Kilts and costumes

[keepoffgrass]

i dont see a problem with it, but...
If you wear your kilt how you wear it every day, you know, with a t-shirt and your hose pushed down I dont see that as a costume. However, if youre wearing your kilt with a jacobite shirt, and a swordsman vest or something like that, or maybe a great kilt then i would say that would make a pretty nice costume. Most people dont see kilts as daily wear, so they think of them as "costumism" I think for the most part anyways.

I ordered a Gryffindor house sweater and tie for Halloween this year. lol Im a Harry Potter dork though, so I imagine I'll wear them after Halloween as everyday clothes too. I think the crimson and gold should match my kilt pretty well too :-)

[James MacMillan]

I guess it’s a matter of degrees. If you wear it like this:



Then it is a costume. - and a bad one at that!

If you wear it like this:



Then it isn’t a costume!! And everyone of them look great!!!

Nuff said!

[Chef]

The one day a year I will not wear a kilt (even as just daily wear) is Halloween, why because of the perception. All of us here would like to see the the kilt accepted as a man's everyday garment, however at this time it is not universally accepted as such. Now, if you wear a kilt on Halloween, just as you normally do, I guarantee the majority of those who don't know you will think you are dressed in a costume. So it just adds to the misconception.

Too many people think of the kilt as a costume, so we do ourselves (and the kilt cause) no favours by helping them. If the time comes when the public doesn't assume costume just because they see a kilt on Halloween, then I will gladly wear mine either as daily dress or as a Hollywood Braveheart for a party.

For now I wear pants on Halloween and if anyone wants to know where my kilt is I answer "Well aren't you supposed to dress in a costume today?"

[Coemgen]

For now I wear pants on Halloween and if anyone wants to know where my kilt is I answer "Well aren't you supposed to dress in a costume today?"

I am totally stealing that this year!

[Chef]

It is the issue. IMO, if you want to have the kilt treated like any other clothing, then treat it like any other clothing. The kilt seems to be the only type of clothing (as far as I can see) that offends just for being worn as part of a costume. That, in and of itself, prevents it from being treated as any other type of clothing.

But the kilt is not treated like any other clothing, and if you wear it as a costume it is less likely to be seen as everyday wear. Hopefully that will change. The other reason it offends is unlike jeans or khakis it has a symbolism that some don't like denigrated. The worst offender of this is the Insta Kilt box. While I have no problem with the kilt towel selling it with an "Up your Kilt" t-shirt and one of those stupid jimmy hats as a costume is pure rubbish.

Also of note, some of us who have tried to wear the kilt have been told "no!" on the grounds that the kilt is a costume for special occasions. That is what my dad told me. I won't forget how he used that exact word, and how much I disagreed. So I wear my kilts daily, and I'm not interested in having it equated to a costume.

Exactly.

I would not have seen the kilt as the costume, because I am not an idiot. As for those idiots who do see a kilt as a costume, then they would also see it as such the other 364 days of the year. Why would you allow these people to dictate your life, your decisions?

However you are a kilt wearer, so your view is skewed here. It's not about someone dictating to you, it's about changing perceptions. Not everyone sees wearing their kilt as a sign of anti-establishment or rebellion.

I am totally stealing that this year!

Your welcome

Think about it, Halloween is about dressing up as something you are not. So if you are a regular kilt wearer (and particularly if you see it as part of your identity) why would you wear one on Halloween as a costume?

[ccga3359]

My point is that if you're reating a character such as Mel Gibson's Braveheart or Simpson's Groundskeeper Willy the kilt is a part of that character and helps define it. The kilt is a must and will only be seen as part of that definition and not as the centrepiece. It would be about as insulting to a Scotsman as what is seen weekly on TV or on the big screen. Now an instakilt and Jimmy hat would be insulting and I fully agree with you there.

[Chef]

My point is that if you're reating a character such as Mel Gibson's Braveheart or Simpson's Groundskeeper Willy the kilt is a part of that character and helps define it.

I agree that from that stand point I would not be insulted as a Scotsman. I still have a problem with it if you are using the same garment you will wear to work the next day.

I should say I don't have a problem with a Great kilt being worn as a costume as since it is period dress I consider it a costume anyway.

[Nervous Jock]

The one day a year I will not wear a kilt (even as just daily wear) is Halloween, why because of the perception. All of us here would like to see the the kilt accepted as a man's everyday garment, however at this time it is not universally accepted as such. Now, if you wear a kilt on Halloween, just as you normally do, I guarantee the majority of those who don't know you will think you are dressed in a costume. So it just adds to the misconception.

Too many people think of the kilt as a costume, so we do ourselves (and the kilt cause) no favours by helping them. If the time comes when the public doesn't assume costume just because they see a kilt on Halloween, then I will gladly wear mine either as daily dress or as a Hollywood Braveheart for a party.

For now I wear pants on Halloween and if anyone wants to know where my kilt is I answer "Well aren't you supposed to dress in a costume today?"

sharp

[Galician]

I guess it’s a matter of degrees.

If you wear it like this:



Then it isn’t a costume!! And everyone of them look great!!!

Nuff said!

Having just noticed this thread, I have to thank you, James, for your kind words on our appearance.

-The shlubby one in saffron.