Although the word "heritage" crops up so often on this forum, I have some doubts about the validity of the associated arguments. Perhaps that is my sheer ignorance -- I cannot remember hearing the word in my early life. In any case, for me one's character/personality is a product of the culture/education one was brought up in, and is not dependent on genes ("blood", as many of you have been saying). My upbringing was in southern England, and my personal development in French-speaking countries. Whatever genes I may have, determined the colour of my hair and the size of my feet, not the food I eat, the languages I speak, the books I read, or the clothes I wear.

Someone has already pointed out that kilts and tartans are two different things, and it is the latter that are associated today with particular Scottish clans (or regions, associations, regiments ...) not kilts. It is easy enough to buy and wear a masculine tie to show off one's connections and affiliations. One need not fork out hundreds of euros and acquire several metres of heavy, pleated worsted wool (not to mentions sporrans etc) -- and run the risk of being thought an oddity! Unless, of course, one wants to be comfortable/different/ostentatious ...
Many men (those few that wear anything round their necks) have tartan ties, but as far as I know there are no more tie forums than there are trouser forums.

I am quite convinced that the desire to be unbifurcated and comfortable comes before the expression of a desire to be Scottish. But because skirt-wearing is a sign of an unbalanced mind for 99,9% of the western population, we have to look for some excuse to be skirted. We could evoke medical or anatomical needs, but it is far easier to refer to Celtic forebears.

I would not dispute that some people are genuinely interested in discovering their family history, but I do wonder how many really became interested in skirted garments only after discovering some Celtic connexion. Did they not look for their connexion because they found kilts attractive?

To return to the original topic:
Uniforms are for the military, imposed from above. Although many young people like to look alike (in black or in jeans & t-shirt), why should any adult want to restrict himself to one colour? Would you always buy and wear the same shirt or pullover? I for one have no wish whatsoe"ver to be in uniform and part of the herd.

My first kilt was a Gordon (chosen by and for the family -- though without any reference to "heritage"!). When it needed replacing, I had a hankering for change and went for a Ross hunting, for one reason only -- it is a beautiful pattern.

Martin