Kilt Orientation Issues

[Spartan Tartan]

Steve makes several good points. I do, however, believe that what "we" here at XMARKs put forward is valuable and need not be changed. For we are just a group of people that enjoy discussing kilts and whatever others glean from that is just to their own business.

Generally, I am not one to blast or ridicule others wearing a kilt. If asked, I will offer my opinion (unless as is often the case here at XMARKS someone else more eloquently offers a similar opinion). But in this particular case, I think the "problem" with our point of view is us.

We tend to think that just because we care about looking proper that others do so as well. Even while still maintaining that we dress for ourselves and not others. Well, given this gentleman's background he really ought to know his kilt is on backwards. Clearly, he does not care.

Question: Would any of those staunchly opposed to his outfit pull him into the restroom to correct all his glaringly obvious faux paus? Please say you would be so bold in real life as you are here on the internet. If not, then let the guy have his day. He's clearly enjoying himself and causing no harm.

I admit, if I saw him in person I would not comment to him about his outfit. Why spoil the evening by being pretentious and making another guest to the occasion feel uncomfortable? What good would that do? Would I really expect him to remove his jacket or even turn his kilt around... I think not.

[S Mitchell]

Question: Would any of those staunchly opposed to his outfit pull him into the restroom to correct all his glaringly obvious faux paus? Please say you would be so bold in real life as you are here on the internet. If not, then let the guy have his day. He's clearly enjoying himself and causing no harm.

I admit, if I saw him in person I would not comment to him about his outfit. Why spoil the evening by being pretentious and making another guest to the occasion feel uncomfortable? What good would that do? Would I really expect him to remove his jacket or even turn his kilt around... I think not.

Well, it isn't to my taste, but I'm not staunchly opposed to his outfit.

And I agree it's not good or helpful to engage in internet dog-piling on some hapless soul.

But, it's not pretentious to ask a person, discreetly, if they're aware their kilt is backwards.

It's a courtesy.

If they already know, they're surely prepared to be asked about it.

If they don't know, they might appreciate someone taking a moment to tell them.

[BadenochWolf]

Wow, I did not realize that there was an eleventh commandment: Thou shalt not mix evening and day clothes. To do so would makest thou seemeth to be uncivilized.

Albeit, in my opinion, there are many critical things in life with which we should be concerned. Which clothes are for the evening and which clothes are for the day do not rank high on that list. Not unless, of course, a person adheres to centuries old outdated snobbery of the aristocracy.

I thought this forum was to share a common interest and encourage people to enjoy wearing kilts, not criticize individuals because their styles are not our styles.

Tom

The problem comes, Tom, in the fact that having an officer corps at ALL in a modern army reeks of the "snobbery of the aristocracy." However, since it exists, and since a Lieutenant Colonel is sufficiently advanced in his military career to know the protocol and regulation differences in all manner of military uniform, this gent has no excuse for the completely offhand manner in which he is wearing an emblem of the United States Army.

It is absolutely not a question of taste. It is a complete flouting of military regulation, and the attention to detail that hallmarks the professional soldier. Giving him a pass under the guise of "personal style" is a complete non-starter. You wear the uniform correctly, as prescribed by regulations (or in adapting it to highland wear, as close to both letter and spirit to those regulations as possible, with the advice and blessing of your next-higher commander) or you don't wear it AT ALL. There is literally no reason to throw on an American military mess jacket with decorations in order to "priddy up" one's kilt attire for an historically Scots occasion.

[kiltedtom]

BadennochWolf,

Thank you very much for your explanation. I now understand.

Have a great week.

Tom

[Stitchwiz]

Wow, I did not realize that there was an eleventh commandment: Thou shalt not mix evening and day clothes. To do so would makest thou seemeth to be uncivilized.

Albeit, in my opinion, there are many critical things in life with which we should be concerned. Which clothes are for the evening and which clothes are for the day do not rank high on that list. Not unless, of course, a person adheres to centuries old outdated snobbery of the aristocracy.

I thought this forum was to share a common interest and encourage people to enjoy wearing kilts, not criticize individuals because their styles are not our styles.

Tom

Emboldening added

It seems to me that it wasn't all that long ago (well, maybe I'm not as young as I think I am) that you never saw anyone out in jeans unless they were doing manual labour. Now I see sports jackets, dress shirts and ties worn with jeans.

Tom, the world is changing and we are still used to the 'old ways'.

You are right though, this is a place to be supportive of those wearing the kilt, and a little charity will go a long way.

[Spartan Tartan]

Well, it isn't to my taste, but I'm not staunchly opposed to his outfit.

And I agree it's not good or helpful to engage in internet dog-piling on some hapless soul.

But, it's not pretentious to ask a person, discreetly, if they're aware their kilt is backwards.

It's a courtesy.

If they already know, they're surely prepared to be asked about it.

If they don't know, they might appreciate someone taking a moment to tell them.

Fair point and I can agree with discretion. Well said.

[Liam]

Emboldening added

It seems to me that it wasn't all that long ago (well, maybe I'm not as young as I think I am) that you never saw anyone out in jeans unless they were doing manual labour. Now I see sports jackets, dress shirts and ties worn with jeans.

Tom, the world is changing and we are still used to the 'old ways'.

You are right though, this is a place to be supportive of those wearing the kilt, and a little charity will go a long way.

Aye, but were the jeans worn backwards?
I indeed come across a 20-30 year old at the Calgary Highland Games a couple of years ago wearing his kilt in reverse. I discretely commented that most folks wore theirs the other way around. I saw him several hours later still with his bow pointing sternward, so I smiled and said nothing more. I can only think that it must have been done intentionally, as even the most near sighted would notice that a thousand or so others weren't dancing to the same drummer. I can only presume that the subject of our ridicule here was doing so on some sort of dare.

[kiltedtom]

Stitchwiz,

You are so correct! The world is changing. My students think I am the most conservative, unchanging person in the world, especially dealing with the newest technology. LOL I am not a person who loves change for the sake of change, but I agree that some changes are necessary to keep the world working as it should, or, at least, like I wish it would. Left over hippy wannabe here. Still hoping that some day the old songs of peace and love will be more than just old songs. (And I do miss those old hip hugger bell botoms. They were fun.)

Hope you and everyone here has a peacful year ahead.

Tom

[Damion]

I've seen it been said before in regards the wearing of the kilt backwards that for those totally ignorant of such things, they assume the pleated side goes forward for display (as that's the fancy bit) while the plain side is for sitting on. Now you can argue that anyone with eyes can see that a kilt should be worn pleats backside, but, a lot of people don't look at things in the kind of detail one might suppose.
A couple visit friends. One notices the colourful garden, the other the motorcycle outside the garage. Were you to ask each to describe the thing that didn't catch their attention they'd be lost. We see what we want to in other words and remember less. This is observable in historic art where different artists add or omit things from the same event.

[MacGumerait]

Steve makes several good points. I do, however, believe that what "we" here at XMARKs put forward is valuable and need not be changed. For we are just a group of people that enjoy discussing kilts and whatever others glean from that is just to their own business.

Generally, I am not one to blast or ridicule others wearing a kilt. If asked, I will offer my opinion (unless as is often the case here at XMARKS someone else more eloquently offers a similar opinion). But in this particular case, I think the "problem" with our point of view is us.

We tend to think that just because we care about looking proper that others do so as well. Even while still maintaining that we dress for ourselves and not others. Well, given this gentleman's background he really ought to know his kilt is on backwards. Clearly, he does not care.

Question: Would any of those staunchly opposed to his outfit pull him into the restroom to correct all his glaringly obvious faux paus? Please say you would be so bold in real life as you are here on the internet. If not, then let the guy have his day. He's clearly enjoying himself and causing no harm.

I admit, if I saw him in person I would not comment to him about his outfit. Why spoil the evening by being pretentious and making another guest to the occasion feel uncomfortable? What good would that do? Would I really expect him to remove his jacket or even turn his kilt around... I think not.

To your question . I would never blast him or his attire . As far as I can see the " above the waist attire " is open for much debate and I would never say anything about it .

As far as his kilt goes ( backwards ) ... yes ... I would " privately " find a moment to explain it to him and I would gladly guard the restroom door while he corrected it . I would do the same for anyone . In a quiet way and helpful way .

Im not about getting every detail right .... but at least helping someone get " wearing the kilt " right ( pleats to the back )

Cheers , Mike