Alternative clothing

[TheBlueCow]

Okay, so all of us here are united by one common thread -- kilts. We all enjoy the comfort, freedom, and practicality of kilts. They just make sense, right?

So recently I stumbled across the Vibram FiveFingers (thanks to another Xmarks user for pointing them out), an alternative footwear that is more comfortable, provides more freedom, and are more practical than your typical shoe. They just make sense.

Right.

So on Sunday I ordered a pair, along with a pair of the socks they recommend, and they should be here tomorrow. I'll let you know how I feel about them.

I also find myself looking at performance / outdoors clothing. Thinking about it, it's because they are designed not for fashion, but for either comfort, freedom, practicality, or all three.

So this whole thing got me thinking. I like kilts for what they give me (comfort, freedom, etc.) Are they different? Yes. But so what?
I like (the idea) of the FiveFingers. Are they different? Yes. But so what?
Why do other kilt wearers like kilts? Same reasons as I do. There's something in all of us that says "this just makes so much more sense, and yes they are against the social grain, but I don't care about that as much as what I get out of wearing them". It isn't that we strive to be different, we just are - but different is good. Different is progressive. Different makes you a leader in an otherwise stagnant society.

So, I wanted to ask you, my fellow kilties; What other possibly alternative clothing items do you wear? What do you wear that provides either more comfort, freedom, or practicality (or any other good reason to wear something you can come up with)?

[Coemgen]

Personally, I just wear kilts because I want to, not to be progressive, or nonconformist, or anything other than just doing things because I want to do them.

Anyway, so far as alternate clothing, I wear a pith helmet, which is more comfortable and more practical than the hats I usually wear. And, it looks really cool (well, not the word most others would choose, but I think it looks cool) with my aloha shirts and kilts.

[sharpdressedscot]

I wanna and I am!!

I wear T shirts and jeans... sometimes the occasional button down shirt for those special occasions.

And I'd like to start wearing tunics and togas! The second most comfortable article clothing besides a kilt.

[Finn]

RE: Five Fingers... Sorry, TBC. Wore tabi for a few years. Can't even wear flip-flops now. I'm not really comfortable in anything but boots these days.
I guess that my clothing is fairly mundane besides the kilts. I sometimes wear a caubeen, but nothing too different. Boots, T-shirts, sweaters... Mundane. I avoid ties and live a life fairly free of formality.

[GreenDragon]

i've seen socks made with the toes before, like gloves for your feet.

i guess its just the next evolution in footwear.

[Pleater]

The long plaid worn around the body and over the left shoulder is very like an ancient Greek garment, but I forget the name - no I don't - pallium, which was rectangular and is related to the simple form of the Roman toga, but that was shaped into an elipse, and then I think it was folded lengthways so it was worn as a half elipse.

Togas became very elaborate and quite huge, not really practical, but the simple pallium is in many ways more practical than a jacket as it can be adjusted to the needs of the wearer - and even the wind direction very easily.

I love the foot gloves.

I wear sandals all year round, and only put on solid footwear for reasons of safety or hygene, or when dressing up, which is not very often at all.

[Ozman1944]

Arab type dress (The Thobe; the ankle length robe) is the most comfortable. Also the old Graeco-Roman thigh-length Dalmatica/Tunic. However, I can't see the Thobe catching on, given the current political situation. And the Dalmatica might be a bit too risque...

[Sephy]

sarong, dhoti, caftan, galabia...and of course a nice cloak once in a while.

Cheers,

[sharpdressedscot]

The long plaid worn around the body and over the left shoulder is very like an ancient Greek garment, but I forget the name - no I don't - pallium, which was rectangular and is related to the simple form of the Roman toga, but that was shaped into an elipse, and then I think it was folded lengthways so it was worn as a half elipse.

Togas became very elaborate and quite huge, not really practical, but the simple pallium is in many ways more practical than a jacket as it can be adjusted to the needs of the wearer - and even the wind direction very easily.

I love the foot gloves.

I wear sandals all year round, and only put on solid footwear for reasons of safety or hygene, or when dressing up, which is not very often at all.

I think you might mean a chiton as the big rectangular garment? Is that what you mean?

[Pleater]

Ah now - the history of costume - something of a hobby horse of mine.

The himation was a big square of wool - when made of linen it was called the pharos.

The Dorian and Athenian men wore only the himation, I suppose (hope) they had the climate for it.

The chiton is equivalent to the Roman tunica, though the Greeks considered it more feminine or effeminate, I think both peoples wore it as a short sleeved garment, or something made out of two rectangles with whatever joining and gathering was the fashion at the time.

The Romans wore the pallium in the same way as the Greeks wore the himation when it was combined with the chiton, that is as an outdoor garment, though it also served as a bed cover.

The Roman pallium was as wide as the distance of the wearer's shoulder from the floor and about three times as long, and was worn by men, women and children, and both civil and military personnel.

It became characterised as the dress of the scholar and philosopher, as the sole garment, and could be the seamless mantle referred to as the garment of Christ.

There is an ecclesiastical pallium which is something worn by the Pope, which is a much reduced item, still worn wrapped around - but I think only around the neck rather like a scarf.