statement for many on the forum. I don't agree with it but I respect it. All I'm asking is while you might not agree with those who feel there is more meaning to a kilt you at least understand and respect that view.

The kilt is my heritage, history and family too. My paternal grandfather was a Murray (my surname) from just outside Edinburgh. My maternal grandfather was a Stewart from near Glasgow. One of my grandmothers was from Waterford in Ireland. I don't think I'm doing any side of my family a disservice by wearing a kilt casually. In fact, I know that my late grandparents would be proud to know I'm wearing a kilt and wouldn't give a damn if it's with a t-shirt, shirt and tie or anything else. I don't have a tank and may not buy one for some time. I have just one kilt, an SWK and I don't care where it was made. It's a kilt. I'd love a Murray of Atholl kilt that's been handmade by elves in a cave in Glencoe, but until I can afford or justify that, I'm happy wearing my Nightstalker. I may be new to kilts, but to me, wearing mine is about two things. First and foremost, it's comfortable. Secondly, it's a nod in the direction of my grandparents and their families before them. I don't need to have my socks pulled up to within 1.654 inches of the bottom of my kneecap or whatever when going for a stroll in the park to be respectful of either a kilt or my family.

I respect that others feel differently and that wearing a kilt for them is about rules and regulations. What I don't agree with is suggesting there's a set of rules for everyday wear. Surely we should just be happy if one more person dons a kilt and thinks 'Now I get it'

**macwilkin** · 24th February 08, 11:22 AM

I respect that others feel differently and that wearing a kilt for them is about rules and regulations.

Respectfully, though, this sentence is a bit disrespectful. It implies that those who are more traditionalist in their take on kilt-wearing only care about rules and regulations, and not the meaning behind them. You youself said you wear the kilt as a nod to your heritage, so you should certainly understand a traditionalists point-of-view in this regard.

Honestly, I'm not going to lose sleep at night over whether you wear a SWK or a kilt from Kinloch Anderson, or if you place "comfort" above heritage. To some, "comfort" comes in tradition, while for others, comfort is a physical comfort. Horses for courses, after all. By implying that traditionalists are only about "rules & regulations", you're not returning the respect you ask of them. I have my own personal beliefs regarding Highland attire, but I am not going to say you're wrong in yours because they do not match mine -- my mother raised me better than that. We're all Jock Tamson's bairns after all.

Regards,

Todd

**SportBilly** · 24th February 08, 03:05 PM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

Respectfully, though, this sentence is a bit disrespectful. It implies that those who are more traditionalist in their take on kilt-wearing only care about rules and regulations, and not the meaning behind them. You youself said you wear the kilt as a nod to your heritage, so you should certainly understand a traditionalists point-of-view in this regard.

Honestly, I'm not going to lose sleep at night over whether you wear a SWK or a kilt from Kinloch Anderson, or if you place "comfort" above heritage. To some, "comfort" comes in tradition, while for others, comfort is a physical comfort. Horses for courses, after all. By implying that traditionalists are only about "rules & regulations", you're not returning the respect you ask of them. I have my own personal beliefs regarding Highland attire, but I am not going to say you're wrong in yours because they do not match mine -- my mother raised me better than that. We're all Jock Tamson's bairns after all.

Regards,

Todd

If it came across that I wasn't returning respect for others' views on kilt-wearing (or anything else for that matter) then I apologise, because that wasn't my intent. I was merely stating that I don't believe there should be steadfast rules when it comes to wearing a kilt casually. Have all the rules you want for formal occasions but otherwise why not let people just wear a kilt with whatever as long as they're happy?

**Abax** · 24th February 08, 11:25 AM

Despite a lifetime of not conforming to everyone else's expectations, dressing radically different from everyone around me creates some discomfort. But as the original poster points out, this discomfort decreases over time. There are now occasions I forget I'm wearing a kilt, and there's no doubt familiarity has changed how I wear my kilt.

I suspect that - at least internally - I justified my original choice of dress by referring to the "rules" of dress I chose for myself. These rules were really just my perception of what some imaginary group of authoritative people would describe as the "proper" way to wear a kilt in my circumstance. Conforming to my rules allowed me to easily withstand any criticism I might receive from people who couldn't imagine wearing a kilt. I no longer feel I have to follow the original rules I chose for myself. I take this as a sign of increased confidence and my own personal advancement. I created the first set of rules: I have just as much authority now to change those rules and decide to what extent I'll meet other people's expectations.

To the members who have offered their thoughts on how *they* dress and why, thank you very much. To the members who insist I do it their way or offer their disdain for my choices, no thanks.

Abax