Kilt styles

**dana** · 24th February 05, 09:52 AM

I hope I don't start any controversy here.

I posed this question to Todd, he's still thinking about it, so now I'm asking everyone.

I know we have some extremely konwledgeable people here so here is my question.
I know how the vast majority of people on this board poo-poo Sport Kilts. So my question is, how can somebody poo-poo Sport Kilts and then turn right around and say they own a Utilikilt? Isn't there some sort of conflict there?

I know Sport Kilts aren't made in the "traditional" sense, but neither are Utilikilts. I happen to think Sport Kilts are pretty cool, although I'm not a big fan of the double apron thingy they have going on. But overall I like them. For a casual knocking around kilt I think they're pretty good. I know some members that talk about them like they are the plague and wouldn't be caught dead in one.

What are everyones thoughts on the whole thing? Why the negative view of Sport Kilts when any other "modern" kilt is embraced with open arms?

Picking everyones brains

dana

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 24th February 05, 10:03 AM

Well, I don't particularly favor either style for my personal wear, but I can see why people might like the Utilikilt and not the Sports Kilt.

From the Sports Kilts I have seen in person, I have not been impressed with the quality, either of the cloth or the construction.

The utilikilts I have seen people wearing, on the other hand, look like they are very well made.

Also, the Utilikilts aren't pretending to be anything other than what they are. The Sports Kilts seem to me to be trying to imitate a traditional Scottish kilt, and not doing a very good job of it.

It may come down to aetsthetics, but to me there is a big difference in a man wearing a kilt and a man wearing a skirt. The Utilikilt, though different from a traditional Scottish kilt, still looks like the former. The Sports Kilt, whenever I have seen it worn, looks like the latter.

Just my opinion!
Matt

**GMan** · 24th February 05, 10:23 AM

I am not a big fan of Sportkilts, I feel like Matt says they are cheaply built and try very hard to look traditional.

Owning two Utlilkilts I feel like they are more like jeans, for knocking around in as they are made fairly well, great for mowing the lawn etc. and just doing things people do in jeans.

A wool traditional "tank" is for dress up for those times one has to be dressed up.

A P/V is like wearing slacks. A little bit more than jeans, but not as dressy as a "tank".

They all have their place in the scheme of things, and I do prefer wearing P/V as opposed to a Utilikilt, even though I do.

This is just the way I see it. Not to be set in stone.

**bubba** · 24th February 05, 10:35 AM

These are my observations on the Sport Kilt vs Utilikilt. Utilikilts are made like work clothes, tough fabrics that wear well and long with stitching of a quality to match. Sport Kilts are made from inexpensive and less than quality fabrics and the quality of construction and fabric weight leave something to be desired. Sport Kilts have their place, but not on me. They're fine for extremely casual and messy jobs and events where you might ruin the kilt. At their price you wouldn't cry too much over that.

**kiltie as charged** · 24th February 05, 10:47 AM

This is just my two cents, but my understanding of the sports kilt is just that a kilt worn by competitors in the highland games. it is doned when a person takes the field and taken off when he is finished. this helps save wear and tear on the more expensive traditional kilt.
I also wear a sport kilt for most of my outdoor activities. hiking, fishing,conoeing,or any other activity. Thus saving my more expensive kilts from any harm. A kilt in any other name is still a kilt.

**dana** · 24th February 05, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by kiltie as charged

This is just my two cents, but my understanding of the sports kilt is just that a kilt worn by competitors in the highland games. it is doned when a person takes the field and taken off when he is finished. this helps save wear and tear on the more expensive traditional kilt.
I also wear a sport kilt for most of my outdoor activities. hiking, fishing,conoeing,or any other activity. Thus saving my more expensive kilts from any harm. A kilt in any other name is still a kilt.

Good points. I never thought about them being used for highland games the way you described. Makes some sense though.

See, I knew I'd get some educated responses

dana

**Kiltbear** · 24th February 05, 11:17 AM

How about cos they look like a cheap piece of tat? A sportskilt looks like someone has pinched my Granny's curtains and hastily wrapped it round their legs and said...Hey a blind man in a hurry wont notice I'm not wearing a real kilt.
As the topic is just restricted to sport kilts (as opposed to other makes) I wont say anymore. Any road oop I've run out of boiling oil with which to fend off the villagers coming over the hill with their pitchforks readied so I darent mention any other makes. No sir, not me. I'm the epitome of discretion. My lips are sealed, the tongue is bleeding but not one word outta me. Nnnnnggggghhhhhhh. See? Sealed tight.

**dana** · 24th February 05, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by GMan

I am not a big fan of Sportkilts, I feel like Matt says they are cheaply built and try very hard to look traditional.

Owning two Utlilkilts I feel like they are more like jeans, for knocking around in as they are made fairly well, great for mowing the lawn etc. and just doing things people do in jeans.

A wool traditional "tank" is for dress up for those times one has to be dressed up.

A P/V is like wearing slacks. A little bit more than jeans, but not as dressy as a "tank".

They all have their place in the scheme of things, and I do prefer wearing P/V as opposed to a Utilikilt, even though I do.

This is just the way I see it. Not to be set in stone.

Great points Glen.

That's sort of the ideas I was thinking about. Kilts that are worn for different activities.

This should prove to be very interesting.

dana

**Hamish** · 24th February 05, 12:36 PM

Dana, a year or two ago I sent for fabric samples from SportKilts. When they arrived, I simply could not believe what I saw! I think they sent me four or five tartans, but .................. the design was PRINTED onto the 'fabric'!!!!

I don't know if you have yellow dusters in the USA for domestic cleaning, usually furniture polishing, but here in the UK these are made in a very soft, very thin, fluffy sort of material - a couple of rinsings or washings and they become useless for the purpose for which they are sold. The samples from SportKilts were of an identical nature and, to be frank, I would not bother to use one of their 'kilts' even when polishing my furniture!!

There are inexpensive kilts and inexpensive kilts but...........................

**Geoduck** · 24th February 05, 01:03 PM

I know the furniture dusting cloths that Hamish is describing, and it makes me shudder to think of any garment, especially a kilt, made of this material. And who came up with the idea of a printed tartan? Just doing a disservice to the entire kilt wearing public, if you ask me. The one thing that people need to rmember about the UK's though, is that they make it very clear that they don't want to be pegged into an excluvely celtic constituancy. Though many of us who are of Scot ancestory love the UK's and our tartans, the UK is for all to wear and enjoy. I get the impression that the Sport Kilts are marketed as an alternative to the traditional wool tartans, and that is just a shame. I have heard that they would make a poor excuse for TP.

However, I'm sure the people who make them are very kind, worthwhile, albeit misguided folks. So maybe they can still get their act together.

Mahalo,

George