Bravura!

[James]

I sometimes wonder if we are losing the plot, when it comes to the kilt and the traditions behind it. Here I'm thinking of it as the dress of the clansman-the highlander: not the recently assumed national dress of Scotland, nor of dancers, or at lowland weddings. I could go on, but I've probably annoyed enough people already.

Now the clansman was not of necessity a nice chap, he lived in a world of feuds, cattle raiding, ambushes. Think here of say the North-West Frontier of India in the late 19th/early 20thC. Or maybe the American Plains Indians - not the John Wayne version as seen by us poor Brits: rather the endemic bloody intertribal warfare as portrayed in the many accounts/autobiographies of the 19thC.

So we are not thinking about people who we of the 21stC would of necessity see as nice chaps: rather we are thinking about some rather violent and oft unsavoury characters.

OK what has that got to do with the kilt and our today, and why am I waffling on?

Now think about some recent posts-the number of times such things as erudite arguments come up regarding such terms as 'costume v garb'. Or delicate references to wearing the kilt correctly. Do we really imagine that such things would be of great concern to the highlander?

I'd suggest that his main concerns would be having something to wear, food in his stomach, and watching his own back: and the backs of his fellow clansfolk. Whilst keeping an eye open for anything not nailed down that he could get away with.

And there would be something else, the self pride of the warrior: a pride in offering a bold and dashing appearance to the world. His tartan might be frayed and dirty, his arms worn: but he had his pride and his swagger-that spit in your eye look.

Akin to the soldier of today who coming off the line, off operations or whatever-marches those last few yards-however tired-filthy-maybe fewer in numbers: but comes in at attention. Pride.

Now at last to the point: we might argue about the provenance of this or that tartan, or that and this tradition, but they are really peripherals.

For when wearing the kilt we should be asking ourselves: am I wearing it with that pride, swagger and elan. For if we are not, then we are failing.

So when people see a chap in an unbifurcated garment-that is one thing: but when they see a man in the kilt-they should see a real man with all the dash and bravado that goes with being a man.

This all means that our concern should not of necessity be about the small print of sporrans-skean dhu-flashes even: but are we offering a spit in your eye warrior image, where we are wearing our kilt with panache.

So I will close by being really offensive: we are either eccentric men who have what are to us entirely valid reasons for wearing a skirt: or we are real men wearing the only garment that today reflects our pride in being real men. More we are the men to be copied by any man who wants to be seen as a real man in today's world.

James

[Archangel]

define "real man"?
History vs Fantasy aside, and most of what you said was valid, I don't think chest thumping is part of any wardrobe. I can live with confidence and bearing, if that's what you mean, but that has nothing to do with gender or orientation.



Q: how many "real men" does it take to change a light bulb?

Ha, none, real men aren't afraid of the dark.

[starbkjrus]

While I am all for preserving history and what it has meant to the development of today’s society I’m not a slave to it. History is just that – the stories of the past and how today’s society has been created. If one is a slave to history and the idea that it should be preserved with no progression then one is doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past. Today’s society (with all of it’s wrongs and rights) is simply a product of history and we can hope a learning experience along the path of civilized development.

I am not a reenactor but I really appreciate those who are. They preserve a vital link to the past that reminds us all who we are and where we came from. As it should be…. we should never forget our roots so that we never repeat past mistakes…. alas as humanity does too often.

A garment? Kilts are part of my heritage and as so in today’s society I dare to wear them. And can get away with it. Hopefully all of us daring to break out of the norm will do more than just bring on a form of “new” dress to the western world but perhaps might make some slight bit of change in other ways of thinking.

As I sit here writing this bit of fluff I’m wearing a SportKilt in the HotLava design. This is in no way, shape or form a “traditional” kilt and for the second time in one day the traditionalists on this board may need to scrape themselves off the floor or clean their screens (really, no offence is intended. At all.) To my way of thinking we all tend to think out of the box in one way or another – some just don’t want to deal with trousers any more than need be, others want to preserve their heritage and others still just want to be cutting edge with what they wear. (And be comfortable) I’m somewhere in a combination of the first two (and what the heck being in number three the first time in my life [at age 42] might be nice too).

Gentlemen, history is an ever-changing story and to my thinking preservation of it and respect for it are extremely important. However JUST as important is a respect for what is to come and the responsibility we all have to make sure that we as a culture adapt to the coming times so that all mankind has a future to look forward to (as well as a preserved past to reflect upon).

Ok, sorry. This got way too long winded and I apologize. Just some of my thoughts on the subject.

[GMan]

My observation is that people equate kilt wearing to the Romantic hero of yore. They do not see the bloodshed, the warfare and the like that all that romanticism entails. In otherwords people only want to see the goodness that comes out in the kilt wearer.

[Riverkilt]

Everything I do is manly. Haven't had any problems with anyone misinterpreting that.

Ron

[motorman4life]

Painting in broad strokes, it is easy to see why and how a 17th and 18th century Highlander would have been a rough character. But, I am sure there was a degree of kindness, compassion and hospitality among their ranks and within their communities (Same as the Vikings and Normans that brought the kilt to the British Isles and introduced it to the Anglo-Saxons that had settled there after the Romans departed).

Regardless, I believe the point is that these kilted warriors (the Vikings/Normans and Highlanders) could be seen as the original "rugged individualists," often feared and admired by their peers and enemies. As such, they were free to do as they pleased and held their heads high in the face of critics and naysayers, thumbing their noses at those that would object to their lifestyle and traditions.

However you see it, those that choose to wear a kilt, at some level, are carrying on that warrior spirit and keeping the tradition alive, whether they wear a clan tartan, a khaki UK or a lava red Sportkilt.

[Blu (Ontario)]

I sometimes wonder if we are losing the plot, when it comes to the kilt and the traditions behind it. Here I'm thinking of it as the dress of the clansman-the highlander: not the recently assumed national dress of Scotland, nor of dancers, or at lowland weddings.... etc.

So I will close by being really offensive: we are either eccentric men who have what are to us entirely valid reasons for wearing a skirt: or we are real men wearing the only garment that today reflects our pride in being real men. More we are the men to be copied by any man who wants to be seen as a real man in today's world.

James

A kilt is only what people decide to make of it... nothing more, nothing less.

James... I think I would be safe in saying that you've assumed the roll of unofficial "Xmarksthescot Devils Advocate". 8-)

[starbkjrus]

[sic]
However you see it, those that choose to wear a kilt, at some level, are carrying on that warrior spirit and keeping the tradition alive, whether they wear a clan tartan, a khaki UK or a lava red Sportkilt.[/QUOTE]
(ok I screwed up: the above should be credited to MotorMan4Life)


I could not have possibly said it better!!! My hat is off to everyone here for whatever reason you are wearing the kilt or even lurking around trying to find an excuse. I cannot encourage the lurkers enough to take the plunge and just see what it is like to go out for your first time kilted. It's an experience that you have to er.......experience to understand.

Gentlemen, just DO IT! You'll never regret it.
Sorry, this probably should have been posted in the "newbie" section. Oh, well.
Moderators: Please feel free to move this one. :-)

[Doc Hudson]

Akin to the soldier of today who coming off the line, off operations or whatever-marches those last few yards-however tired-filthy-maybe fewer in numbers: but comes in at attention. Pride.
...

So I will close by being really offensive: we are either eccentric men who have what are to us entirely valid reasons for wearing a skirt: or we are real men wearing the only garment that today reflects our pride in being real men. More we are the men to be copied by any man who wants to be seen as a real man in today's world.

James

James,

Pride is not just military or even kilted. Yesterday at quiting-time was a perfect example.

For the entire weekend, I'd been having fits with my diabetes and bloodpressure really kicking my butt and making me feel awful. Yesterday added to that were swollen painful feet and aching hip joints. By the end of a 12 hour shift, I could barely walk without wincing and groaning. As I walked the long way from the Recieving Office to the front door, I was feeling bad, and sorry for myself. But I was also embarassed to be walking in such a dejected manner in front of co-workers, most of whom were young enough to be my kids. So I started whistling in an attempt to make myself feel better. What did I whistle, "Scotland the Brave." Before I'd walked another 25 yards, I found myself erect, with swinging arms and a firm step. I marched out of there like a Guardsman returning from duty, not as a worn out old fat man.

As for being offensive, you failing miserably on this one. I know you can do better than that.

I fully admit to being an eccentric old fart, and only a proud and eccentric man can wear the kilt today. Fact is, pride is rather eccentric in and of itself these days.

[Dreadbelly]

Lemme let you all in on a secret...

I am that rough unsavoury character that James is talking about in the first post!

That's why I don't care much for neckties and all this proper do this and that talk. I just do what comes natural to me. I am the other end of the spectrum when it comes to kilt wearing. I am the wrinkled unkept looking wildman, with dreadlocks and a fully dreaded beard. I do not looked civilised or tame. I am the boorish oaf that stands on the sidewalk guzzling ginger beer, and then belches with enough explosive force to blow the leaves off a magnolia tree. And there isn't a soul alive that could convince me that I do not honour my ancestors by acting in such a fashion. I take pride in being barbaric. I am masculine. And I have no shame as to what I am.

While I can be quite charming and even kind (when nobody is looking mind you) make no mistake... I am earthy and crude and unrefined. I am vulgar and prone to violent response. And I have been trying to make this point for a long long time that kilt wearing is not just about being proper and prim and well dressed. Infact, I have ruffled a lot of feathers round here with my views. Our ancestors were not a bunch of prim prancing Nancy boys... They were hardasses. They were brawlers. Warriors. Fighters. While some of them might have dressed up on occasion (The Noble sorts I am sure, they had to put on a show) most of them were probably dirty, foul smelling, and looked nothing like the highly romantised image that we have now. They were the sorts of men that would have kicked *** and took names, and when it was all said and done, lifted up the front of their kilt and pissed in somebody's eye.

That's why I love the great kilt so much. A simple garmet for simple men.