Kilt as just another part of your wardrobe

[lschwartz]

Of course we all (I would guess) wear our kilts when we go to a Celtic festival or similar event. Some may wear one with the applicable accessories when formal wear is required.

For my part, I just like kilts. They are comfortable in all seasons, look good, and it is a way for me to connect to the Scottish part of my multi-faceted ancestry. I don't wear it for business attire, at least not yet, because of my position and the work environment. I do however frequently wear it at home in the evenings, on the weekends, and out and about in town or just going out to the mall with my wife. I don't, like a good friend of mine does, think of it as part of a "Celtic outfit" which must be worn with a Jacobite shirt and ghillie brogues. It is a normal part of my wardrobe and is worn with polo or oxford shirts and regular shoes, just like I would a pair of jeans, Dockers, or shorts.

So, my question is...how many of the rabble wear a kilt as just another part of their wardrobe; not every day necessarily, but not just for special events or as part of a Celtic costume?

Larry

[Manu]

Did you just call the kilt the "c" word?!?! (Celtic that is )

In all seriousness, I see the kilt as a smart, classy, and stylish garment to be used in lieu of trousers, worn appropriately and respectfully of course. I get a lot of inspiration from the gents at Xmarks wearing quite snazzy outfits. Like you, I'm not a fan of the puffy renaissance fair looking shirts, it makes it look, well, like a costume. Show your friend some pics from here so he can learn to wear the kilt more adversely!

[hector]

I do!
A kilt is the same for me like a pair of trousers. Just another kind of garment. I have no relation with Scotland nor with the Highland culture (although I like both very much). Should I? I do not think so.
Should I have American links for having the possibility for wearing blue jeans?
However, I wear the kilt with the respect this beautiful garment deserves. I always have hose, a sporran, a belt (not when with a waistcoat) and a pair of good looking shoes.

[lschwartz]

Did you just call the kilt the "c" word?!?! (Celtic that is )

In all seriousness, I see the kilt as a smart, classy, and stylish garment to be used in lieu of trousers, worn appropriately and respectfully of course. I get a lot of inspiration from the gents at Xmarks wearing quite snazzy outfits. Like you, I'm not a fan of the puffy renaissance fair looking shirts, it makes it look, well, like a costume. Show your friend some pics from here so he can learn to wear the kilt more adversely!

Manu,

Thanks for responding.

Well, to me a kilt is a Scottish thing, but around here we have celtic festivals and Irish festivals, but I haven't seen a Scottish festival although we do have highland games in some areas.

Getting to your comment about getting my friends to change how and when they wear their kilt, I am fine with how and when they choose to wear it. He likes it as a costume and I think of it in a more general/broader sense.

Larry

[tundramanq]

6 1/2 years ago I decided to get used to wearing kilts by only wearing kilts for a month. I never stopped
They just meet all my desires for comfort, style and utility. From going out in style to changing the oil they have fulfilled my needs between waist and knees every day.
There are kilts of all types and styles to fit any function short of sky diving. And I'm not sure about that.

[Richrail]

Larry,

I often wear a kilt when I'm not working, I can't wear one at work for safety reasons. I think I have worn a gillie shirt once. But I like the comfort and style of a kilt. Depending on the activity for the day also goes into the decision on what to wear. I love to wear a kilt when hiking for freedom of movement. Also much easier to dress up or down with a kilt that you just can't do with denim jeans.
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[Jock Scot]

Yes the tartan kilt is indeed very much a part of my wardrobe as a Scottish Highlander, but then so is my morning suit, shooting suit, dinner suit, lounge(business) suit, farm clothes, sports jacket, blazer and so on. There is a time and place to wear each and any of the items on the list and it is having the knowledge and discretion to make the right choices of attire to fit the event that is the trick.

I would no more choose an item of clothing to wear "just for fun" or for the "look at me" factors that I fear many on this website appear to consider so important. The comfort factor is just a red herring too, all that is needed is to get your clothes fitted properly and that really does not necessarily mean a bespoke option either. Anyway, these showing off type thoughts have just not entered into my mind since the age of 15 or so.

However, wearing the appropriate attire to a particular event does not mean that fun cannot be had whilst being there. This is where, for obvious reasons I think, you chaps outwith these shores fail to understand the "Scottish Cringe Factor"(S.C.F.) when I and others here question your kilt attire choices. If it gives you chaps over there any comfort there are many within Scotland these days, mainly guided by hire companies I am sorry to say, who fail to understand the finer points of when, where, why and how to wear Highland attire------or not----- or any form of attire, for that matter.

[McMurdo]

When I first started down this road I wore my kilt for special occasions only, after one office party I was asked to wear it again and slowly grew in confidence to the point where I was a daily kilt wearer for over 5 years. I did grow tired of the constant questions and comments. As time went on my motivations changed and I found myself going back to the mostly special occasion model of wearing the kilt. Reading Jock's response got me to thinking about the old saying about the man wearing the clothes and not the clothes wearing the man. Kilts are wonderful garments and can be worn in any number of situations, I always try to be cognizant of the fact that I am wearing a cultural garment and do try to govern myself accordingly as I feel that it is important to leave a good impression on the public.

[Tarheel]

Larry, I still wear my kilt for special occasions when the mood hits me. I have worn my kilt on the whim because of the factor of comfort and style change to suit my attitude. I feel as easy in jeans as I do my kilt when I go to town.
This was an evening out to dinner (no special occasion other than good food with good friends)

[Steve Ashton]

I wear a kilt everyday. I feel have to because I own a kilt shop. (Although none of the kilt shops I visited in Scotland had staff in kilts)

This is how you will see me dressed on a daily basis.



I spend a large part of everyday explaining to customers - that if they want ideas of how to wear the kilt, they need to come here and not the Scottish based websites. Almost all of the hire shops that Jock Scot rails about in the above post are located in Scotland. It was the Scots who invented and promoted the white hose. It are the Scots who invented the fuzzy rabbit fur sporrans, the ruche ties and the fly plaids worn with Prince Charlie Coatee for day wear.