How old is a tradition?

[Edward Teach]

Ow! My eyes! My eyes! It burns!

But hey, if you're comfortable...

[Archangel]

I would only critique the shirt for being tucked in. I would much prefer to see a white t-shirt underneath it and the Hawaiian shirt unbuttoned.

There is also the British common law that anything twice done becomes a tradition.

My own philosophy is pretty close to Lawson's, "Great Scotch, no rules". Take a deep breath and realize that every kilt "rule", let alone every fashion "rule", is fraud. Not one can be substantiated. So, as you dress, think of who you might offend. If you don't want to offend them, dress accordingly. If it doesn't matter, dress as you like.

So, on our anniversary this past summer, I wore my kilt with sandals and a t-shirt to walk on the beach and lunch at a cliff side pub. Later, I changed into socks and shoes, and dress shirt for a more formal fancy supper. Still later, I was about to change to another black tshirt and boots to hang out with my daughter downtown. I decided to call it a night and didn't go. The point is that I kept the same kilt and sporran on all day and changed other items to what seemed appropriate at the time. I probably broke tons of fashion rules. Do I care? No, my fashion conscience is clean.

I appeal to an earlier tradition.

(Before anybody takes exception to my statement about substantiating, understand that even if you could find a legitimate originator of a fashion tradition, my statement means what does it matter, really?)

Fortunately, my clan/heritage has a strong tradition: Despite Them!

[majdan]

"So, as you dress, think of who you might offend. If you don't want to offend them, dress accordingly. If it doesn't matter, dress as you like."


Well put. As you said latter, that's one of the things I love about the kilt, Change your shirt and change your level of formality. I'm going off for the weekend and I have my kilt, a 2 polo shirts, a 2 dress shirts, a tweed jacket, neck tie, hose, shoes, belt and sporran. With these I can cover any dress requirements that I could possibility encounter.

[fluter]

Fortunately, my clan/heritage has a strong tradition: Despite Them!

Well put. :-)

I'd simply add that every observation about rules, conventions, written or unwritten would be equally valid if we substitute the word (pardon the expression) "troosers" for "kilt."

[gilmore]

...
There is also the British common law that anything twice done becomes a tradition....

Huh? Where did you hear that?

[gilmore]

How long it takes something to become a tradition depends on where you are.

In most of the UK, it takes at least 200 years.

In the American South it takes 300 years.

In the US east coast, it takes about 100 years.

On the US West Coast, it can take up to 20 minutes.

[Coinneach]

On the US West Coast, it can take up to 20 minutes.

But...why wait so long?

[gilmore]

But...why wait so long?

You have a point. Twenty minutes or until the espresso is brewed, whichever comes first.

[Archangel]

Huh? Where did you hear that?

You are in a mood today, aren't you.

Google it!

[gilmore]

You are in a mood today, aren't you.

Google it!

Anglo-American common law is law created by the courts and is followed as precedence, as opposed to statutory law created by legislative bodies. I really doubt that any court would come up with a holding that "anything twice done becomes a tradition."