Is it possible to wear a kilt and not look like you're from Scotland?

[Freebooter]

Hello all,
I am no troll. And I do apologize if I came across wrong. But it was just that I have read and heard that many Scottish look down on, smirk, or even hold in casual contempt outsiders that wear kilts, "try to be Scottish", etc. I just could not imagine anyone feeling that way towards outsiders trrying to honor ancestors, their Scottish history, etc, etc. If I heard wrong, etc, then I do sincerely apologize. In fact I am fixing to go delete that comment or post.
FB

[Jock Scot]

Hello all,
I am no troll. And I do apologize if I came across wrong. But it was just that I have read and heard that many Scottish look down on, smirk, or even hold in casual contempt outsiders that wear kilts, "try to be Scottish", etc. I just could not imagine anyone feeling that way towards outsiders trrying to honor ancestors, their Scottish history, etc, etc. If I heard wrong, etc, then I do sincerely apologize. In fact I am fixing to go delete that comment or post.
FB

Just so you know. You------and many others------- "imagine" quite incorrectly. Some Scots, particularly Highlanders do not understand this idea of honouring ones ancestors and the rest, by those outwith Scotland wearing the kilt and so on and yes, they really do think you are just playing at being a Scot. They, the Scots, like everyone else have "roots" from the world over and remember them with just as much pride but in a different way with dignity, quietly and with no fuss. Also, please remember most Scots are not members on a website such as this so they have no opportunity to see, never mind understand, the other point of view.

[MacKenzie]

Some Scots, particularly Highlanders do not understand this idea of honouring ones ancestors and the rest, by those outwith Scotland wearing the kilt and so on

the Scots, like everyone else have "roots" from the world over and remember them with just as much pride but in a different way with dignity, quietly and with no fuss.

I get it, I suppose. And it did cause me to investigate other "cultural festivals" (which returned scant results). By-and-large people don't don the national or recognized dress of _________ to attend a _________ festival/celebration. We don't typically don a sombrero & serape for Cinco De Mayo. Ok, maybe that's a stretch, but hopefully the point was made.

About the Highland Games I found this description:

Highland games are events held throughout the year in Scotland and other countries as a way of celebrating Scottish and Celtic culture and heritage, especially that of the Scottish Highlands. Certain aspects of the games are so well known as to have become emblematic of Scotland, such as the bagpipes, the kilt, and the heavy events, especially the caber toss. While centred on competitions in piping and drumming, dancing, and Scottish heavy athletics, the games also include entertainment and exhibits related to other aspects of Scottish and Gaelic culture. The Cowal Highland Gathering, better known as the Cowal Games, held in Dunoon, Scotland, every August, is the largest Highland games in the world, attracting around 3,500 competitors and somewhere in the region of 23,000 spectators from around the globe. Worldwide, however, it is exceeded in terms of spectators by two gatherings in the United States: the estimated 30,000 that attend Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina and the even larger gathering—the largest in the Northern Hemisphere—that has taken place every year since 1865 hosted by the Caledonian Club of San Francisco.

Bagpipes. Hmm. There are pipe bands all over the world. I don't think Pakistan's camel-mounted military pipe band is trying to look or be Scottish. Why in the wide world of sports would Pakistan's military form a pipe band - seeing how bagpipes are so Scottish? Are non-Scot pipe bands likewise misunderstood?

Then Alan's comments about the differences between Highland games in Scotland vs. in the US got me to wondering what the Caledonian games looked like in the late 1800s. More like the Scotland games of today? Less folks in kilts and trying to "look Scottish" and just there for the revelry and competition? Is the kilt-wearing non-Scot largely a product of modern society? Of the internet age even?

[Alan H]

By-and-large people don't don the national or recognized dress of _________ to attend a _________ festival/celebration. We don't typically don a sombrero & serape for Cinco De Mayo. Ok, maybe that's a stretch, but hopefully the point was made.

in my day I've been to a LOT of Greek festivals and nobody, whatsoever dresses up in "traditional Greek" attire except the dancing groups.

About the Highland Games I found this description:


Bagpipes. Hmm. There are pipe bands all over the world. I don't think Pakistan's camel-mounted military pipe band is trying to look or be Scottish. Why in the wide world of sports would Pakistan's military form a pipe band - seeing how bagpipes are so Scottish? Are non-Scot pipe bands likewise misunderstood?

Then Alan's comments about the differences between Highland games in Scotland vs. in the US got me to wondering what the Caledonian games looked like in the late 1800s. More like the Scotland games of today? Less folks in kilts and trying to "look Scottish" and just there for the revelry and competition? Is the kilt-wearing non-Scot largely a product of modern society? Of the internet age even?

In answer to your last ponderance, that I just "bolded"..seems to me the answer is a resounding YES. The kilt-wearing non-Scot is a product of the internet.

[Father Bill]

You know...

...I find this depressing. The implied disapproval from certain Scottish venues makes me wonder if I want to just sell my kit, quit the forum and say "To hell with Scotland". It is such a foul-smelling breeze coming our way that I'm often both discouraged and resentful that I have ever been interested in that heritage.

Is that the way you really want us to feel? If so, you're highly successful.

[Dughlas mor]

You know...

...I find this depressing. The implied disapproval from certain Scottish venues makes me wonder if I want to just sell my kit, quit the forum and say "To hell with Scotland". It is such a foul-smelling breeze coming our way that I'm often both discouraged and resentful that I have ever been interested in that heritage.

Is that the way you really want us to feel? If so, you're highly successful.

Father, I feel the same sometimes. Alternatively, I belong to FB groups where there are lots of Scots who are just fine with, and encouraging of non Scots wearing kilts. It takes all kinds, I guess.

[Father Bill]

Father, I feel the same sometimes. Alternatively, I belong to FB groups where there are lots of Scots who are just fine with, and encouraging of non Scots wearing kilts. It takes all kinds, I guess.

Maybe that's where I should spend my time rather than here. I don't need to be depressed; that comes easily enough in my vocation, dealing with everybody else's problems all the time.

[MacKenzie]

You know...

...I find this depressing. The implied disapproval from certain Scottish venues makes me wonder if I want to just sell my kit, quit the forum...

I crossed that bridge reading the "food for thought" and "two telling comments" threads. Then I realized that, while the those threads provide a lot of insight, which I certainly do appreciate and somewhat understand, they've really nothing to do with me.

[Knight]

I think it's entirely possible to wear a kilt and not look like you're a recently arrived British Citizen residing in Scotland but visiting X. That's how I read the question: is it possible to wear a kilt and not look like [an impostor]. I wear the kilt around the house, in the yard, hiking, and fencing. I choose to wear it because it's comfortable and practical for what I'm doing; particularly as an athletic garment. I do not, however, dress it up with all of the Highland Extras: if I wear a sporran it's simple and plain; if I wear a belt it's sufficient and not gaudy (usually don't though). I don't wear hose unless I'm deliberately dressing nice, and I never wear gillie brogues. I always wear boots unless I'm riding my bicycle. I'm not trying to be a Scot, or pass as one: I'm trying to stay cool while working or hanging out, or to gain an advantage of movement while fencing because I'm less restricted than opponents in trousers.

I think the thing that makes you look like you're "From Scotland" when wearing kilt, as in an impostor playing at trying to pass off as a Highlander, is the full "uniform." The same is true of people who wear a cowboy costume (of whatever quality). There is a manner of wearing these outfits and looking LIKE a cowboy, for example, and TRYING TO PRETEND YOU ARE a cowboy. That person wants to sell you a fiction about themself that isn't true.

But if you see me on the trail with my CamelBak, my kilt, my combat boots and my stetson, you're not going to confuse me with some cos-play Highlander. You might be confused BY me and my choice of garments that originated in Scotland, but that's a separate and fun conversation to have about the merits of one thing over another.

[NPG]

You know...

...I find this depressing. The implied disapproval from certain Scottish venues makes me wonder if I want to just sell my kit, quit the forum and say "To hell with Scotland". It is such a foul-smelling breeze coming our way that I'm often both discouraged and resentful that I have ever been interested in that heritage.

Is that the way you really want us to feel? If so, you're highly successful.

I saw this post hours ago and while I agreed with it at the time I thought twice about making any comment as I'm afraid we are in a situation of agree to disagree. I have the utmost respect for the posters here, especially those with years of experience wearing the kilt. I respect even those that I may not agree with. But some of the posts here lately have made me disillusioned and disheartened. I don't know if I'll hang up my kilt, but I probably will walk away from the forums.