kilted Halloween Costume

[Kelson]

In my opinion what we are seeing when the kilt considered as a costume should not be surprising. The kilt is now included as part of the costume closet with the Darth Vadar, Princess Lea, Gandalf and Frodo. Little or no respect is given to what is behind these costumes. Should respect for the heritage behind a piece of clothing be considered? Is this an example of ignorance and lack of respect for the heritage or does it fall within the comtemporary mind set of "who cares?"

We should remember that for a period of time you would get imprisoned and also run the risk of having your head detached if you were caught wearing a kilt. So it should not be a surprise when we hear a Scot or someone with Scottish heritage declare that to wear a kilt as a costume is offensive.

One should notice that there are not very many Native American costumes in costume shops any more. And that is for the same reason the schools and universities are eliminating Native American names as their mascot. RESPECT. Wear a Native American dress to a costume party and you might be unpleasantly surprised at the results. Can the kilt not be included in this line of thinking?

But of course, we should remember that in the US tradition and the respect for tradition is no longer a major consideration (or minor, for that matter). We destroy anything over 20 years old and replace it with steel and glass. We only wear a tux to a wedding if required. We don't dress to go out for an evening of fine dining. So, wearing the kilt as a costume should not come as a shock. It fits the road we travel today.

And sadly, with the internet, this attack on tradition is becoming a world wide development. Traditions are falling all over the world. What we will eventually be left with is mush. And of course there are those who will say "hurray for mush." And that is their right.

I am old enough to remember the B movie "The Blob." We might see this become a reality. As long as the Blob is wearing a kilt, be it a great kilt or some other version, "who cares?" And then, let's call it a dress! After all, "kilt" is such a traditional word. And the rest of us? A loin cloth, BUT each will have a cell phone, pager, and laptop attached somewhere on our being.

[Richland]

I've Decided to do the Brave heart thing too. Again not historicaly accurate but it is Haloween for petes sake. This is the only time you can wear anything you want to and get away with it, so if i want to walk down the street with my face painted half blue in a great kilt i figure i will. Now to figure out how to put the great kilt on easily. will try to get picts from the the 2 partys im going to. It is my intention to never see myself on the "Kilt Dont" thread on this site...

[Rampant Lion]

I personally don't have a problem with people using their kilts as a costume. If the costume is historically accurate, regardless of the time period, that's great! People have mentioned that they're dressing like William Wallace from Braveheart, but also mention that it's historically inaccurate. Well the outfit is historically accurate for a certain time, just not Wallace's time. You could say you're going as a Scotsman of the Xteenth century.

What I don't like seeing is when the kilt is mixed in with something else. I've seen pictures of people dressed as kilted Stormtroopers and such. I must say that I don't like that. Nor do I like seeing those cheap gag costumes that KFP mentioned.

I see my kilt as a historical costume that celebrates my heritage.

[David White]

We have just been invited to a party and I'll wear my kilt, highland shirt, waist coat, period shoes, sporran, knitted bonnet kilt hose, with a mask.
Nothing wrong with that.

[MacConnachie]

I have worn a pleated bedsheet as a Grecian style kilt (not a Roman toga), and a length of Guatemalan fabric as an unbifurcated garment to accentuate the rest of the Guate-style dress, both for Hallowe'en costumes in the past few years. I've taken elements of what I have on hand for doing period-style Heilan dress and used that (green leather doublet and kilt belt with dirk) as part of a buccaneer get-up, along with one of my tartan tams. Mix and match, or maybe don't-match, works for me. I don't know that I'll dress up in a kilt this year, either, although I have at least two functions where I could easily show up so attired. However, most of those folks see me in a kilt often enough that the likely response might well be, "So you decided not to come in costume, this year?"

Reading this thread did give me an idea, though. The cheesy fabric that is offered with the "kilted Scotsman" costume package -- I have some of that in a lightweight fabric that would do for a great kilt, particularly if I wore the pleats to the front. Coupling that with lime green socks, low-cut zippered boots or sandals w/spats, and a cowboy hat or some other out-of-place headgear -- I could put together something that would rival the best/worst on the huge thread here at Xmarks where many examples of how NOT to wear the kilt are on exhibit. Thanks, everyone, for the inspiration! I was sort of stuck this year, and without a lot of extra spending money for such seasonally-inspired frippery. (Just thinking about all of the kilts and gear that I could have purchased had I not finally gotten to a dentist and incurred bills of roughly $5K, thus far. Ah well, all the better to enjoy the fine taste of a relatively inexpensive wee dram!)

[Alan H]

Let's change this thread around a bit, and think again.

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You know guys, I'm going to wear pants as part of my Halloween Costume this year.

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OK, I'm waiting for the huge uproar..... but there won't be because pants are everyday wear. But wait, many of us go on and on about how our kilts are everyday wear....so why is is OK and not offensive to wear pants as part of a costume, but it IS offensive to wear a kilt as part of a costume?

Will all cowboys be offended if I wear pants on Halloween? I mean, cowboys wear pants, right? If not cowboys then perhaps it will be the electricians that will be offended? Or will it be the people who inherit the rich cultural tradition of Sarmatia, where for generation upon generation going back thousands of years, the men have worn pants?

'nuff said.

Speaking personally, I, myself wouldn't wear a kilt and black-tie outfit as a costume, just like I wouldn't wear a tuxedo as a costume. I would, however dress up in Revolutionary War garb as a Continental Soldier, if I had the kit to do so. I might dress up as a Confederate or Union Civil War soldier if I could. In fact I would wear a costume like that to the school I was substitute teaching at that day, in hopes that the costume would lead to some discussion of what it all was, and maybe some kids would learn about some history that way.

Analogous to that, I would dress up in a feile-beig, waistcoat, shirt, hose, and period shoes as a Highander at Culloden if I had the kit to do so.

Now, explain to me why dressing up as a Continental Army soldier or a Civil War solider is not an insult to the country, but dressing up as a Highlander from Culloden IS an insult?

OK, I don't have the kit to dress up as a veteran of the '45. But I DO have the kit to approximate the dress of a fair number of Highlanders from a round 1700. So explain to me why dressing as a Continental Army soldier or a Civil War soldier, or a regular citizen of a colonial town around 1776 is not an insult to the USA, but dressing up as a Highlander from around 1700 or so IS an insult to Scotland?

One last thing. Comments about the ACLU do not offend me. While the ACLU is anything but perfect, in my opinion they've done a lot of good in this country. The good they've done far, far outweighs the bad. If you want to say something to me that stings, taunting me with the acronym for the American Civil Liberties Union isn't going do it.

And I think that is MORE than enough said about non-kilt issues in this thread...

[cloves]

this is sort of an aside.....but I know a guy who works in IT and usually wears a polo shirt and Dickies type work pants to work everyday. When asked to "dress up" for Halloween....he donned a 3 pc. suit and tie.
When asked why he was wearing a suit....he said..."well you asked me to dress up!"

*cue rim shot*

I know I know....groan.

[Foxgun Tom]

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooo

[Richland]

If I see one Woman dressed up as The Statue of liberty Boy She is gonna get an ear-full.
I just finished putting together a Fiele-bieg(sp?) Great kilt, belted Plaid (Not sure if there is a difference) I took 4 yards of interesting plaid bought on sale at a local fabric store. It looks similar to the Irish National. Anyway I pleated 20 pleats from the center and pinned them in place. then ran a stitch perpendicular to them at the point where my belt would cover them.
Well it works really well at getting the thing on in a hurry. and looks really good. (Pics to follow after party) I know Totaly historicaly bougus.
"But Its Halloween." Has any one had experience with this technique to wrap a quick plaid?

[Mike1]

In the United States Halloween is a commercial enterprise ( although a lot of fun ) here in Scotland its a festival linked to our Celtic and historical roots and traditions. Believe it or not!! there are still significant cultural differences between the USA and Scotland despite our close and warm connections??????????

Tom, I'm reluctant to hang labels, because they simply don't fit everyone, aye? But the vast majority of U.S. citizens think that their culture is the same culture practiced in every corner of the world, excepting those 'under-privileged third world nations' that don't know any better.

I'd be willing to wager that I can get the majority of people reading this thread headed off to their favorite search engine with the mention of one word - Samhain.

People here generally have no idea of what Samhain actually is. (or how it's pronounced! )

Here, the holiday has become a time to dress up and beg sweeties (if you are a child) or party (if you are an adult).

The thing for everyone to remember is that we cannot formulate opinions of an entire nation, based on the words and actions of a few.