Kilts and costumes

[James MacMillan]

For those of us who have adopted the kilt as our daily wear, I think that it comes down to the fact that most attendees at a costume party pretty much desire to look stupid or funny! Most pick their get-ups for shock value. We, therefore, resent it when somebody chooses to do this with our beloved kilt!

[ChromeScholar]

I am not too sure what the history of jeans,tuxedo or jellaba are,but are you suggesting that they are any more than variations of "clothes"?

Nope. Neither is a kilt.

You are not suggesting that they are costumes,are you?

They aren't "only" costumes, but they can be used as such.

The kilt is also a piece of clothing,no more no less

And as such, they are as suitable as part of a costume as jeans, a tuxedo or a djellaba.

but a costume?No way.

Why not?

The kilt is an evey day choice of clothing for a Scotsman,should he choose

And jeans are an everyday choice of clothing for an American, and the Djellaba is an everyday choice of clothing for an Egyptian. That doesn't mean they cannot be used as part of a costume.

to suggest that The kilt is a costume shows a singular lack of knowledge of Highland attire and its meaning to any Scot wherever they may be in this world.

I don't think any said that the kilt is "just" a costume. On the other hand, to say that is cannot be used as part of a costume, IMO, moves the kilt from "everyday" clothing to ceremonial garb.

I do not wish to be rude,but an awful lot of suffering and more than a little blood has been spilt over too many years for the kilt to be regarded as a costume.

The same could be said for every military uniform on earth, and they get worn as costumes.

For those of us who have adopted the kilt as our daily wear, I think that it comes down to the fact that most attendees at a costume party pretty much desire to look stupid or funny! Most pick their get-ups for shock value. We, therefore, resent it when somebody chooses to do this with our beloved kilt!

I agree with that, with one caveat. I can see the difference between the guy who buys a 4.99 "Scottish" costume that looks like crap, and the guy who shows up to a costume party dressed up as a bagpiper, in a real kilt, etc, and looks good.

[Jock Scot]

I respect where you're coming from, but I'd argue that a uniform is something you wear to play a role "for real." A costume is something you wear to play a role "for pretend." For example, I play on a vintage base ball team; we recreate baseball as it was played in the 1860s. We wear vintage-style shield-front shirts, flat-topped caps, knickers, and stockings. When I wear that outfit to play a game, it's a uniform. When I wear it to answer the door on Halloween night, it's a costume. It's all about what you intend when you wear a thing.

Should, say, police officers ever wear their distinctive outfits as costumes rather than uniforms? I'd think not. It would confuse observers and undermine the authority of the clothes when worn as a uniform. For kilts, this consideration would only apply to specific individuals who are trying to persuade specific others of their seriousness in wearing the kilt, whether as a uniform or everyday wear. In that case, for those people, wearing a kilt as a costume would undermine their purpose in wearing a kilt at other times. But that shouldn't prevent others from having fun and wearing their kilts as costumes if they please.

I mean, nobody would say, "You shouldn't wear pants as part of your Halloween costume if you normally wear pants," right? Just because you wear a cowboy hat around town the rest of the year doesn't mean you can't dress up as a cowboy for Halloween.

To suggest that the kilt is a costume(on occasions eg Halloween)just shows ignorance of Highland attire.You will do what you will do with your kilt and that is your right.Please bare our sensitivities in mind and might I strongly recommend that you do not visit Scotland and tell us the kilt is a costume!

[Jock Scot]

My dear Chromescholar,it seems that you are as ignorant about Highland attire as you are about military uniforms.Any further comment from me would be superflous.

[Monkey@Arms]

The "kilt as Halloween Costume" debate seems to come up every year about this time. (Hmm, I wonder why? ) As we've seen there are usually two camps.

One says the kilt is clothing, I wear clothing as part of my Halloween costume, therefore there is nothing untoward in including my kilt as part of my Halloween get up.

The other side objects either because they feel it undermines the modern day wearing of kilts as street wear (IE a kilt in and of itself is not a costume), or because the kilt has special meaning to them, and they are offended that someone would dress up as a Scotsman as a form of "fancy dress."

I suspect "never the twain shall meet."

Personally I'm thinking about going as a kilted pirate in a black UK workman.

Best regaaards,

The Dread Pirate Jake

[Frank McGrath]

The first time I ever wore a kilt, was at halloween. I walked the parade route on the side of the road while my wife and her friends were in the parade. (they won a prize). Several people made comments about the kilt. I wore it to be wearing it, not as a costume. It was a rental from a local costume collection. Several people who know me and have seen me in amy kilt since then ask me if I am going as a "scotsman" again. I have told people that the kilt was not a costume , but soemthing I wanted to wear. This being The USA, and most localities are banning scary costumes, Why not. If done in taste, one should wear what one wants. Just remember, you might be photographed, and pictures last forever.

Or I could wear what I wear everyday and go as a jerk.

[Panache]

On behalf of the Moderating Staff here at X Marks the Scot I would like to make it clear that disagreements are fine, being disagreeable isn't.

I would request that all posters remain respectful of each other when posting their thoughts. Those unable to do so will be contacted by the staff.

Respectfully

Jamie

[ChromeScholar]

One says the kilt is clothing, I wear clothing as part of my Halloween costume, therefore there is nothing untoward in including my kilt as part of my Halloween get up.

That pretty much sums it up for me. Halloween this year falls on a Wednesday. I will be working. I will be in costume. That costume will include a kilt. I can't prevent someone else from getting offended by it, nor will I worry about it. I'll post pics.

[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?"

[Chef]

" A costume is something you wear to play a role "for pretend." For example, I play on a vintage base ball team; we recreate baseball as it was played in the 1860s. ... When I wear that outfit to play a game, it's a uniform. When I wear it to answer the door on Halloween night, it's a costume. It's all about what you intend when you wear a thing.

I don't mean to offend, but even when you are playing a game i would consider what you wear a costume. As you say it is a recreation. So I would see the old-fashioned uniform as I would a period costume for a play. I think the analogy would work if you played modern baseball though.