Modern great kilting.

**Sir Didymous** · 14th February 15, 11:35 AM

Wednesday, after a day of loading semi trailers at my non-ministerial job, I came home chilled to the bone. I took a shower and put on my big blue great kilt. I do that often when I'm cold. Well, through the course of the evening, I fell asleep on the couch. I woke up later than normal the next morning. So to avoid being late, I just wore the great kilt to work. I got a few odd looks and was asked a few times if I was cold. I was actually warmer in the great kilt than in the "normal clothes" that I typically wear.

This incident did get me thinking though. I have always liked the feileadh mor and have occasionally worn them with shirt, tie, and waist coat and/or jacket. I nearly always wear one when camping. And someone asked me as I was wearing it at work, if I ever wore them at more formal activities. I don't think that I ever have, but I am going to experiment with that very thing.

Is there anyone else on here that wears great kilts as part of modern attire? The more photos the better. I'll be rounding up some of mine.

**MacOibicin** · 14th February 15, 12:43 PM

I had one some years ago but just didn't work out for playing pipes. If was more of a hassle than I needed.

**Livonian** · 14th February 15, 02:26 PM

I have thought much about this very subject, and have come to the following conclusions:

1. You will need to be very smartly turned out. As the GK has more "presence", you will be noticed more prominently, as you have already mentioned. From the few GK converts I know of, most folks generally respond pretty well, and sometimes more favorably than with the wee kilt... That said, I'd imagine that any negative attention is likewise amplified.

2. The rest of your attire will, like the GK, need to straddle the line between traditional and historical. Too modern or anachronistic, and you will look "off". This is true with the wee kilt as well, but I feel that the GK is good for us who like the more magnificent styles of old, as the slicker wee kilt looks out of place with them whereas the GK matches them in magnificence and presence.

3. The GK itself will need to be very neatly arranged (compared to the average Ren Faire attendee, who seems to have no idea what he is doing), although that's not really hard to do if you know how to fold and arrange cloth. Avoid the "Toga Kilt" configuration and instead use the arrangement seen in old portraits: corners pinned over one shoulder. For cold weather, I imagine that the cloak-like method, with the top half draped around the shoulders is pretty useful. As for hot weather, I've seen the back part tucked and rolled, or simply left to hang.

There's no reason the GK can't work nowadays if done with skill and carried with panache. It's the most magnificent-looking garment I know of... If you can pull it off, go for it. My next paycheck will net me one, so we may be able to compare notes sometime in the future. While I know that the perspective I just wrote will probably be unpopular, I simply feel that the GK gets a bad rap (for good reason... many who wear it do not take the time to do it well), and can be very well incorporated into a modern man's Highland wardrobe. The bonus is that it always fits well, never gets wavy, and is easier to sit in due to decreased yardage and lack of fixed, pressed pleats. A few wee wrinkles will also probably not spoil the turnout like they can with the wee kilt.

**Liam** · 14th February 15, 10:02 PM

As there isn't a picture, did it really happen?
I have a great kilt, but view it more as a costume for renfaires..
Cheers....

**Sir Didymous** · 14th February 15, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by Liam

As there isn't a picture, did it really happen?
I have a great kilt, but view it more as a costume for renfaires..
Cheers....

This is a bit older, but since I don't have a picture taken every time I'm kilted, I'm sure it will give sufficient evidence.

**Livonian** · 15th February 15, 07:55 AM

I'd personally have worn a sporran (although the GK can be arranged to have pockets), but overall I think you did pretty well. If I may ask, how much yardage did you end up needing? Nobody seems to agree on how much is needed for what size of gent.

**Sir Didymous** · 15th February 15, 07:39 PM

That particular kit is rather small in terms of yardage. I want to say that it is only about 3 1/2 yards and light weight (10oz). It's the one I use for my 1610 reenactment kit (worn with different clothes of course). The one I wore today is 16oz and about 4 1/2 yards. I look a little beat up after the dagger techniques class. The top part was all neatly formed and tucked under my epaulette so that it all draped down my left side. My shoes look horrid because of the snow and salt, and the picture was taken with a phone. But it is what it is.

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**Livonian** · 15th February 15, 08:12 PM

I'd say that looks pretty darned nice. Call me an old soul, but with a change of neckwear and some alterations to the jacket (specifically a lapelled front with working closure and removal of the trim), that is an outfit I would be somewhat inclined to wear even outside of a re-enactment context.

Also, what's the pleating situation like with the 4.5 yards? Would it be possibly to arrange the cloth into box pleats to get the most mileage, or would that be too difficult or time-consuming? Just trying to gauge how much cloth I'll need when I finally take the plunge.

**jetstar63** · 16th February 15, 12:16 PM

Real nice kilt Sir D. Now I want one like that. The vest looks tight but I like the length of it. The colors look great too.

**Sir Didymous** · 16th February 15, 02:52 PM

Originally Posted by Livonian

I'd say that looks pretty darned nice. Call me an old soul, but with a change of neckwear and some alterations to the jacket (specifically a lapelled front with working closure and removal of the trim), that is an outfit I would be somewhat inclined to wear even outside of a re-enactment context.

Also, what's the pleating situation like with the 4.5 yards? Would it be possibly to arrange the cloth into box pleats to get the most mileage, or would that be too difficult or time-consuming? Just trying to gauge how much cloth I'll need when I finally take the plunge.

The changes to the jacket that you mentioned would be a bit of a step back. It started as a Union officer's double breasted shell jacket. The front is actually functional and you can button it in such a fashion as to have small lapels. The pictures in this thread show a lot of the options. You could also turn down the stand collar, but I like a historical flair to my kilt attire.
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...inished-83257/

And the pleats on the blue kilt are more or less cartridge pleats, which if I understand it right, are like un-pressed box pleats. You can see the back here in post #13, but I put it on rather quickly so they don't look the best. I have also added more pleats since then by decreasing the space between the ins and outs of the cord at the waist.
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...-advice-78638/

I figure you could press them flat and make them true box pleats. But unless you intend to fix them down somehow, it would be a lot of work for something that will go away the minute you take it off.