Not putting it on properly

[Tobus]

In my opinion our national dress is being devalued and hijacked by the wedding industry. I say that because it’s the only common denominator I can see. To me its reaching the point of being a parody.

Yes, I think this is the biggest factor in the recent odd changes that are happening in the way kilts are worn in Scotland. I'm only seeing it from afar, based on photos and articles on the internet. But it seems to me that what was considered proper and traditional is dying off, and is being replaced by fads and fashion, driven by the kilt hire industry. Understandably, they are in competition for business, and will want to give customers a look that "takes it up a notch". But some of these fads have become quite bizarre to the eyes of traditional kilt wearers.

Since this isn't the traditional kilt forum, I expect that it's out of bounds to comment further on the rightness or wrongness of these new fads. But suffice it to say that they are fads, driven by an industry that is more interested in making money and being "fashion forward" than trying to preserve any semblance of traditional sartorial protocols.

Sadly, these kilt-hire companies are viewed as "the experts" by a large number of people. If they don't know any better, they will wear what the hire companies tell them to wear, and in the manner they are told to wear it. I'm not quite sure how these hire companies decide what's correct in terms of how to wear flashes, sporrans, etc. Maybe they just make it up as they go?

Kilts being too long or too short, or not quite fitting the customer is to be expected. Given that a well-fitted kilt is a custom job for each person's proportions, and the "standard sized" kilts really don't do a very good job of fitting well, it's no surprise that many hire kilts appear sloppy. Hire companies have to stock a range of sizes and different tartans, and cannot possibly keep every combination of size and tartan choice for every customer. I still think they routinely fit people for kilts that are too long, and don't give them correct instruction on wearing the kilt at the natural waist (or the customers ignore it because it feels weird to them).

[David]

I think what really set me off was that there was a large number of kilts being worn with so many (bad?) variations all in one place. If you have heard the phrase "the whole is greater than the sum of the parts", well in this case it was more a case of the whole being less than the sum of the parts. From the responses so far, I'm glad it appears that its not just me who thinks there is a disturbance in the kilt wearing force. Variation is good, I'm not against it, my kilt pin is four pin badges in a vertical line. They are the four symbols chosen by the members of Led Zeppelin. Its amazing how many people believe me when I say they are actually Pictish symbols

[Hipbilly]

Lets start with the basics...
#1: Aprons facing the rear of the kilt. Seriously. I've seen waaaay to much of that in my internet meanderings...

[Tarheel]

Lets start with the basics...
#1: Aprons facing the rear of the kilt. Seriously. I've seen waaaay to much of that in my internet meanderings...

As Hipbilly points out, kilts are NOT "Union Suits" that offer a flap in the back.

[MacRobert's Reply]

I recognise all the woeful descriptions David and most weddings in Scotland have a few who look like this but the proportions at your event were greater than any I have experienced. I wonder if the hire companies in that region are particularly bad at their job.

As a clergyman I do numerous weddings and, if men in the wedding party are to be kilted, I give them a guide to highland dress well before the wedding and have even sorted out a few before the service starts! People who don't know what they don't know need to be enlightened by those of us who do.

[tpa]

Maybe it was just a popular day for the kilt hire industry! As a result they did not have precisely the right waist size for everyone, so getting the height and length right would be a challenge for some even if given the correct advice. I probably should not be writing here as I have never worn a hire kilt, but I do know that those I have bought off the peg, I always have to alter to get the fit right for me and therein lies the problem. Everyone is different, the hire industry has to standardise and is not too worried whether you are comfortable or not, all they need to do is meet the requirement for the hirer to have a kilt for the occasion and to be able to wear it without it falling off for a few hours. Those of us who wear them regularly will have tailored them to their requirements.

To put it in perspective, I was recently in attendance with my daughter choosing a wedding dress for her wedding next year. She actually chose one which had been made for someone else, but the wedding was called off so she got it for a reduced price, including alterations to suit her. I still thought it was extortionate as I could have bought two made to measure wool kilts for the same price and had some money left over. The moral of the story is that if you want to do it properly, it is expensive and you have to plan ahead and be prepared to pay more than most men would deem reasonable although if you buy the kilt you can of course wear it more than once. I don't suppose many brides purchase a wedding dress with that expectation. (Unfortunately the shop also had a male mannequin wearing a kilt, black argyle, waistcoat with kilt belt and the inevitable white hose. Apparently that was haw it was supplied.)

I hope I am not typical, but the only suit I have that I can still wear was as a result of a previous girlfriend walking me into a good tailor's shop and insisting on me buying a very expensive (by my standards) suit there. That was over 30 years ago. I have had a number of off the peg ones since and all have now gone to charity shops. I can however still wear a 50 year old kilt.

What it comes down to is that I am sympathetic to the hire industry, at least those who give the correct advice, if any. It cannot be easy to meet everyone precise requirements, especially if the notice is short, and they have to do it for a price men are prepared to pay. If it was the women who were in charge of the male attire, maybe the standards would improve.

[McClef]

There are also the tartan tat places who are happy to sell their wares to unsuspecting tourists and don't give them any instructions about how to wear them.

Several times in Edinburgh I have to gently and politely demonstrate how to wear!

[CMcG]

... I'm glad it appears that its not just me who thinks there is a disturbance in the kilt wearing force. ...

I'm going to venture an educated guess, which is that the disturbance in the kilt wearing force is primarily created by ignorance.

Many guys who rent their kit are wearing the kilt for the first or perhaps second time, and they simply don't know about fit and finish. Of course the "average" size clothes of hire shops and off-the-rack options—rather than being custom tailored—don't help, but there are many simple adjustments that could be made to address the issues raised in the OP. The disturbance is probably exaggerated by an increased interest in, and availability of, kilts to rent or less expensive options for buying than there used to be.

I liken this to when guys who have never worn a suit or tuxedo put one on and nothing seems to fit right or sit well. Granted, they probably have more, and better, models to base their decisions on, but the devil is still in the details

There are probably many cases of people working at hire shops or retailers who are not themselves seasoned kilt wearers, so it is often a case of the blind leading the blind. This is where information sources like Xmarks come in handy. If anybody has the wherewithal to realize their own ignorance and start Googling Highland attire, this website shows up pretty quickly in the search results.

[Stitchwiz]

Kilts are not the only things that are worn incorrectly. Take a look around you when you attend any function where suits are worn - most of the younger men don't have a clue even how to tie a tie properly and the fit of the suit is terrible. If they bought the suit, the salesperson doesn't know enough to teach them how it should fit and they are often wearing the wrong size/length, etc. I see so many suits coming in to be hemmed and they are marked incorrectly at the store! And of course, because they are so uncomfortable, they take off as much as they can, as soon as they can, and end up looking even worse, if that's possible.

The greatest tragedy is when tuxedos are worn - the reason they are wearing a tux is to look their absolute best and yet they often look terrible - probably 99-100% are hired and they look it!

When a man cares enough to buy his own classic cut tuxedo from a tailor, just like a kilt from a kilt maker, it can last most of his life. There is nothing as handsome as a man in his best outfit, whether it is a tuxedo or a kilt.

At least when they are wearing a kilt, they aren't trying to take anything off before the end of the evening - perhaps they don't want to embarrass themselves in the process. Thank goodness for small mercies.

(Yes, Father Bill, I hear you )

[OC Richard]

most of the younger men don't have a clue even how to tie a tie properly

Yes indeed! Where I work we have to wear ties and I'm amazed at how many men don't know how to tie them.

They show up for work with the tie crooked and the collar sticking up on one side or whatever. And they have their slacks too low, all bunched up around their ankles below and their shirt tails sticking out above. A fairly constant job of mine is fixing that sort of thing and making them presentable to the public.