HAT

[Robert Lamb]

My son and I went to a dicount grocery store. As we were tranversing the rows of food, two men passed in the other direction. I was wearing my green Utilikilt.
The man in the rear said to the other "that a neat hat". Not one word about my kilt. That I heard.
I guess this means kilts are becoming a non-issue, but then maybe not. Maybe he never looks down
Robert "the kilted" Lamb

[GMan]

I too have had people comment on some other article of clothing, thus rendering the kilt a non issue, as well it should be.

[Phil Wright]

Can't say that I have been to many kilted events here across the pond, but as yet I have not seen a British form of UK or anyone wearing them. There still seems to be a prevailing attitude that only a true tartan counts as a kilt. On the odd occasions when I have dressed down my kilt, the responses have been more marked than when I have had the full kit on. People want to know why. (I do not sound remotely Scottish - and that seems to be the qualifying factor.)Maybe, being as close as I am to the borders, there is a posessive tendency
I think the States seem to have a much more tolerant attitude to expressing individuality. Britain? God Bless our Victorian legacy
Phil

[al' Sporrano]

I have not seen a British form of UK or anyone wearing them. There still seems to be a prevailing attitude that only a true tartan counts as a kilt. On the odd occasions when I have dressed down my kilt, the responses have been more marked than when I have had the full kit on. People want to know why. (I do not sound remotely Scottish - and that seems to be the qualifying factor.)Maybe, being as close as I am to the borders, there is a posessive tendency
I think the States seem to have a much more tolerant attitude to expressing individuality. Britain? God Bless our Victorian legacy
Phil

Phil,

I think you're right in what you're saying. I'm even closer to the Borders living on Tyneside and I've had the same questions. 'Why are you wearing a kilt - you're not Scottish'. The kilt isn't and issue, but the accent is.

On one occasion I challenged and said, 'How do you know I'm not Scottish. Just because I don't have a Scottish accent'. So to this end, it's not about being Scottish, it's about having a Scottish accent!!

Having said that, I've worn my kilt out on Tyneside, in Northumberland, where I have a holiday home and in Edinburgh/Inverness and not turned as much as a hair on most occasions.

Good to see another guy from England on this site. A gathering MUST be on the cards, surely.

Regards

Alan

[al' Sporrano]

Can't say that I have been to many kilted events here across the pond, but as yet I have not seen a British form of UK or anyone wearing them.
Phil

As for the Utilikilt, the only one I've seen on Tyneside was worn by Radio Newcastle radio presenter, Ian Robinson. Otherwise, zilch.

Traditional kilt makers are making plain kilts (eg 21st Century kilts in Edinburgh) but they are made in the same way as tartan kilts, only with different materials. You don't see many outside of Scotland thats for sure.

Al

[Phil Wright]

Yep, I think you're right about the accent. As for the colours and that, I've made a fairly plain blue kilt that I'm interested to get a response about. It has a very faint 1" white check through an airforce blue background. We'll see!
I had an odd response at a family gathering. One relative said I wasn't Scottish (but it is in the line and they know it!!!) and the other, whom I thought would be completely against anything remotely skirt-like because it is 'unmanly' (his sort of words)remarked that it looked very smart. Seems it is the most unlikely places and people that promote responses.
As for that gathering.... I'll keep my eyes open!
Phil

[Hamish]

Can't say that I have been to many kilted events here across the pond,....

That's simply because we do not have them, Phil! Not south of the border anyway, much to my chagrin.

...... but as yet I have not seen a British form of UK or anyone wearing them.

That is where Union Kilts is going to fill a void. They are only just starting out but have great plans for fabric kilts. As Al. says, many traditional kiltmakers in Scotland are coming up with fabulous plain kilts (KiltStore.net, TFCK, etc.), but as yet only UnionKilts, to my knowledge, are venturing into alternative kilt styles.

There still seems to be a prevailing attitude that only a true tartan counts as a kilt. On the odd occasions when I have dressed down my kilt, the responses have been more marked than when I have had the full kit on. People want to know why. (I do not sound remotely Scottish - and that seems to be the qualifying factor.)Maybe, being as close as I am to the borders, there is a posessive tendency
I think the States seem to have a much more tolerant attitude to expressing individuality. Britain? God Bless our Victorian legacy
Phil

Whilst I agree to a certain extent, Phil, my experience, down here near the South Coast, is that hardly anyone says a word to me, regardless of what type of kilt I am wearing. In the past I have been asked (more than once) if my plain black kilts are Black Watch!! Now, I simply tell enquirers, "No, they are 'McCabre'!" When I first started wearing Utilikilts and Amerikilts down here, people seemed not to associate them with kilts, but now no questions are asked or comments made.

As for being asked whether or not I am Scottish, I honestly do not think I have ever been asked that, not directly anyway. I've always imagined that because I am seen wearing a tartan kilt, people probably just assume that I am. Were I to be asked, my reply would be, "My roots are in Sutherland" (which is where my paternal grandmother came from)!

A 'Gathering'? Good idea,Al. I hosted one over a weekend about five years ago, based on my home here in Storrington. It was a minor affair as I had few contacts in those days, but at most we probably had eight or ten of us, with guys overnighting in local B&Bs. Last year, I went up to Stoke-on-Trent for a pub Kilts Night organised by Ingy - there were about ten of us present. I have also been to one or two similar but smaller events in London. Maybe I should start planning another weekend ...... but it will have to take place next year now - one's social diary is already filled for '05!!

[highlander_Daz]

I was once in Aberdeen and I tourist asked my Dad if he was Flemish, He was wearing a scotland football top, a Tam and he talks with a broad aberdonion accent.

Most people dont have a clue about accents, but Most Lairds, and dukes in scotland have english posh accents, as do a lot of people from the south east of scotland North Berwick for example , so you dont need an accent, to wear a kilt!!

[Doc Hudson]

I gotta know!

What kind of hat takes attention away from a kilt?

[Kiltbear]

There was a meeting oop Stoke? Aww and I missed it. Mind you its a long way from home to Stoke...its a good 10 miles...about a 5 hour car journey Ham? Hehehehehehehehe