Contemporary Kilts -- a Visual guide....

[Nathan]

I've always had kind of a simplistic view on this.

If it's tartan, it's not a contemporary kilt. Ditto for tweed. Polyester Viscose tartan is still tartan. However, I've seen contemporary kilts made which incorporate tartan into their design in various ways. Paul Henry has done this, and done it well. That complicates things.

One thing that I know for sure drives me bonkers, is well-meaning guys who take their strome 16 ounce tartan kilt, wear it with hiking boots, and then announce that this look belongs in the Contemporary Kilt Forum. However, I'm aware that this is just me being dorky.

STILL.....Utilikilts, Gryphon kilts, Freedom (non-tartan) kilts, Amerikilts, R-Kilts, Stumptown kilts, NeoKilt, Tactical kilts...the X-Kilt...to me, these items are "contemporary kilts". Kilts made of tartan, even polyester-viscose, as long as they have sewn-in pleats in the back, close with some sort of buckle, and have a full-width apron belong in the "traditional kilt" forum. This includes those made with internal pockets.

so where does the Sportkilt fit into this?

I know, I know.....arrrgh

This is one of the challenges actually. Where does the traditional tartan kilt worn in a nontraditional fashion belong? It's not a traditional outfit but it is a traditional kilt. When I asked, I was told the contemporary forum was the appropriate place for it based on this:

This forum sub-section is for those interested in learning about and discussing Contemporarily made kilts and to discuss and see examples of how kilts can be worn to emulate a contemporary style or fashion.

I should also note that there are lots of tartan utility style kilts being made now with cargo pockets etc...
Andy wears one to most Tartan Tuesday events. These cargo pocket tartan kilts may be tartan but they are certainly made in a new style.

Based on the definition above, we decided to make Tartan Tuesday's theme "contemporary outfits". This is how we dressed:



You can see Andy's cargo tartan kilt on the far right.

That's why I like the proposed approaches to kilt wearing. That way it looks at the overall style the person is going for rather than the nuts and bolts of kilt construction. I can see both perspectives though.

[duke_19_62]

This is one of the challenges actually. Where does the traditional tartan kilt worn in a nontraditional fashion belong? It's not a traditional outfit but it is a traditional kilt. When I asked, I was told the contemporary forum was the appropriate place for it based on this:

This forum sub-section is for those interested in learning about and discussing Contemporarily made kilts and to discuss and see examples of how kilts can be worn to emulate a contemporary style or fashion.

I should also note that there are lots of tartan utility style kilts being made now with cargo pockets etc...
Andy wears one to most Tartan Tuesday events. These cargo pocket tartan kilts may be tartan but they are certainly made in a new style.

Based on the definition above, we decided to make Tartan Tuesday's theme "contemporary outfits". This is how we dressed:



You can see Andy's cargo tartan kilt on the far right.

That's why I like the proposed approaches to kilt wearing. That way it looks at the overall style the person is going for rather than the nuts and bolts of kilt construction. I can see both perspectives though.

I know I'm off-topic, but what is the purple tartan on the gent in the center with the saltire-topped hose? it looks familiar, but I just can't place it.

[Alan H]

That's McMurdo, just send him a PM.

[McMurdo]

I know I'm off-topic, but what is the purple tartan on the gent in the center with the saltire-topped hose? it looks familiar, but I just can't place it.

That is the Royal Naval Association tartan, it is Blue not purple. I think this is the only one in North America and was a special weave from Dalgliesh and hand sewn by Barb Tewksbury. Here is my thread on it the day I bought it.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...odyssey-35853/

[duke_19_62]

On my monitor, it looks purple, my mistake.

[McMurdo]

On my monitor, it looks purple, my mistake.

No worries, that is the danger of late night photos and computer monitors I suppose.

[HarveyH]

This thread goes back to the problems of trying to put boundaries on definitions. I have one plain denim kilt, which was a gift. It counts as contemporary from the fabric choice, wider pleats, low yardage, being mostly machine sewn. It counts as traditional in being high waisted, knife pleated etc.

All my other kilts are traditional: hand sewn, high waisted, worsted, tartan, kilts.

I am very rarely seen waring a kilt in an 'informal' way and most people in the UK would, I think, view this a traditional dress, but probably not here on X Marks - here are four pics of me, informally but quite traditionally dressed: