Kilted Girls... Below the Knees?

[Mickey]

This is a question from my wife that I can't begin to answer. What do the ladies wear with their kilts/kilted skirts for foot/leg wear? Are hose and flashes a no-no? (I ask because I don't recall ever seeing a lady in hose/flashes) I assume she will be wearing either low or ankle height Doc Martins, or her skull and crossbone Chuck Taylors for daytime wear, possibly even high heeled crocs, but the socks issue is kind of a big one for her. And what about evenings? Heels, pumps, etc? Is there a norm for gals or is it the same as guys?

At Tartan Days, we saw a lot of ladies kilted up, but they were primarily all in period dress and I think I can pretty much guarantee that period shoes will not be an option.

Are there any general things to avoid, either/both traditionally or fashionably?

[Father Bill]

My observation: women can always get away with greater variation than men because they have more "fashion" choices. The question then becomes a matter of "who does she want to project." For evening wear, things tend to be more traditional, but even then there are some who will push the envelope.

[Calico]

Basically, what Father Bill said is the complete answer.

Expanded that is: women can do whatever they want.

Depends only on the image she wishes to project. No other rules apply, since "tradionally" the kilt is not a female garment. If she chooses to wear kilt apparel, she has already "broken all the rules" so how can any of the other rules apply?

[Father Bill]

Basically, what Father Bill said is the complete answer.

Expanded that is: women can do whatever they want.

Depends only on the image she wishes to project. No other rules apply, since "tradionally" the kilt is not a female garment. If she chooses to wear kilt apparel, she has already "broken all the rules" so how can any of the other rules apply?

And having said that, I like the way girls look. Period. Full Stop.

[Bill aka Mole]

Of the far and few kilted ladies that were present at the Columbia SC Tartan Day, there were some differences between a mans and a ladies kilt that I observed in the modern dress style:

Length: Ladies can be shorter than or slightly longer than a mans kilt but I have not seen a lady in a kilt that came only to above the knees.

Design: Mens kilts wrap with the left hand apron over the right. Ladies kilts wrap with the right hand apron over the left.

Footwear: The ladies that I observed were wearing boots or shoes with nylons.

Kilt Pins: As the Lady likes.

I realize that this is not much help, but perhaps others will chime in.

[chrisupyonder]

Try this link to a .PDF file showing various Ladies looks.

www.kiltmakers.com/pdf/ladies.pdf

I don't think mens type hose would do unless in a pipe band where women wear the same uniform as the men.

[Spartan Tartan]

And having said that, I like the way girls look. Period. Full Stop.

I have to agree

[Dixiecat]

This is a question from my wife that I can't begin to answer. What do the ladies wear with their kilts/kilted skirts for foot/leg wear? Are hose and flashes a no-no? (I ask because I don't recall ever seeing a lady in hose/flashes) I assume she will be wearing either low or ankle height Doc Martins, or her skull and crossbone Chuck Taylors for daytime wear, possibly even high heeled crocs, but the socks issue is kind of a big one for her. And what about evenings? Heels, pumps, etc? Is there a norm for gals or is it the same as guys?

At Tartan Days, we saw a lot of ladies kilted up, but they were primarily all in period dress and I think I can pretty much guarantee that period shoes will not be an option.

Are there any general things to avoid, either/both traditionally or fashionably?

Generally, ladies wearing kilts (who aren't in pipe bands or dancing or going for a particular look) follow the same rule regarding shoes as they would with any other garments. 1) match your shoes with the occasion and 2) make sure they go with what you're wearing.

Example:

1) the occasion is dinner at a nice restaurant: wearing kilt, nice top, then shoes could be pumps or nice flats. Summer time, bare legs otherwise (panty) hose. Winter time, maybe dress boots.

2) whatever the occasion you've decided you want to wear your Iron Maiden t-shirt with your kilt, then pumps are right out. Don the Doc Martins that lace up to the calf. Not sure if I'd go bare legs or have socks cuffed down over the tops of the boots or fishnet hose with socks cuffed down over the boots. This depends how 'formal' you want to get. ;)

As a dancer, my kilt is quite precious and is only used when dancing, but once I had a Christmas function directly after a performance and I decided to wear it with my high heel dress boots and tartan hose cuffed down over the tops, a white scoop necked shirt with a blue sweater that matched my tartan.
(btw, said kilt is to top of knee, wraps left over right and doesn't have a kilt pin.)

[Bugbear]

2) whatever the occasion you've decided you want to wear your Iron Maiden t-shirt with your kilt, then pumps are right out. Don the Doc Martins that lace up to the calf. Not sure if I'd go bare legs or have socks cuffed down over the tops of the boots or fishnet hose with socks cuffed down over the boots. This depends how 'formal' you want to get. ;)

Up the Irons! Dirty combat boots with scrunched down fishnets!

[Zardoz]

Basically, what Father Bill said is the complete answer.

Expanded that is: women can do whatever they want.

Well put, here's a suggestion though...