Wearing the Kilt Pin

[PatrickHughes123]

Hear, hear!

Now back when I was young and foolish I wore TWO of them things



But now, older and wiser, I realise that 1) they have no function and 2) they can potentially damage the kilt and 3) the fashion of wearing kilt pins is fairly recent.

I noticed you also, as well as getting rid of the kilt pin, changed sporran.

[OC Richard]

If it is just jewelry, then how do you explain the basic safety pins?

The Gordon Highlanders.

[OC Richard]

I noticed you also, as well as getting rid of the kilt pin, changed sporran.

And pretty much everything else! Different kilt, jacket, hose...but my shoes and bonnet in the recent photo were both purchased in the 1980s.

About the history of kilt pins, I have loads of vintage photographs and of course we have The Highlanders Of Scotland, and kilt pins aren't seen much in the 19th century. They became popular in the early years of the 20th century and can be viewed as part of the near-complete makeover of Highland Dress at that time.

[PatrickHughes123]

The Gordon Highlanders.

Interesting.

I was told when I bought my kilt that the pin must be down at the very bottom. I still believe that the pin does serve a purpose.

You are entitled to your opinion and I am entitled to mine.

[Terry Searl]

Hear, hear!

Now back when I was young and foolish I wore TWO of them things



But now, older and wiser, I realise that 1) they have no function and 2) they can potentially damage the kilt and 3) the fashion of wearing kilt pins is fairly recent.

When I got my first kilt, I was much enjoying the search for things that would personalize it a bit more for me and add a bit of "bling" as you say.
I found a lovely sterling silver kilt pin with a piece of purple glass on the hilt and as an Amethyst is my birthstone I thought it perfect. A short time later I found a lovely enameled maple leaf broach, Canada's emblem, and fitted them together to make a rather unique and personal kilt pin. I thought they really did what I wanted the two to do
I enjoy reading most of the ideas and suggestions here, and value the opinions of certain contributors, especially OC RICHARD. After reading some of the thoughts here I came to the conclusion, that if the kilt pin was suppose to actually hold the outer apron in place in the wind, it would have to be much heavier. If it didn't hold the apron down it would be flapping around with the outer apron and likely wear the threads where it pierced the fabric.....
I doubt that the flapping about of the outer apron will ever be able to test my modesty because as stated before there are two aprons one going in one direction and the other going in the opposite direction. The only way they could both fail is if I was standing on my head or in some other way upside down
I still have the kilt pin, but I won't wear it on either of my kilts any more. If the pin did cause some damage I would be very upset,....... I guess I'll never know if it would damage the material or not ...but I'm alright with that....... and if I do change my mind I still have the pin. I'm pleased that the opinion of OC Richard concurs

[Carlo]

Interesting.

I was told when I bought my kilt that the pin must be down at the very bottom. I still believe that the pin does serve a purpose.

You are entitled to your opinion and I am entitled to mine.

I'm sure the kilt pin serves a purpose.
Someone makes money if you buy one.

But if there were a functional purpose, someone of those who have worn kilts for 20, 30, 40 and more years would have found it by now.
In my opinion.

[PatrickHughes123]

I'm sure the kilt pin serves a purpose.
Someone makes money if you buy one.

But if there were a functional purpose, someone of those who have worn kilts for 20, 30, 40 and more years would have found it by now.
In my opinion.

I believe I have already stated this, a small wind when it hits off my kilt pin finds the pin to be a challenge. In my personal kilt wearing experience, it does serve a physical purpose.

[Jock Scot]

I'm sure the kilt pin serves a purpose.
Someone makes money if you buy one.

But if there were a functional purpose, someone of those who have worn kilts for 20, 30, 40 and more years would have found it by now.
In my opinion.

It does happen! In my rather long time of kilt wearing, some 70 plus years and some of that time wearing the kilt in fairly wild and rugged conditions I have suffered the " Marilyn Monroe" experience twice.

The front apron moving in the breeze is a fairly regular event and as long as one understands that the inner apron cannot move much there is nothing to worry about. In time you learn to walk with your hands at your sides in breezy conditions. In truth, from my experience it's not the aprons you need to worry about it's the pleats at the back that can threaten to take off!

The first of my " Marilyn " moments was at a wedding in Oban with a full blown Atlantic storm in full swing and upon leaving the church the eddying wind caught several of us kilt wearers off guard and it must have been an amusing sight for the onlookers as we wrestled our kilts back into shape. It's a bit like being attacked by some sort of irate octopus!

The second time was when my brother and I were on top of Bein Bhan shooting ptarmigan, the weather as it does, suddenly changed and we found ourselves blown to the ground by tremendous winds, actually on the deck was the safest place! But as we crawled to the nearest large boulder for shelter the pleats of our kilts were over our shoulders. That was a very frightening few hours.

So yes the wind can cause the kilt to move, but rarely to any ill effect and frankly the kilt pin in those rare severe conditions is no damn use at all.

[ThistleDown]

Perhaps I don't understand this issue, although I've read every post. I know there are Highland outfitters in the cities of the world who wish to sell every bit of regalia they can to every neophyte who enters their shop doors, and justify their pitches with dexterity and assurances of knowledge and integrity, but on a site such as this we know better or are willing to learn from those who do.

The kilt is, first and foremost, a country garment. It was never something historically worn in cities, where brisk breezes are the extreme (except in Aberdeen ).

Gales can be extreme in the Highlands of Scotland.

My latest experience. I was in the Orkneys in the Caroline of last December. Exhilarating to say the least! Pleats flailing this way and that, bum no doubt exposed for seconds at a time, legs and torso straining into it. Boots holding fast. Hair and clothing whipping this way and that. But I can't recall any worry about my 'privates' being exposed to view by those who might have turned -- for a mere moment -- to face away from the storm and in my direction.

It's my experience, of roughly 70 years, that the kilt pin is a lovely bit of jewelry. I have a great collection from over three+ generations. But that other than as bling, it has no functional purpose in Traditional Highland Civilian Dress (THCD).

[neloon]

Serves you right, Jock, for trying to kill poor innocent ptarmigan.
I believe that Thistledown was a student at Aberdeen University and I concur about the breezes around Old Aberdeen. Is a lecturer's dignity more easily damaged than a student's?
Alan