Why do you wear the kilt.

[chacbalam]

After spending way too much time browsing the boards here I have become interested in the reasons behind wearing the kilt. I have come up with several reasons, and of course an individuals choice may be a combination of two or more of them.

1. Ethnic Identity: You are descended from a Celtic population and feel that wearing the kilt gives you a connection to your ancestors.

2. National Identity: This is different from ehnic Identity. You are a Scottish or Irish national and belive that wearing traditonal dressconnects you to your country.

3. While not of Celtic ethnicity or nationality you emphasize with the celtic peoples and wear the kilt out of respect.

4. Military tradition

5. Comfort/Fashion: You just like to wear the kilt.

6. Rebellion: You wear the kilt because it is different and you don't care what people think.

I wear the kilt fore several reasons. Ethnically I am Scottish, my grandfather is from Glasgow. To honor my wife's grandfather, he served in the Blackwatch in WWII. Also wearing the kilt is very comfortable, and lastly I ejoy the looks I get and the feeling of being different.

I will be up front and admit that I am an anthroplogist by training. However I am not asking this question in order to write a paper. I am an archaeologist and my field of study is the ancient Maya 250 BC to contact. I'm just interested in what everyone has to say.

Thanks, and if you feel that this post is an intrusion of your privacy I understand. I do not want to offend anyone.

[Riverkilt]

For me, would guess a wild mix of proud heritage, freedom and comfort, and tweaking the conformists.

Ron

[awoodfellow]

well, i'll take a moment here and reflect.

Ethnic Identity would be my first line of defense followed by an immediate and resounding comfort factor.

Ethnicity - unbeknownst to most, i am a Jones. my paternal line of Jones' is 370 years (1635) in the colonies. my father, rest his soul, always said our paternal line is Welsh. in ten years of genealogical research i have yet to find that Welsh connection but only Scot-Irish-English connections. my paternal great grandmother is a Beaty (Scot-Irish) from the line of John Beaty/Susannah Asfordby of Ulster County New York fame and Frederick Maryland fame and Edward Beaty (ca 1634) Ireland fame. As well, my Great-Great grandmother is a Ewing of William Ewing [ca 1639] of Stirlingshire Scotland fame.

of course, thats not to mention the French/Dutch reformist connections on the maternal side. but it's the Celtic blood that seems to run my life.

Comfort Zone - you bet. and if you don't, haven't or won't wear a kilt because of ethnic or cultural bounds, you need to re-assess priorities. I drive around a thousand miles a week and believe me at my age, the less the confinement the more the comfort.

'brose

[Angus]

1,4,5,6 but out of all of em id say 5 is the main reason
Does your wife's grandfather have any good stories to tell about his experiences in the Black Watch or doesnt he talk much about it? My uncle was in the Korean War and in the twenty plus years ive known him i think that hes only talked about the war two or three times.

[Yaish]

I'd have to say the short answer is my nuts are comfortable. I tried wearing jeans again one day not too long ago and I cant do it based on that alone.

There is also the fact that I look damn sexy in a kilt, and I'm vain enough to enjoy the attention I get. Since I wear utilikilts I also have to say that the awesome pockets finally let me carry around all the crap I always wanted to carry, but never had room for in pants.

I also happen to be Irish, and interested in my heritage but I'd wear kilts if I was Spanish or Korean too.

[Manu]

Im with 1,5,6. I definetely love the rebel part of it, but ist a combination of all.

[Blu (Ontario)]

Answer... all of the above - except military tradition.

I bought my first kilt as a millennium year project to celebrate my heritage. I was unprepared for a) the attention I got from the ladies, b) the amazing front and back support and comfort, c) getting noticed for the first time in my life, and d) the enjoyment of daring to be a bit different. Quite frankly... As a trouser wearing conformist for 50 years, the whole look and sense of freedom it gave me was so different from what I was used to... I was hooked! My wife has yet to fully understand what all the fuss is about. It was a bit of an uphill battle with her at first, but it's now been pretty much fully accepted. I don't wear kilts anywhere near full time but I do reserve the right to wear them when I see fit and she respects that.

I have also developed a huge appreciation for tartans and the way they move with such elegance on the body.

Finally, I derive a sense of kinship with the motley bunch posting here at Xmarks. As a result, I've met some great people and enjoyed some great conversation.

I can't think of any other piece of menswear that could do all of this!

Here's to the KILT!
Cheers to the men with the guts to wear it!

blu

[awoodfellow]

hmmm....

blu, i have friends up in Omemee. you wouldn't happen to be Norm, would you? i mean it's been a while since I've seen Norm and he's got half a head of hair about like yours .... (and mine) and his wifes name is Rose ......

you sound just like him ...

ambrose

[KiltedBishop]

1, 5, and 6 for me. I enjoy the comfort of it, and I don't usually get much attention out of the kilt so I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy the attention i got whilst kilted. however #1 is the top. I have said before when I put on a kilt I feel more like me, like I am connecting with something almost visceral and primal.

[Big Paul]

1, 5 & 6.

Mostly it's ethnic pride.

I was very comfortable the 2 times I have worn it. I'm working on getting the casual look put together. I hope this weekend I can place my order with Freelander..