Is a kilt outfit a luxury item?

**McClef** · 26th February 10, 06:11 AM

Ghandi swapped western style dress for a simple dhoti because he felt he would be more like the vast numbers of his people who were in poverty.

Work will often dictate what one should wear and even where there is no dress code then circumstances can still have an effect.

I do not know the ages of the people with whom you work - it is possible that some of them own a kilt obtained during previous times of plenty or have inherited one.

But there is still that "special occasions" mentality and work is not often seen as a "special occasion."

Luxury is one of those difficult things to define. We need clothes and a kilt is an item of clothing that many of us prefer to certain other garments. Would it be seen as a luxury to own more than one pair of trousers or socks or shoes?

Of course besides the kilt there are the other accessories and one can indeed spend a small fortune upon some of these, especially the formal stuff which one would not wear to work in any case.

A casual kilted look would not necessarily indicate extravagance or elitism.

There have been old photos shared in these forums showing the poor wearing kilts - possibly hand me downs but indicating their longevity and durability.

**Ancienne Alliance** · 26th February 10, 06:21 AM

A £30 kilt is not necessarily cheap if it lasts you less than a year...

If you consider that a 495 Euros hand made kilt in a traditional fabric can outlive you, this is what I call an intelligent investment.

Best,

Robert

**Jack Daw** · 26th February 10, 06:23 AM

Technically, if you do the wash and dry cleaning weekly, then any clothing beyond 7 days is a luxury. The middle class in 1st world countries are very fortunate.

**auld argonian** · 26th February 10, 06:26 AM

I appreciate your sensitivity in thinking critically about this before simply going ahead and acting.

One of the "mantras" of this forum seems to be "it's not about what other people think, it's about what you feel is right"...when someone posts about being faced with criticism for simply wearing the kilt there's usually a lot of support from fellow forum members saying, "damn the criticism...you do what you want to do..stick up for your right to be an individual and wear the kilt!"

In this case, I'd say that we have the other side of the coin. If you feel that it would be inappropriate to wear the kilt because it might make your clients feel badly, then I'd say that you're a good human being because you'd give up something that's important to you because you're sensitive to their situations.

It's not important what other people think, it's about what you feel is right.

Best

AA

**CMcG** · 26th February 10, 06:49 AM

The way kilt wear and saxon wear translate between levels of formality could definitely make one look a bit "elite" i.e. a black Argyle with a lot of shiny buttons, waistcoat, 8 yard kilt, dress sporran, and sgian dubh as an equivalent to a dark suit can look rather "bling."

On the other hand, if people are wearing cotton pants and polo shirts, a casual kilt with the same sort of polo shirt, a plain leather sporran, and hose with no flashes or sgian might blend in a bit more. What I'm thinking is that if the difference between what one wears with the kilt and what people wear with their p@ants is minimal, then the kilt will look less like a luxury outfit.

**ForresterModern** · 26th February 10, 06:55 AM

Just becasue your clientele cannot afford to wear a suit and tie to the unemployment line, or maybe even to their job interviews, does not mean that you cannot wear the same to your job working with them.

As a physician, I am expected by my clientele to dress up to certain standards---usually meaning nice dress pants and shoes, a dress shirt with tie, and either a white coat or a sport coat--in most circumstances. I doubt that many if any of my patients feel put down when I show up in said outfit and they in blue jeans and a tee shirt. I do occasionally wear a kilt to work (yesterday for instance) usually when I am on administrative time and do not anticipate a high degree of patient contact, if any, but that is more personal security becasue I also work with children as my patients and never know what they may do with their curiosity over my kilt instead of pants. I think if your outfit is respectful of them as people, people who have come to you in need of your help, that wearing a kilt as part of an appropriate dress outfit for your job would not be out of the question. Try it out once and see how you feel about it and how your clients react to it. You may find that it gets you a little attention, breaks the ice a bit with them, takes some of their daily stress away with the whimsy effect of seeing someone kilted, and may even get you a reputation as "that kilted guy who helps us out". You never know until you try.

As far as a kilt being a luxury, I agree with Matt that it is beyond a necessity of daily living so therefor would classify as a luxury. But then again, I drive a car to work when I could bike or take a bus, with the car being my luxury, but not that many folks, save for the "green" movement, would begrudge me my car if it helped me get to work to help them find a job, or in my case to help my pediatric patients get better.

Just a few thoughts on the matter.

jeff

**Inchessi** · 26th February 10, 07:06 AM

Two of my kilts came from Stillwater, that does not put them in an elite class. In my work, I may not work four to six months out of the year. The last two years have been very bad. As a typical American, I have found ways to adapt. Second job, spot jobs (few hours here or there, weekend work) and low end purchases. The only items that I refuse to purchase low end are my work boots and safety equipment.

The two Stillwaters, I take care of, and wear to church. Along with my solid inexpensive socks from USA Kilts. My dress shoes were bought at a shoe outlet for $20. I also hit up the Goodwill stores for items that can be altered thanks to the DIY section. To make a short story long, I have put together a respectable ensemble that represents well. I am not proud of being poor, but the most beautiful woman in the world thinks I look smashing in my Black Watch. Things will get better, and then I will own a wool Campbell, and sport it with the diced Argyll socks and Prince Charlie.

I really am trying to coerce my rambling into a coherent thought. Do not be ashamed of having money. All of my clientele are that way. On the rare occasion that I work for an impoverished person, it is charity or a friend. It is noble of you to be concerned about the perception of your clients, and I applaud you for that. The decision to wear a kilt is yours, and I will not judge. I humbly offer a poor mans prospective that we can, and do, wear kilts.

**Tobus** · 26th February 10, 08:06 AM

Very interesting discussion!

I tend to agree that the kilt could be considered a luxury item, since even the cheapest kilt is still much more expensive than the cheapest p***s you could buy. And really, by definition, a luxury item is anything you don't HAVE to have for basic survival.

So it begs the question: in trying to create a sense of trust with the poor, are you trying to look poor yourself? I hope that doesn't sound insensitive, and I certainly don't mean it to be, but it's the core issue here. I can understand (and agree) that it's inappropriate to flaunt wealth in front of people who are having a hard time financially, especially when you're expecting them to trust you. But does that require taking it to the opposite extreme by intentionally dressing to a lower standard than you normally would?

I guess that's a question only you can answer, knowing the situation first-hand.

It would probably be inappropriate to waltz in wearing a flashy kilt with polished shoes, diced hose, waistcoat, and other 'dressy' accessories. But if it were toned down to a casual look, I don't see why it would be flaunting wealth.

Maybe a casual kilt in subdued tartan colors or a well-worn Utilikilt or X-kilt, with a normal/casual shirt. Plain hose, no flashes, old day sporran with no frills, and some worn-in comfortable shoes. Nothing that looks luxurious or expensive or dressy. Just a comfortable, casual kilt outfit.

You never know, it might brighten someone's day!

**Jock Scot** · 26th February 10, 08:12 AM

I think an X-kilt,or UtiliKilt would more likely start a riot in that part of Scotland!

**ForresterModern** · 26th February 10, 08:34 AM

This might be a good time for someone like Ron to pipe in who works with social, psychological, and addictive related problems and the patients who come in with them. Ron is kilted virtually everyday to my recollections, so he would be a good one to comment on whether the kilt has been an issue, positive or negative in his relationships with his clientele. Ron, where are you when we need you? Quit counting your kilt hose and help us answer this question, please? ;)

j