if more men are getting kilts

[Blu (Ontario)]

.... Heck, is there anyone on this board that 10 years ago even considered wearing a kilt on a daily basis, much less actually did it... It's not if kilts will be mainstream, but when.Adam

All of the items that Raph and others have mentioned above may very well be topical to the few thousand of us that follow this and similar boards. But in the bigger picture, the likes of us are but a grain of sand on a beach. After almost 6 years of wearing a kilt on a regular basis, I have not yet encountered another casual kilt wearer.

If there is an effect, it's happening v - e - r - y s - l - o - w - l - y.

[ccga3359]

v - e - r - y s - l - o - w - l - y.

I take it that was for my benefit as I can't read fast.

[Nanook]

No indication?

Less that 5 years ago, one could not get a tartan kilt of any kind for under $300.

Of course you could. Much of the cheap "causal modern kilts" don't differ much, if at all, from many cheap skirts. Even "kilts" from Asia and cheap bagpipes have been around for decades. The main thing that has changed is retailing. Today it is relatively easy to order a kilt directly from Pakistan and the low cost of entry of eBay to sellers has meant that the supply is large as many try their luck.

10 years ago (when I was getting married), I spent weeks trying to find kilt hires online, and found none. Today I can find a list in the US in less than 1 min.

10 years ago online shops were relatively rare. Today its easier to find LPs then it ever was in the 1960s. Does that mean that LPs are more common today than in the 1960s?

Heck, is there anyone on this board that 10 years ago even considered wearing a kilt on a daily basis, much less actually did it?

There were always men in kilts or even skirts. The easy means to create niche interest communities (and self-help clusters) has just made the isolated appear to be part of a larger picture.

I've used this example before, but think about men and earrings. 30 years ago, I had never seen a guy with an earring. 25 years ago it was only the rebellious anti establishment guys (kids) that got one ear pierced (and make sure it was the correct one).

It was a gay and later drug thing. 25 years ago it was already mainstream among various "countercultures" in Europe.
What has changed over the years is the speed within which trends get created and managed by global marketing and media.

15 years ago I was nearly fired from my job because I got mine pierced (for a play I was in). Today, while not every guy is pierced, or even half, it is not unusual at all.

A better example might be the general trend to self-mutilation such as tattoos, piercings (not just the lobs of the ears), branding, implants and amputations (yes folks there are people that hack off limbs for gratification). Self-mutilation alongside eating disorders seems to be Zeitgeist.

Its, of course, not new.. Over 50 years ago James Dean was known in Hollywood as a "human ashtray"..

Seem a far cry from Highland dress which has been a global fashion for at least 150 years. The impulse to trend towards the kilt, I'd argue, is not to tribalism but dandyism.

I've seen lawyers, teachers, businessmen all sporting earrings. Frankly, except in the most conservative arenas (and even then rarely), earrings have become a non issue.

Still looks daft (OK, Pantani looked cool as a pirate).

[Raphael]

Sorry about misleading everyone with the Canadian Coast Guard uniform. One of Colin's friend, Andrew, is a Canadian Coast guard and he had worn his kilts when he was out at sea. His captain didn't mind at all. I am not sure whether he still does that or not.

[Colin]

Sorry about misleading everyone with the Canadian Coast Guard uniform. One of Colin's friend, Andrew, is a Canadian Coast guard and he had worn his kilts when he was out at sea. His captain didn't mind at all. I am not sure whether he still does that or not.

And that was a really relevent point in 2004 when the thread was started

For the record, I believe he only did that the once, as the wind and waves kind of put him off of the kilt on a ship in the open ocean..........

[Frog]

*Kids' voices* "It's raining, it's pouring..." Poor Fearnest...

Frog

[Tattoo Bradley]

I've said it before:
I truly hope kilts never become mainstream. I like being "different" and I don't want to see every douche bag on the street sporting the pleats up front and the sporran hanging between their knees. The HORROR. THE horror.

[ccga3359]

I've said it before:
I truly hope kilts never become mainstream. I like being "different" and I don't want to see every douche bag on the street sporting the pleats up front and the sporran hanging between their knees. The HORROR. THE horror.

Finally someone that agrees with me. THE PLEATS GO AT THE FRONT. Thanks Tatbrad.

[Ugly Bear]

If more men are getting kilted, will that transalte to:

a) a more open minded society

About sartorial matters, sure. More open-minded overall? I doubt it. (Sorry to sound close-minded.)

b) a clothing revolution

For the guys. About time. Look for the revolution between 2010-2012.

c) more Kilt Nights

I'd predict fewer kilt nights. When kilts become common, who'll care? It's not like we have Pants Nights -- they're ALL Pants Nights! It's just assumed. Kilts will become no big deal.

d) standard uniform for the Canadian Coast Guard

Huh. Is it already an alternate uniform for the CCG?

e) Increased Bushmill Whisky/Alexander Kieth IPA sale

Doubtful. Just because kilts become more popular doesn't mean everything Scottish becomes more popular. The real key to the impending revolution is the non-ethnic kilt (Utilikilts and such).

f) longer waiting period of a Bear Kilt

How could that POSSIBLY be??

g) Migration to Vancouver/Toronto/Seattle

If kilts become popular, the market will move to the men. Has anyone here ever migrated to another city just to wear a kilt?

h) declining underwear sale

And good riddance, too.

i) Increased birth rate

Wouldn't that make P.D. James happy!

[Jerry]

My opinion is that we will see more kilts in the next 10 to 20 years. I don't think it will ever become mainstream to the point where you will see kilts on the clothing racks at Walmart. However, I think kilt wearing will reach the point where one will see kilts on the street at least several times a month, instead of seeing one only when we look at our reflexion in a store front window. As for places to purchase a kilt, they might even start to turn up at better men's clothing stores as special order items, maybe even a few "try on" kilts on a rack next to men's suits.