Kilt Suits...

[Alan H]

Thanks CMcG.

I hope it is only you who is silly enough to come onto the Contemporary sub-forum of the world's largest kilt website and start bashing contemporary kilts .... I wrote something rather like this and then just shrugged and deleted it. I also deleted something rather more rude, so I appreciate your ... hmmm... restraint.

[Pipersson]

I never thought of a skirt. I just find it a bit boring.
But I am also not a fan of casual kilts.
So if one wants to wear these modern styles may do it!
Tom

[Taskr]

Just as some ppl don't look good in a suit or any other particular fashion, the kilt-suit isn't meant for everyone. But, if your the person who can wear it well then more power to you. I don't think I've the cut to wear THIS well.
It certainly isn't only a modern thing

[Alan H]

It absolutely fascinates me that in the CONTEMPORARY KILT FORUM a bunch of guys are trying to justify the "tweed kilt suit look" by...

...wait for it....

--> showing that it's actually TRADITIONAL.

.......... by posting paintings, references to scholarly works, references to museum artifacts and posting very old photographs. The operating assumption here is that... It's not contemporary, it's actually traditional, so therefore it's OK." Yaaaayyy! I was SO worried that the tweed kilt suit might not be grounded in 300 years of tradition. I feel SO much better, now.

[Pipersson]

Ironic? ;-)

[CMcG]

It absolutely fascinates me that in the CONTEMPORARY KILT FORUM a bunch of guys are trying to justify the "tweed kilt suit look" by...

...wait for it....

--> showing that it's actually TRADITIONAL.

.......... by posting paintings, references to scholarly works, references to museum artifacts and posting very old photographs. The operating assumption here is that... It's not contemporary, it's actually traditional, so therefore it's OK." Yaaaayyy! I was SO worried that the tweed kilt suit might not be grounded in 300 years of tradition. I feel SO much better, now.

The regulars around here—whether traditional or contemporary—don't really need a justification for kilt suits. The OP of this thread, however, was clearly in need of a history lesson. While we're at it, perhaps someone can provide a justification for the more contemporary style of kilt suit? Preferably one that doesn't get shortened to "wear whatever you like"

You see, not all kilt suits are the same. 21st Century Kilts has a banner on their site that illustrates the continuum very nicely (see image below). The guy on the far right is dressed quite traditionally in his kilt suit (hose, flashes, polished leather shoes, and sporran), while some of the other guys are more contemporary (boots with scrunchy hose and apron "pockets"). To my eye, all of them look good



The point, for me, is that this site is meant to include a broadly inclusive range of approaches. There will thus inevitably be overlap between historical, traditional, contemporary, and modern kilts by virtue of them all being kilts! If one is going to call a garment a kilt then it is also challenging—if not disrespectful—to try and divorce contemporary and modern expressions from tradition and history.

[MNlad]

Personally, I rather like the look of a subdued tweed kilt suit—rather businesslike. On the other hand, I find a three-piece tartan suit (pa*ts or kilt) a bit of sensory overload. Most tartan kilts seem better served with a contrasting or complimenting jacket and vest, or other garments. (Again, personal opinion.) Feminine? No more than any other kilt combination.

[David Dubh]

I was at The Vancouver Police Pipe Bands Burns Supper on Saturday there was a real gamut of looks from the band members to Argyll and prince Charlie and a fellow in a ghillie shirt. But one fellow was in a blue tweed kilt suit with anice brown over check in it he had a matching tan leather and tweed sporran with tan shoes. I thought it was an incredible good looking outfit. I'm not a big contemporary fan but that may have been the best outfit there
Cheers David