OK, I was gong to make this a post in the Tripp thread that was going on but as I was typing I decided that my response was less about a single kilt and more about the future acceptance of the kilt so I thought it would make for a good topic if we all try to be good.

So to begin I will start with the Dreadbelly's words:

Quote Originally Posted by Dreadbelly View Post
You know, we have a forum member that just bought one of these.

We should show just a little respect.

People are going to put us down for what we wear no matter what... We shouldn't be putting each other down.
On that point I absolutely agree with you as should we all.

However I am not convinced that wearing this kind of garment will lead to wearing a "mainstream" kilt as also mentioned, nor do I think it furthers the "kilt" cause. I am sure some will move on to a more traditional look, but I don't think it happens very often.

These club/ goth garments and even some of the other non-traditionals will, I believe, always fall outside of what the general public sees as a kilt. Think about it, ask your average person on the street to describe a a kilt outfit and will bet you end up with a description of a piper or at least a very traditional type of outfit. Now if they are actually looking at someone in a kilt their idea can be stretched a bit. Maybe the kilt isn't made of tartan or they are wearing a rugby shirt instead of an Argyle, but if too many of their preconceived ideas are not there, they I don't think will no longer see it as a kilt (even if they use the term for lack of a better way of describing a man in a skirt). They will see a goth kid, or a punk or generally someone outside the mainstream who doesn't like to conform.

This creates two problems; first since Mr. and Mrs. John Q. Public don't see it as their idea of a kilt they will see the garment as outside the mainstream. If down the road that becomes their idea of a kilt an who wears one, it does not help further the acceptance of the kilt as a mainstream garment. Second if the person wearing the garment sees it as part of his association with the group they are more likely to give it up should they no longer identify with that group.

My point being that I don't think that these types of garments hold the key to acceptance by society of the kilt. Now I know that many of our members could care less about that and I say "guid on ya", I salute you and you should be proud of whatever you choose to wear. I just think we can't plan on this being the future of kilt acceptance as man's garment in the mainstream.

So to finish what do I think is the future of kilts? Well, obviously not the Tripp garment IMHO. If the kilt is to make it to mainstream I believe it needs to hold closer to the traditional idea as a dressier garment. With probably the bottom being the equivalent of wearing khakis and a golf shirt. We all know it dresses up well. In other words not much less than business casual.

I think less expensive and easier to wear models in non-traditional fabrics. By fabrics I mean not in tartan but also probably not in camo either. You wouldn't wear camo to an office casual environment. Jackets need to continue to be simplified. Fewer guantlet cuffs and silver/horn buttons for day wear. I was engaged in a discussion in a previous thread about whether or not a doublet was too much of a costume, I said it wasn't, but then we were talking about full dress. It is the day wear we need to tome down. I think we need to look less like Prince Charles posing for his summer pics at Balmoral than the current day outfits allow. It doesn't mean they need to disappear (I love my tweeds), just there need to be more choices that are simpler in style. The Crail design is a step in the right direction.

The last component here is wearing the kilt and who wears it. The style for mainstream is mostly there and certainly the kilts themselves are. We have so many kilt makers making non-traditional kilts that fit fine in what I am talking about here. However, if it is only those seen as outside the 9-5 mainstream by society who wear the kilt, then it will remain a garment outside the mainstream (not meant to be derogatory at all, most of my friends fall into this category).

Now as I said at the beginning when I quoted Dreadbelly if we have this discussion we must respect each others choices. We can discuss them and we can disagree but we must remember that these are our OPINIONS not facts!