Why did you start wearing a kilt?

[English Bloke]

I posted a variant of this as my introductory thread. Things have moved on a bit since then and there are lots of new members here too who probably didn't see this first time round so I'll post it again with some ammendments. If you have read it before, I apologise.

Why do I wear a kilt?

I'm an Englishman who is devoutly English. My Father was English and my Mother was English too; or at least she sounded like it all her life. My only personal connection to things Scotia was a slightly over-enthusiastic appreciation of the 'water of life'; the good stuff mind, not the blended rubbish. I've always been aware that there was a link to the proud sons of Alba in my family, my Grandmother (maternal) was Anglo-Scot down the Bruce Line and my Grandfather (also maternal) was Anglo-Scot down the Grant Line so I suppose that makes my mum half Scots technically and by a process of watering makes me quarter Scots. I have to admit I've always seen myself as English though, I've always thought English and talked English as well as supporting England in all sports (and still do). I have no intention of changing that either. Better get to the point of all this then eh?

I recently worked in Scotland and suffered much anti-English banter which I found great fun to be honest. I could go down the "I'm a victim of Racism" route but a pouting bottom lip never did suit me. I was referred to as the "Guffie Ba****d" on a daily basis; Guffie being a Glaswegian term for a fat pig and often applied to persons from the southern Scottish county of Englandshire.

These Caledonians still recall with relish the Scottish Stewarts. That dynasty of Monarchs who ruled England , as well as Scotland by English request starting with James the 6th and 1st. I choose to give as good as I get on the banter front and it made my working days entertaining to say the least. With regard to the Kilt, I'd always been puzzled why any fellow would want to wear a dress, particularly in public and had often commented on this. A typical English attitude if ever there was one. In order to collect some retaliatory ammunition to throw at my Scottish foes I began to research the Kilt, it's history and origins and was quite surprised at what I found. Apart from the fact that the Clan / Tartan association is a load of Victorian twaddle dreamed up by a couple of English fraudsters on the make (John Carter Allen and Charles Manning Allen, AKA the Sobieski-Stuart's and their Vestiarium Scoticum). Imagine my delight when further Wikipedia "research" (Come-on you know it's true if it's on't t’internet...) led me to the discovery that the small kilt (Fèileadh beag ) was actually invented by the Englishman and Lancastrian industrialist, Thomas Rawlinson around 1725 as a practical adaptation of the Great Kilt (Fèileadh Bhreacain). The present day Kilt doesn't just come from my country but comes from my county!... apparently. I've rattled a few Celtic cages with this revelation I can tell you.

Anywhoo. My resulting response to the indignation and disbelief of my Scottish colleagues at my findings was that I bought one (a kilt that is). It's an English garment after all so I should embrace it. The one I bought was not really a real kilt. Not in the £300+ 8 Yard, 16oz Heavyweight, pure wool sense, but it was an 8 yard, ??oz Poly-viscose casual (and more importantly, machine washable) footy Kilt. Looks the part but won't leave my bank balance hanging in the wardrobe when the novelty wears off. It's just a passing fad; or so I thought.

I chose a plain black one which I dubbed the McGuffie Tartan amongst my Scottish mates. Some thought this highly amusing, an Englishman in a kilt indeed! Others really took umbridge and saw me as stealing away Scottish culture and I should stick to my wearing straw hat, bells and hankies, nay nonny-nonny falder-ralder Rah! (on that point I take you back to my family background at the beginning of this post, though some do say quarter-Scottish is a little tenuous). I could have ordered a colourful one but I am aware that a lot of Scots ARE sensitive to the Tartan / Clan thing and I didn't really want to upset anyone with my insensitivity. I also ordered a black leather day sporran (with tassels), brogued shoes (black), black leather kilt-belt (and buckle), Kilt socks (hose - black), flashes (black), flouncy black Jackobite shirt (though I'm not keen on it, bit too flouncy for my liking), Kilt pin, Glengarry hat (plain black, not diced) and badge, incidentally this is probably the coolest hat I've ever owned. I topped it all off with the addition of a black feather hackle. Later, after some consideration, I imagined I'd look more like a funeral horse than a kilted warrior so as an after thought I also ordered red flashes and a red hackle to go with the red torrie on top of mee 'at (makes all the difference giving just a hint of contrast). I also noted that the whole shebang doesn't come with underpants but hey, 'cest la vie.

When my 'outfit' turned up in the mail I was still… err… abroad as it were so I had to wait till I got home to Englandshire before I could try it on. I was fairly amused at first as I unpacked the box but after pulling on the kilt and applying the accoutrements with care, there was a feeling of back-straightening and standing just a bit taller. I checked the brogues to make sure they didn't have enormous platform soles; and no? I really did feel the business! I was immediately taken by the sensation of… well freedom, in more senses than one. Over the next few days I wore it out a couple of times to practice (Not the full regalia, just the Kilt, sporran and hose trimmed with a rugby shirt and chunky Boots) and although I was not aware of the turning heads around me (Kilts in England are fairly unusual, "You're in Lancashire Lad, not bloody Lanarkshire!") my beautiful wife told me that everyone was staring (although not in a bad way) once my back was turned.

I was unflustered, In fact I loved it so much that subsequently I bought another one along with a number of other accessories and extras. Where I work it's not really appropriate to wear the Kilt in the workplace. This is due to the nature of the work rather than the location of the job so I save it for when I'm home but I've usually got one of my kilts on at least two or three times a week. I find it goes particularly well in a drinking environ (hic!). I'm drawn into this Tartan fiction as well and it's how traditions begin. I now own a custom made, hand sewn, Strome Bruce Modern, and a 13oz wool Black Watch which counts as Grant Hunting.

I should note that I regard kilts as another article of clothing not the only article of clothing although I wear kilts more than p&nt$ when I'm not working. I think if I were to wear kilts in my working environment they would bunch up under my overalls to such an extent I would look like I was wearing tudor troo$er$.

[long_hand]

I had wanted a kilt for a long time. I had wanted to add to my life a little something that at least in my mind would honour my gaelic heritage. When I got my first kilt, that was all she wrote. The breeze between the knees won.

[macwilkin]

Imagine my delight when further Wikipedia "research" (Come-on you know it's true if it's on't t’internet...) led me to the discovery that the small kilt (Fèileadh beag ) was actually invented by the Englishman and Lancastrian industrialist, Thomas Rawlinson around 1725 as a practical adaptation of the Great Kilt (Fèileadh Bhreacain). The present day Kilt doesn't just come from my country but comes from my county!... apparently. I've rattled a few Celtic cages with this revelation I can tell you.

You might want to read Matt's article on this story:

http://www.albanach.org/kilt_english.htm

T.

[long_hand]

Waes thus hal John!

I found your story quite interesting. I am mostly English myself(alot of lines from Surrey, Sussex, London, Hampshire, and Shropshire) and it tickles me to find out that the common little kilt was invented by an Englishman. I wonder, was he ahead of his time and looking for a way to make the kilt an every day garment? Though I am an American, I too root for England in national sports. Still haven't decided on a football team I like, but I am definately a London Wasps fan in rugby union. So, from one Anglo-Celtic Yankee to an Anglo-Scot Guffie...wassail!

[OC Richard]

I started playing the pipes as a teenager back in the 70's and the kilt goes along with it, simple as that.

I didn't know anything about Highland dress and we lived in the middle of nowhere so the first kilt I had was one my grandmother (an excellent seamstress) and I sort of figured out on our own.

I bought the plaid wool at the local House of Fabric. (To this day I find Highland dress places with names like House of Edgar and House of Labhran slightly amusing due to my first kilt coming from the House of Fabric.)

The plaid had a tan background with navy blue stripes, with smaller lines of black and red. To this day I'm slightly sentimental about that plaid and have thought about designing a tartan loosely based on it.

I don't know if I have any photos of me in that funky homemade kilt. I have no idea where it went.

In 1975 my father took me to see The Black Watch in concert. It was the first time I had seen Highland dress in person, the first time I had seen a pipe band in person. Wow.

The programme had an advertisement from a place called Scottish Shopper in Seattle. I got their catalogue and it was like the Sears Wishbook for me!
In due time I bought some real tartan fabric and my grandmother made a more authentic-looking kilt for me. I also bought my first kilt hose, my first real sporran, etc. (My first sporran was a thing my father made as I recall.)

I thought I had hit the lottery when we moved and I was able to join a pipe band and they issued me their Full Dress, all nice stuff made by Thomas Gordon in Glasgow, a heavyweight kilt, horsehair sporran, feather bonnet, etc.

[herminator]

Having lived in Burma for some years as a child I was no stranger to men without trousers and wore the longyi at home.
In the 90´s I started into reenactment of a frank of ca. 950. There was much to read and look at on the internet and whilst doing this I stumbled on Jan Bruyndonckx´s kilt making page.
I made one, just to try it out, then I bought one - terrible thing made of black cotton, wide loose handstitching - made another and another.

About half a year later I was into full time kilt wearing and the only trousers I have left are those I have to wear at work.

About two months after my first kilt I found XMARKS - that´s five years ago now, wow!, and Ihave learnt so much here!

[English Bloke]

You might want to read Matt's article on this story:

http://www.albanach.org/kilt_english.htm

T.

Sorry, Yes... I have and I agree with him. I was attempting to recount some of the exchanges I had with my Scottish work collegues in response to the anti english banter I was subjected to daily. It was all delivered and received (mostly) as good fun. The Thomas Rawlinson theory is on the internet (Wikipedia and other sites) but as we are all aware, on that site in particular, this doesn't necessarily mean it's true. I should have made it clearer that my tongue was firmly in my cheek. Hope you haven't taken offence.

Waes thus hal John!

I found your story quite interesting. I am mostly English myself(alot of lines from Surrey, Sussex, London, Hampshire, and Shropshire) and it tickles me to find out that the common little kilt was invented by an Englishman. I wonder, was he ahead of his time and looking for a way to make the kilt an every day garment? Though I am an American, I too root for England in national sports. Still haven't decided on a football team I like, but I am definately a London Wasps fan in rugby union. So, from one Anglo-Celtic Yankee to an Anglo-Scot Guffie...wassail!

And warm greetings to you my friend. Thanks.

[HarborSpringsPiper]

My start was somewhat similar to OC Richard's. I started playing the pipes in the early 70's, taking lessons from the PM of the band I then joined. My best friend started playing the pipes a couple of years before I did and that's what piqued my interest. The band outfitted us in the typical regimental style, except we wore Balmorals instead of feather bonnets and drummer's plaids instead of the unwieldly piper's variety. It was an easy introduction to wearing the kilt. Sometimes I see people asking questions here that make me realize I was pretty lucky to have that kind of an indoctrination, otherwise I can see where the "how to" could be pretty confusing.

For me at that time, it was mostly about the music and the kilt and kit were just part of the package. I started to learn a lot about Highland history and dress and decided it was all pretty cool stuff. At least it kept me off the streets! In retrospect, joining that band was one the best things I ever did. I had never even heard of Highland Games before I found out I was going to be competing solo at the indoor Games in Hamilton, ON. Doubt many others have ever stepped into the ring without ever having seen a piping competition before.

I think I have shared on other threads that I have no Scottish heritage but having worn the kilt since I was 14 or 15 years old, it seems a pretty natural thing to me. There were several years where I didn't own a kilt and was only picking up the pipes for my own amusement. I had a rather serious orthopaedic injury in the mid-90s that kept me from working for the better part of two years. With all of that time on my hands, I really got serious about playing the pipes again and when I was back on my feet (literally), I had a kilt made and picked up what other attire I needed that no longer fit me from the past. I've remained at it since then and seem to keep purchasing additional items to wear (does that sound familiar to anyone?)

I do not wear the kilt daily and only occasionally unrelated to piping. I'm a couple of hours in either direction from the nearest pipe band and regret that I'm not playing with a band at this point. Just can't work that into my topsy-turvy schedule with that distance. I get enough calls to play at weddings, funerals, parties, etc. that keep me playing and kilted. When I look at it, it has been the thing I have been involved with the longest in my life to this point.

Richard, I remember that Scottish Shopper in Seattle! I think they used to have an ad in the CoP Tutor book. Seems to be my buddy, Don ordered his first set of pipes through them back in the day. I seem to remember the catlogue he got was a photocopied collection of pages stapled together with us wondering at such marvels as Montrose doublets with lace jabots. Wonder if that firm is still around? There's cerrtainly no shortage of options on the internet now when it comes to purchasing "all things Scottish"!

[Kiltboy]

My kilt wearing started with a simple dare, from my scottish next door neighbor. I borrowed a kilt, and have been hooked ever since. Of course, with my Welsh family, I have to call it a "cilt".

[SFMP]

I’ve been fascinated by kilts for as long as I can remember. The first time I saw a kilted man on TV or in a movie, I was impressed. I thought that was the coolest thing ever. Since then, I have fantasized about being Scottish so I would have “an excuse” to try a kilt.
In high school, my older brother did some genealogy research on our family. Turns out, there is a bit of Scotch-Irish, but not much heritage to claim.

Moving forward many years, my wife and I were looking at Sports Kilts at a Highland festival in Western NC one summer. I wanted so badly to buy one, but I wasn’t sure which tartan to choose. I understood that tartans are specific and very important to clans, and I didn’t want to randomly pick one. I felt I should have some ancestry tied to it. Out of fear of stepping on toes, I passed on the kilt.
As an aside, I want to mention that my wife was enthusiastic about buying a kilt for me. Her high school mascot was a highlander and the band wore kilts. All of my ambivalence and fear seemed silly to her.

Earlier this year, I finally got my first chance to don a kilt. For my birthday, my wife and I took a trip to the Pacific NW. For years, I had been dying to visit the area. While researching the Seattle area, I stumbled across information about Utilikilts. I was excited that to learn of a non-tartan kilt, but I quickly dismissed the thought of trying one.

On our trip, we reserved tickets for the Underground tour in downtown … Pioneer Square to be specific. Rushing to get to the tour, we zipped past Utilikilts. We didn’t have time to stop then, but agreed to return later. After the tour, we lurked outside of Utilikilts where I hemmed and hawed, making excuses how I would never have the nerve to wear one. We walked on. About a block later, I turned to my wife and said, “I have a confession to make.” I told her that I would love to go back and I knew I would regret going home without having, at least, gone inside. Back we went. I tried on (and bought) the basic model Utilikilt. I was hooked. I have since added a Workman UK and a Sports Kilt (team tartan). I hope to receive a fourth one as a Christmas present.

Pardon the long post, I suppose this more "how I started" rather than "why I started." Rex_Tremende already gave the best reason: “Because I wanted to.”