tights ?

[Bob C]

Very much like that, Dreads. :mrgreen:

[Hamish]

I have to confess: I have worn tights with a traditional kilt!

Back in December 2000, I was invited to be the official photographer at a neighbour's wedding. At that time, I had given up wearing trousers and, in fact, did not own any - I was, as I am now, a full-time kilt wearer. However, three or four days prior to the wedding, I was discharged from hospital following leg surgery which necessitated my wearing for several weeks thick, white compression stockings supplied by the hospital. Since there was no way, I was going to appear in public with those things showing below my kilt, I asked my surgeon if I might leave them off on the wedding day. "Absolutely not!" was his response.

"What I would suggest is that you take yourself off to Marks & Spencers and treat yourself to a pair of women's support tights. They are almost invisible. I have sent many men to M&S to get them - they are almost as good as our hospital stockings - but not quite!" So that is what I did, and here I am wearing those tights on that wedding day:



Only one person noticed them - outside the church, in the bright December sunshine, she noticed a quick flash of 'sparkle' as the sun caught the nylon (or whatever) threads. She very quietly asked me about them, thinking it might be because of the cold wind, but when I told her the reason she thought it a perfect solution to my problem - which it was!

I have to say, they were much more comfortable that the ghastly hospital stockings which had tight rubber grippers at the top of my thighs!! Uggh.

Take care,
Ham.
(PS: I still have the tights - but only in case I have to undergo a repeat operation!!!)

[Bob C]

1 - I would never criticize the legendary Hamish.

2 - Medical exemptions should be granted.

You sir, shall elicit no laughter from me. ;-)

[Ranald]

Well alrighty then.
Let it be known I have no intention of wearing tights nor would I.
Read the original post again, I'm pointing out someone else has a opinion on kilt wearing be it a fashion statement or not, maybe it's not your opinion.
For him I think it works, for me it would not.
I am also pointing out that non traditional ideas should be discussed, this is how we evolve.The fashion police have no place here.
To those that think tights leggings or whatever is crossing the line or sissy, think about it for a second this is just how the non kilt wearing public sees us!
What did come out of this has been a alternative to getting cold in my legs (frozen to the marrow which is very painfull, medical exemption I have ) which is leggings, by which I think you mean two tubes of fabric, I say this 'cause over here in the UK leggings are female tight trousers that resemble skiing tights!
My father told me once if I had nothing nice to say then don't say anything at all, so half the time I'm silent!

[Avonlea22]

James: How about it's for the simple reason that it looks silly...;)

But don't you think that when non-traditional kilts first came out, they may have been considered silly? You can't have tunnel vision. Things change, and trends change. If things stayed the same, we'd have no R-Kilts or Utilikilts. If things stayed the same, we'd have no casual kilts. If things stayed the same, we wouldn't have the sporganizer. We certainly wouldn't be wearing t-shirts with kilts. We also wouldn't have bodyglide. Gosh, is it silly to use bodyglide because the Highlanders didn't?

If someone wants to be a bit different in how they wear their kilt, I say go for it. Nobody should be told how to dress, unless you are in a situation where there are accepted guidlines or rules. Generally, when we wear the kilt, there are no rules. Everyone has their opinion, but everyone should also have the right to wear what they like.

[Martyn]

Tricky subject

Tights are a good idea, to keep warm but give totaly the wrong image; would wear them in winter if they were invisible!! Yes you can buy skin colour opaque ones but with legs as hairy as mine they would look disgusting.

Martyn

[Kiltbear]

Are sussies and girdles a non-starter then? Damn.................
How 'bout a garter? Tartan natch...............

[jjoseph]

Although I can't imagine tights looking good with a kilt......... it might work UNDER leggings if the leggings looked masculine enough. After all, kilt hose on their own hardly create an impression of machismo, so who knows. I can imagine that leggings could be of some use up north though. I lived in Quebec for a while, and guys and dolls both donned pantyhose under their clothes during winter for an extra layer of warmth. (thank God for Texas winters)....

Btw, although leggings may seem nancy to us, they were originally GUYS' fashion... remember that Juliette and her Nurse went on about how Romeo looked in his..... How we see a particular garment may have a lot to do with what we expect it to mean. Food for thought since we are trying to influence folks in general to think of kilts as clothing for guys rather that ladies' skirts or period costumes. <----waxes philosophical and then drinks self under table so as to spare the party his deliberations. :-D

[James]

Moving slightly away from the tights--kilt aspect; more to concept of being 'sissy'.

It is some years since I was active in the military, and no doubt kit has evolved since then: but it was quite normal for rugged winter warfare instructors to advise soldiers to wear tights under their uniform.

To another point, someone appeared to suggest in an earlier post that 'trews' could be worn with the kilt!

Trews being long trousers as worn by the HLI and often officers in highland regiments, in place of the kilt, could some confusion have crept in?

James

[Graham]

I spite of my good name having become sullied through being associated with the wearing of green tights by some of the more unsavoury members of this forum who have far too much time on their hands, time which rightly should be put to better use in the community, I want to say this just once...

I have not ever, not will I ever, wear tights under a kilt (medical reasons excepted).

Seriously, no, they are not needed and look sissy IMHO.
If weather conditions are SO harsh I would rather wear trousers

It is a custom for hikers here to wear thermal, coloured stockings under walk shorts, I have worn them myself, but kilts are so warm that they are really not needed, and in fact defeat the purpose (of freedom) in wearing a kilt.