I personally would never wear a clan tartan unless I had an affiliation with it. That's just me. Having said that, I'd like to make a couple of comments...

Quote Originally Posted by James
... why do so many newcomers to wearing the male skirt, look to the kilt: rather than say the sarong, fustanella, maybe the lava-lava: after all would the Utilikilt be any less a male garment if it was called The Utilisarong?
What a concept! You just might start something James!

... My opinion is that they are justifying their choice of nether garment, by reference to the well established tradition of highland kilt wearing by both the military and civilians alike.
I agree.... poodle skirts just don't have the same punch!

... there is no doubt that in Scotland at least, for nigh on two hundred years the concept of identifying a clansman by his tartan has been accepted. Remove that, and what are we left with: very little, for certainly the link to the clansman has been broken; and this in turn destroys the link to the highlands, and of course Scotland...
I can appreciate where you're coming from with this but at the same time it troubles me a bit. I can understand how this may irritate the sensibilities of some staunch clansmen, but I have difficulty understanding how the lack of exclusivity of clan tartans somehow diminshes the highlands or even Scotland herself. I always believed Scotland and her people were stronger than that... wherever in the world they happen to be.

... it is really a case of wearing a pretty tartan coloured nether garment; and the exemplar for that choice could as well be one of the many girl’ schools where wearing a similar garment is a part of the uniform.
Zing!

..... I regret that the above will appear harsh and unfeeling, possibly offensive to some, but on occasion it is necessary to take a possibly unpalatable line in the interest of the greater good.
If you don't speak your mind, nobody will understand.

... So wear your kilt with pride, for it is not only displaying your manhood, it is also showing your genuine affiliation.
Including Xmarks I hope !

blu