Modern (Tactical) Kilts, the wear and accessorizing thereof. . .?

[rmccool]

As others have noted, there are no kilt cops. As long as you steer clear of lewdness or deliberate mockery of traditional Highland dress, you should wear whatever you like.

With that said, contemporary kilts - and perhaps especially those of "tactical" ancestry - seem to me to be a poor match for some accessories that are commonly worn with traditional kilts. For example, as others have noted, kilt pins don't usually look right on the narrow aprons of contemporary kilts. I'd also suggest that flashes are probably a bit much.

On the other hand, I do think that a casual sporran looks fine, especially since carrying too much in the pockets of lightweight contemporary kilts (such as the 5.11 TDK) feels awkward to me and can alter the way the kilt hangs and feels. I think that the nylon Nightstalker sporran from Stillwater Kilts is the perfect sporran for the TDK. If there was ever a "tactical sporran," it's the Nightstalker.

I usually wear nylon-and-leather 5.11 boots with my TDKs, with thick, gray wool boot socks scrunched down on top of them. I just can't bring myself to wear sneakers or sandals with my TDKs - not because they're non-traditional, but more because they're non-tactical. Instead, when the boots are too hot or heavy, I go with a pair of sneaker-like black shoes designed for wear with the more casual styles of public safety uniforms and a pair of relatively plain, inexpensive kilt hose in a color that coordinates with the kilt and/or my shirt. The hose hide my scrawny, scarred legs without spoiling the casual look. Others have worn tall boot socks to similar effect.

If you want to experiment with a more traditional style of dress while keeping the cost reasonable and the kilt care simple, you might consider one of the PV casual or semi-traditional kilts available from Rocky and company at USA Kilts. They offer a much more traditional look than contemporary kilts with a relatively small investment of funds and effort. I believe that some of the other XMTS vendors also offer similar options.

Whatever you choose... wear it with pride!