"Scots trip up on kilt style" (article)

[O'Callaghan]

There is really no English national dress. Some have put forth the attire worn by Morris dancers, but it is only worn by them and no-one else, and only worn for that purpose. I did a bit of that a long time ago, but had to quit for lack of time to devote to it. Get a little out of sync in some of those dances and you can accidentally smack eachother across the knuckles with big sticks, LOL!

As for Irish national dress, although worn by few, it is the kilt. Those who decided on that were Irish nationalists a little over a century ago, and really they specified solid colour kilts to distinguish from the Scots, which means that strictly speaking, kilts in Irish tartans are all incorrect! To say that it was not adopted by the Irish government is disingenuous, as Ireland did not have independence at that time, which was really the whole point. OTOH, if you were to point out that my ancestors left Ireland before that, and so none of them ever wore the kilt, I would have to admit you'd be right.

[OC Richard]

There is really no English national dress.

Yes that's a poser. I think of the tweed outfits of the oldfashioned English farmers, and the smocks and floppy hats of the oldfashioned Zummerzet farmers:

[tky58]

I pose the questions :- 1/ What is YOUR countries National Dress? 2/ How often do you see it worn? 3/ When should your countries National Dress be worn? (In whose opinion?)

I await replies with interest.

In America: blue jeans, t shirt, greasy ball cap and a can of PBR!
(Trust me, it is not MY uniform.)

Steve Wilson

[O'Callaghan]

Yes that's a poser. I think of the tweed outfits of the oldfashioned English farmers, and the smocks and floppy hats of the oldfashioned Zummerzet farmers:

Or the bowler hat and rolled umbrella? Never owned a bowler hat, and the thought of wearing one with the kilt seems hilarious for some reason.

[English Bloke]

I have 3, black, white and blue and yes, they were on special offer and cheaper than normal shirts.

I wear them at informal parties or gatherings, usually with a leather waistcoat, and my wife thinks they are OK, so they can't look too bad or she'd tell me!

If I come across a picture I'll post it, but usually it is me taking the pictures.

I'm not having a go at Kilt shirts TPA, honestly. I think they look fine on other folks, I just don't think they suit me. Not because they look at all bad, just I don't feel mine suits my personality so I don't feel comfortable wearing it.

By the same token I don't wear slip-on shoes or white trainers.

I love crocs, I think they are very practical footwear but I would never wear them outside the house unless I was on mee hols... No criticism of those who do. I just choose not to.

[DrCelt]

Of all the kilt gaffes I've seen, the one that does my head in the most is wearing it too long, which makes it look like a skirt. Pretty much anything else is passable in the right environment.

[galarneau]

The fact some people can "trip up on kilt style" shows that it's still a living tradition. In Brittany, the traditional dress is only worn by folk bands... so there is no mistake in wearing it, as it is rather a kind of uniform. And a dead thing, alas!

[Bidule]

I perfectly agree with Galarneau. The kilt is not a "dead" clothes and the way to wear it can evolve with fashion. Even if it is sometime disturbing, it is well necessary to acknowledge that it is rather encouraging for the future!

[tpa]

I'm not having a go at Kilt shirts TPA, honestly.

I didn't think you were John, I just find them useful for informal "occasions" as a change from my "normal" white shirt.

I can quite see your point of view as I don't think t-shirts suit me so almost always wear polo necked shirts when the weather dictates. There is one exception:



If anyone knows a source of more tartan cycling gear, please let me know.