Personal flair

[McMurdo]

Nice to see I made an appearance or two

[Nathan]

Nice to see I made an appearance or two

Of course you did, my friend!

[Terry Searl]

As has been stated many times before here, Kilts are addictive and I'm afraid I've been shifted into that addict category

I'm looking into another kilt and this time I hope I'll be able to get one that will honour my Grand father's birthplace, Dublin Ireland.
Historically the Irish never really wore tartans but in the last 100 years or so they have been caught up in the wave of the world where almost all groups of people have a tartan designed for them........ Dublin has at least two

At first I was told the tartan I wanted is no longer being woven, but Rocky at USA kilts says it is still in stock at the mill so I have asked my Kilt Makers, Jackson and Justin at North of Hadrians Celtic Clothing shop in Victoria,B.C., to try and find some for me.
I think the pleating of it, is really going to make the kilt "pop" if I can decide just how I want it done ........I may be asking for help from you all in this regard

[JohntheBiker]

Nice to see I made an appearance or two

Me too!

[Manu]

Very nice spread! I agree that, not only Canadian, but American society as well have become ultra casual in the way we approach dressy events. I can't think of a single black tie event I would attend save the occasional wedding or military ball, but being still in active mode I wear dress uniform. It truly is a pity.

[FossilHunter]

Thank you for sharing this. I must also say that I am glad to see you on the forum recently. I have enjoyed reading your posts and other contributions (such as sticky threads in the traditional section) from before I joined.

And as a MacDonald, your photos are extra helpful to me since I can see how the tartan looks with various outfits and colors!

[Jock Scot]

Personal flair is a very personal addition to ones attire and it is sometimes very difficult to strike the optimum balance, therefore we really do need to be very honest with ourselves when looking in the mirror, before we head out. When we add, the complication of personal interpretation of what we see in that mirror, particularly if one is a bit of a showman, then personal flair can be easily overdone. I think if we then add in the further complication of being in the company of those that make their attire decisions from photographs and the internet and their peers who also have little real experience of how kilt attire is worn in the real world then sadly, these kilt wearers who also don't have have a lifetimes knowledge of kilt attire, then the chances of sometimes looking like a film extra from a Rob Roy film is almost inevitable. Alright I exaggerate, but I think, I hope, you can see my point.

I am sorry if this is being hard, but that is how I and others, not everyone of course, over here see it and make no mistake we all have dropped the odd howler with our attire from time to time! Personal flair is like walking on ice, take little steps and testing ones footing is best course of action and even then the ice gives way suddenly when we have taken a step too far.

[Manu]

Personal flair is a very personal addition to ones attire and it is sometimes very difficult to strike the optimum balance, therefore we really do need to be very honest with ourselves when looking in the mirror, before we head out. When we add, the complication of personal interpretation of what we see in that mirror, particularly if one is a bit of a showman, then personal flair can be easily overdone. I think if we then add in the further complication of being in the company of those that make their attire decisions from photographs and the internet and their peers who also have little real experience of how kilt attire is worn in the real world then sadly, these kilt wearers who also don't have have a lifetimes knowledge of kilt attire, then the chances of sometimes looking like a film extra from a Rob Roy film is almost inevitable. Alright I exaggerate, but I think, I hope, you can see my point.

I am sorry if this is being hard, but that is how I and others, not everyone of course, over here see it and make no mistake we all have dropped the odd howler with our attire from time to time! Personal flair is like walking on ice, take little steps and testing ones footing is best course of action and even then the ice gives way suddenly when we have taken a step too far.

Aside the differences between east and west of the Atlantic and the discussed personal flair...how does my generation (mid 30s) wear the kilt in scotland? Do they stick to the traditional highland way? Is there a more contemporary flair that the younger folks adopt when wearing the kilt? Oor can we expect those younger men to approach kilt wearing the same way those of the older generations?

[Jock Scot]

Aside the differences between east and west of the Atlantic and the discussed personal flair...how does my generation (mid 30s) wear the kilt in scotland? Do they stick to the traditional highland way? Is there a more contemporary flair that the younger folks adopt when wearing the kilt? Oor can we expect those younger men to approach kilt wearing the same way those of the older generations?

Good questions. Not easy to answer though! I will try to give you a few impressions though.

It all depends whether the Scottish Mid 30's come from the Highlands and from a kilt wearing family, or they come from the Lowlands and from a non kilt wearing family. The demarcation lines are not that precisely marked in real life, but as a huge generalisation it actually runs fairly true.

If a Mid 30's lad from a kilt wearing family then access to Grand parents, Great Grand parents and even Great Great Grand parents kilt attire in the form of sporrans, sporran chains, bespoke kilts are available and even more importantly, generations of kilt attire know how. The end result is that the mid 30's lad from this sort of background, ends up dressing pretty traditionally.

Those from a non kilt wearing back ground who actually want to wear the kilt often buy the cheaper off the peg kilt attire, hire it when needed, or don't ever bother with the kilt.

Remember that the utility style kilts are not seen often in Scotland-----I think that I have only seen three here. Bespoke kilt attire is still the aim of many young kilt wearers, they will often not buy kilt attire until they can buy the best. I think, particularly in the Lowlands where kilt attire knowledge is scarce then, the North American attitude to kilts is understandably the easiest option.

Now, these are my impressions based on observations that I have gained over the years and of course there will be exceptions to what I have said, as there always are. However, if you go to the search section on this website look for two threads started by me "Jock Scot" titled "Food For Thought" and "Food For Thought Two(F4T2)" . They are couple of amateur surveys that I did in Scotland which should not be regarded as to what ALL kilt wearers in Scotland think, nevertheless you may find the answers to the questions enlightening. Let me know what you think?

[Manu]

Sorry, double post!