To kilt in modern north american society

**Alan H** · 15th October 15, 12:40 PM

And if you don't like those two pictures because they're gangsters and not white guys of Scottish descent, then I might point out that there's a lot of ladies who'd prefer these guys...

....to this guy.

Maybe you want to say that you might not LIKE those women, but I'm not sure y'all want to make that judgement call. Sometimes the lad or lass in what YOU see as a scroungy costume has a heart of gold. And after all, some of our esteemed brethren are hardly "sharp-dressed".

**Alan H** · 15th October 15, 12:46 PM

Normally on a "Kilt forum" I wouldn't point this out, but the title of the thread is about wearing a kilt in modern American society, and I think it's probably a good idea to remember that in fact, not everybody thinks that a kilt is the bee's knees. Lots of people prefer looks other than the natty, buttoned-down traditionalist Scottish Kilt look.

LOTS.

**DrakeC** · 15th October 15, 01:18 PM

Goth. Cowboy western. Lederhosen. Punk. Bohemian. Indian. Gangster. Redneck. Whatever.

As long as my leg remains unbroken, my pocket unpicked, and my children largely untraumatized, I couldn't care less what anyone wears. If YOU like it, rock it.

De gustibus non est disputandum.

**Alan H** · 15th October 15, 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by DrakeC

Goth. Cowboy western. Lederhosen. Punk. Bohemian. Indian. Gangster. Redneck. Whatever.

As long as my leg remains unbroken, my pocket unpicked, and my children largely untraumatized, I couldn't care less what anyone wears. If YOU like it, rock it.

De gustibus non est disputandum.

Yup. I'm down with that.

**ratspike** · 15th October 15, 05:44 PM

Originally Posted by Alan H

Normally on a "Kilt forum" I wouldn't point this out, but the title of the thread is about wearing a kilt in modern American society, and I think it's probably a good idea to remember that in fact, not everybody thinks that a kilt is the bee's knees. Lots of people prefer looks other than the natty, buttoned-down traditionalist Scottish Kilt look.

LOTS.

This is actually a very good point. A while back I tried to get a monthly kilt night going. Portland being Portland, I thought it'd go over well and would be popular. Unfortunately it was a bit of a fail, due in part to this very thing. Getting dudes who liked to wear a kilt now and again, or were kilt-curious, to show up more than once was impossible. Too much Scottish dress-up was too much for the folks who weren't already kilt nerds. Even the guys who dress up as pirates couldn't hang, which is saying something.

This is in no way a dis on THCD. It's just an observation I made over a period of months while watching non-kilties in Portland, home of the Unipiper, the World Naked Bike Ride and countless other oddball things, try to interface with kilt enthusiasts.

**thecompaqguy** · 16th October 15, 10:09 AM

Originally Posted by ratspike

This is actually a very good point. A while back I tried to get a monthly kilt night going. Portland being Portland, I thought it'd go over well and would be popular. Unfortunately it was a bit of a fail, due in part to this very thing. Getting dudes who liked to wear a kilt now and again, or were kilt-curious, to show up more than once was impossible. Too much Scottish dress-up was too much for the folks who weren't already kilt nerds. Even the guys who dress up as pirates couldn't hang, which is saying something.

This is in no way a dis on THCD. It's just an observation I made over a period of months while watching non-kilties in Portland, home of the Unipiper, the World Naked Bike Ride and countless other oddball things, try to interface with kilt enthusiasts.

I think it is like trying to get a cat to take a tablet

Kilts are quite particular, I think it looks smart, but nerds, who are struggling to be like everyone else, may not embrace the kilt for fear of becoming 'weirder', so I could see why they may not want to kilt up. 'Kilt-curious', lol

Alan H, my wife isn't so bothered by the guys in the 'urban wear', perhaps it's the fact that other girls may dig the kilt, creating 'competition'... She has no umbrage toward my 30+ kilts I own already, though rolls her eyes at another purchase. The latest being a Glasgow Rangers tartan. I am of the 'if you like it, rock it' school of thought, and am weighing up wearing a kilt to a gathering tonight, but it is on the windy side and a little cold. I think it also depends on the right setting to be kilted, it's nice to be different, but wearing one in windy weather to 'make a a statement' won't endear people to it either.

**tundramanq** · 16th October 15, 11:08 AM

There is s spectrum of mentalities:
Sheep------------------------------to---------- sheep dog
Mindlessly running with the herd-to---------- running the herd
Little self esteem -----------------to---------- a lot of self esteem
highly subject to peer pressure--to-----------immune to peer pressure
Follower----------------------------to-----------Leader
Meek-------------------------------to-----------Bold
etc. etc.
Routine kilt wearers generally fall a lot closer to the right hand end of the spectrum.

Compaq, I have a real hard time convincing people that I really am quite warm and comfy in the winter in my just below the knees, winter length, kilts and a warm jacket. I own some polyester running leggings but have yet to find it cold enough and/or windy enough to need them and I am going into my 6th winter kilted all day, everyday. However, I do live at mile high altitude and dry climate - two things that really reduce the thermal conductivity of air. The opposite of your situation.

**Michael Weatherhead** · 16th October 15, 12:08 PM

I feel you, man, about being out of place. I live in Southeastern AZ. NOBODY here wears the Scottish garb. But, I'm gonna dress up for Halloween, in my kilt, etc. Then, turn around the next day, dress up for church, with a suit coat, tartan necktie and kilt. Next time my Cub Scouts march in a parade, I'll wear my Scout shirt, and kilt. We'll also fly my flags (Lion Rampant, Saltire, Erin-go-Bragh, and Irish flags), along with the US flag. My wife and kids think the same thing, that I'm showing off, making a spectacle. But I don't care. Ever since living in Scotland, and doing geneology (familysearch.org, ancestry.com), and learning of my roots, I can't get it out of my system. As a kid, I HATED my last name (Weatherhead). It actually means herder of sheep, or sheepherder. Now, I'm proud of it. Carry on, lad, wear your kilt proudly.

**Thekiltedmohawk** · 16th October 15, 07:15 PM

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**Alan H** · 16th October 15, 07:17 PM

I challenge the notion that by wearing a kilt a guy automatically becomes.... or just "is" and that's why he wears a kilt....

1. more confident
2. smarter
3. a leader, standing out from the pack, noble, a loner and an independent thinker

whilst all those lads in pants are

1. less confident
2. stupider
3. frightened, spineless followers of convention, with no brains for anything but how to conform.

I think that's total bunk. Since when do your CLOTHES cause you to be anything?

They're clothes, not some sort of independent deification. The world is full of leaders and inventors and game-changers that don't wear kilts. Steve Jobs didn't wear a kilt. Neither does Bill Gates. No President of the USA has ever regularly worn a kilt. The Beatles, Elvis Presly, the Rolling Stones.... Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong.... none of them wore kilts. The list of people who made huge impacts on the world who DIDN'T wear kilts is stupendous.

Just because you strap cloth around your waist that doesn't have a seam down your crotch doesn't make you any smarter or more "worthy" than any other slob on the planet.