Please explain...

[RobertsonII]

Why do you wear a kilt?

What is with all the contemporary, non traditional and utility kilts? Honestly to me if it’s not a tartan of a lineage or location that you can claim through your ancestry then I fail to see the point. To each their own, but for me when I see a kilt being sold at Hot Topic or someone wearing a kilt in a bright pink camo pattern (just an example of any kilt not accepted by the kilt authority) I get really ticked off. I even fail to see the point in buy any kilt just because you like the color. To wear kilt is to show pride not a fashion choice .

[Arlen]

For comfort as well as to show pride in my country and my heritage.
My family is so many generations Scots that we can't get back all the way.
I was born and bred here and I love my country.

I wear various tartans that have some family significance for me, but I also have a tweed kilt, a plain navy blue kilt and a denim unionkilt.
Some for wearing to work, some for when I'm doing heavy, dirty work and I don't want my nicer kilts to get dirty.


The thing is, Tartan never used to be identified as 'This one for this family.'

ALL tartans are made up. In most of the cases the ones made specifically for someone or someone are very recent.
The rest were just named by the mills and gradually adopted by the families with those names.
(That is really simplifying it all.)
So really, there's not any impediment to me as a Macdonald wearing, say, a Stewart kilt.

As far as I am concerned as long as people show some respect in their kilt-wearing then they can wear whatever kilt they want for whatever reasons they want.

[JakobT]

Why do you wear a kilt?

What is with all the contemporary, non traditional and utility kilts? Honestly to me if it’s not a tartan of a lineage or location that you can claim through your ancestry then I fail to see the point. To each their own, but for me when I see a kilt being sold at Hot Topic or someone wearing a kilt in a bright pink camo pattern (just an example of any kilt not accepted by the kilt authority) I get really ticked off. I even fail to see the point in buy any kilt just because you like the color. To wear kilt is to show pride not a fashion choice .

That is your opinion, and of course you're entitled to it. However, for those of us that are not in fact Scottish, but still like the kilt as a garment, the contemporary kilt is an good choice, and indeed IMHO more suitable that a traditional kilt. Many of the garments we wear on a daily basis originated in other countries and cultures. After all, you don't have to be Croatian to wear a tie, or American to wear jeans. So why would you have to be Scottish to wear a kilt?

[RobertsonII]

That is your opinion, and of course you're entitled to it. However, for those of us that are not in fact Scottish, but still like the kilt as a garment, the contemporary kilt is an good choice, and indeed IMHO more suitable that a traditional kilt. Many of the garments we wear on a daily basis originated in other countries and cultures. After all, you don't have to be Croatian to wear a tie, or American to wear jeans. So why would you have to be Scottish to wear a kilt?

Honestly, I hate that theory. Based on what your saying I should be able to walk around wearing kente cloth or a turban. Then when I'm in the process of getting my @$$ kicked I can say... "what it's compfortable?!?"

Besides I thought this site was called xmarksthescot?

[Rex_Tremende]

Why do you wear a kilt? ... To each their own,...

Why, then, is any further explanation necessary?

(just an example of any kilt not accepted by the kilt authority) I get really ticked off.

Last time I checked, there is no "kilt authority." Pretending there is ticks a lot of other people off.

I even fail to see the point in buy any kilt just because you like the color.

Despite your inquiry, your post doesn't sound like you really care for an answer (which you provided already, anyway). This forum is replete with explanations and I think you would do well to read some of the archives for a clue.

Regards,
Rex, who smells a lock-down a-comin'.

[RobertsonII]

I do apologize for saying "kilt authority" when in fact I meant "tartan authority".

http://www.tartansauthority.com/Web/Site/home/home.asp

[Panache]

I think it is fine that to you kilts represent heritage. You don a kilt and it is worn as a link to your family and their history. There are other people here on X Marks the Scot who feel in a similar way. Often these people reserve their kilt wearing for only special and significant times of the year. (Though you should note that the association of specific tartans with a clan or location is a fairly recent convention)

To many others on our forum, kilts are in of themselves handsome and comfortable garments. This is justification enough to wear them with pride and enjoyment. As we like to wear our kilts for more than just special occasions it is nice that there is a wide variety of modern and traditional kilts that suit our needs for work and play.

The Scottish word "kilt" has become a universal term to represent a pleated skirt for men. Take a minute to look up "Fustanella" (the Greek men's skirt) more than not the definition includes the word kilt.

Just like back in Victoria's time new tartans are being designed. It seems to me that the majority of these new tartans are "universal" ones that invite everyone to enjoy this part of Scottish tradition.

Should golf be only for Scots and people of Scots descent? What about Whisky? How about the works of Burns?

Contemporary kilts (and traditional kilts in universal tartans or tartans chosen for their beauty rather than heritage reason) are masculine and show that this wonderful garment born in the Highlands of Scotland continues and thrives. Unlike the Fustanella that has become a historic costume the kilt is still seen as a garment. Modern kilts have helped perpetuate the tradition of kilts, for that reason if no other they deserve praise.

As someone with a fair number of traitional kilts and a few modern ones (including a pink one presented to me with great ceremony at our last Burns Night Supper in good fellowship) I am happy to enjoy both the heritage, the good looks, and the comfort of kilts.

Cheers

Jamie

Why do you wear a kilt?

What is with all the contemporary, non traditional and utility kilts? Honestly to me if it’s not a tartan of a lineage or location that you can claim through your ancestry then I fail to see the point. To each their own, but for me when I see a kilt being sold at Hot Topic or someone wearing a kilt in a bright pink camo pattern (just an example of any kilt not accepted by the kilt authority) I get really ticked off. I even fail to see the point in buy any kilt just because you like the color. To wear kilt is to show pride not a fashion choice .

[Rex_Tremende]

The STA is a registry of tartans and provides services to its members and the public to help sort out which tartans are which and to maintain a history of where they came from. From their own pages:

We are a registered Scottish Charity with the major objective of promoting a deeper knowledge of Scottish Tartans, their origins, manufacture, use, history and development and we study, record and stimulate research on the subject.

A vitally important objective has also been to compile and maintain the International Tartan Index to record and document all known historical tartans and to provide a free, dependable and accountable information resource for the public and a 'register' for the Recording of all new tartans.

In no way do they grant or restrict wearing whatever tartans or polkadots in anyone's kilts nor do they proscribe how a kilt should be constructed.

Regards,
Rex.

[Panache]

RobertsonII

As I was taking the time responding to your post you answered Jakob in a manner that seems not in keeping with our culture here at X Marks the Scot.

Honestly, I hate that theory. Based on what your saying I should be able to walk around wearing kente cloth or a turban. Then when I'm in the process of getting my @$$ kicked I can say... "what it's compfortable?!?"

Besides I thought this site was called xmarksthescot?

Just for the record I think that the Modering Staff here is quite capable of enforcing the rules and Jakob's points were valid.

...Despite your inquiry, your post doesn't sound like you really care for an answer (which you provided already, anyway). This forum is replete with explanations and I think you would do well to read some of the archives for a clue. .

Rex has summed things up well. If you aren't interested in listening to answers why do you bother asking the question?

If you are going to take great offense at those that wear Modern kilts or wear traditional tartan kilts without having a "right" to them, perhaps XMTS is not the right forum for you.

We are and remain the Ladies and Gentlemen of X Marks the Scot. Please take this gentle warning and read and think a bit before your next post.

Respectfully

Jamie

[creativeaccents]

Because I want to.

Not trying to be terse or seem rude in any other way, but I wear what I want because I like it. If anyone has a problem with what I wear, that is their problem.