Highland Games

[Knoxy10]

You are absolutely right Terry, the kilt and its attire are not a costume, unless worn on a film set or some such. I seem to recall seeing somewhere in a 1920/30/40's kilt attire catalogue from some well known Scottish tailors where their attire was described as "costume" and the description was not well received by their customers and the description was dropped in later editions.

Where you appear to have the wrong impression is who wears traditional kilt attire in Scotland. On the right occasion the dustman, farmer, Duke or anyone may and do wear the same style of kilt attire. That is perfectly traditional and no one is pretending to be anything.

That's why I want to wear it properly. I want to wear it in pride there and not tarnish the meaning of my kilt. It annoys me when people wear kilts as costumes or a fashion statement. A kilt is meant to show pride in the Scottish heritage, your family and your love of the culture. It's not a fashion statement even though it is clothing, it's symbolic.

[Knoxy10]

To me a kilt or any part of kilt attire is not a costume. So I would never try to make it so . Those on the other side of the Atlantic may have a difference of opinion and wear a kilt in a certain fashion and for the most part only at certain events, but we are on this side of the pond and as long as you wear the kilt respectfully and proudly, I am sure there is no reason to doubt your own choices Like all of your clothing you wear to a special event wear it proudly but wear it as YOU would like.....it is after all an article of clothing and NOT a costume and you are not trying to dress as someone you are not!

That's why I'm curious, I don't want it to come off as a costume. I want to show people I'm wearing it in pride of my heritage. But I'll wear it as I like and I would never dress as something I'm not, unless it's Halloween but I never wear something that offend other cultures because I get mad when people wear kilts as costumes when it's meant to show family pride.

[tripleblessed]

Let's start with a warning: an opinion follows herein. 'Tis perhaps a worthless thing, but mine own. I'm about as casual as most meet
outside of a Walmart - T-shirt and jeans with moccasins or Dansko clogs per weather, as my body didn't fit standard clothes. My opinion
is that if it's not in your house or yard, shirt tail tucked. I tuck mine to walk to the driveway to get the newspaper. If it's formal enough
for socks, it's formal enough they are worn up as designed. That said, I've never received a check (cheque) for supervising this local area
of the universe, so it's on you. A bluegrass friend of mine was a highly respected teacher of guitar, mandolin, banjo, and fiddle; he was frequently heard to say, "Well, you CAN play it that way, if you don't mind it sounding like that."

When I segued into kilts, still casual. Tee or collared, tail tucked. Hose up, about three fingers or so below knee. Belt. I know, not
necessary, but w/o looks off to my eye. Sgian. Still moccasins or Danskos if dressier shoes unnecessary.

All that follows the opening warning may mean I shouldn't have wasted our time with it, but there it is.

[Knoxy10]

Let's start with a warning: an opinion follows herein. Tis perhaps a worthless thing, but mine own. I'm about as casual as most meet
outside of a Walmart - T-shirt and jeans with moccasins or Dansko clogs per weather, as my body didn't fit standard clothes. My opinion
is that if it's not in your house or yard, shirt tail tucked. I tuck mine to walk to the driveway to get the newspaper. If it's formal enough
for socks, it's formal enough they are worn up as designed. That said, I've never received a check (cheque) for supervising this local area
of the universe, so it's on you. A bluegrass friend of mine was a highly respected teacher of guitar, mandolin, banjo, and fiddle; he was frequently heard to say, " Well, you CAN play it that way, if you don't mind it sounding like that."

When I segued into kilts, still casual. Tee or collared, tail tucked. Hose up, about three fingers or so below knee. Belt. I know, not
necessary, but w/o looks off to my eye. Sgian. Still moccasins or Danskos if dressier shoes unnecessary.

All that follows the opening warning may mean I shouldn't have wasted our time with it, but there it is.

Thanks for the advice! Hopefully they'll have a sgian dubh table at the games and a place for hose to buy. I aprreciate the help and doesn't matter how you dress as long as you're comfortable, right?

[Jock Scot]

Just be aware that over doing ones attire is as inappropriate as under doing it and is also a common mistake.

You might also not be aware that some xmarkers wear a dandelion about their person(in their bonnet, in a button hole and so on) to indicate a connection to this website-----you will notice Cessna is wearing one in his series of pictures.To avoid fruitless searching for a wild one when out of season, Steve Ashton used to have artificial ones for sale, he may still do which are very good.

[kingandrew]

I know the time of the event has passed. But I wanted to encourage you to relax and wear the kilt. After all, if you're not comfortable wearing a kilt to the Highland Games, where would you wear it?

You'll find that the vendors at the event will offer every possible doodad and accessory for kilt wearing. So you'll have no trouble picking up whatever items you may want to add to complete your look.

Andrew