With all these "Summer Wear" threads in here, I thought I'd contribute with a few of my own photos and comments. I thought about putting this in the "Show us your pics" forum, but as the other summer wear threads have been in the traditional kilt forum, I thought I'd leave it here.

I think part of the challenge of wearing the kilt traditionally is when you are dealing with decidedly non-Scottish climates and how you adapt the kilt while remaining traditionally-minded.

That being said, the outdoor temperature is but one factor to consider impacting your dress, which I think my photos (hopefully) will illustrate.

Before we get into specifics, though, I thought I'd show a few photos of how I generally dress on an average summer day here in NC, temps in the 80s and 90s F, and just perhaps going in for a regular work day at the museum.









A few commonalities you'll note. All the kilts in the above photos are four yard box pleated kilts, made from 16 oz heavy weight worsted tartan. It's a superb way to have a lighter, cooler wearing kilt, without sacrificing in terms of quality of the cloth.

Short sleeves all around, either in a button shirt with collar, or a golf or polo-style shirt.

I mostly forgo a waist belt, though not always. I find that I feel a bit less restricted and slightly cooler and more comfortable without the waist belt, so that definitely helps during the summer.

I'm always wearing kilt hose. While I would not begrudge anyone wearing sandals sans hose to beat the heat, when I go in to the museum I always take heed to reflect a professional image in my dress and I don't think sandals with no hose helps in that regard. Now, if I were wearing the kilt to a neighbor's back yard cook-out or something very casual, that would be another story.

(Side note, I recently wore sandals and no hose in to the museum, breaking my own rule. I had been stung by some nasty insect on the right calf and my entire lower leg had swollen up and was irritated. I couldn't bear the thought of kilt hose and garters that point! So sandals it was!)