"N. Finchley clothing company to unveil first ever English kilt on St George's Day"

[Brian K]

Might I humbly suggest that I don't really think this "concept kilt" is supposed to be taken all that seriously?

I look at it rather like some of the fashion designs that one sees walking down the catwalk in Paris or New York City -- designed to make a bold statement, or perhaps as an exercise in fashion creativity, but nothing that one would honestly expect to become part of the lasting culture.

LOL, Matt the kilt may not be supposed to be taken seriously, but Hamish says the price is 750 GBP and THAT is serious!! A lot of money to pay for a concept.

[Semiomniscient]

~SNIP~

If we accept that the kilt is not only for Scotsmen, born, bred and living in Scotland, but is for all men who choose to wear it. Then we must also accept that they will also put their own spin on it. That is how we get denim, cotton, linen, canvas, PV kilts.
Chas

Yes, and denim, cotton, linen, canvas, and PV kilts are not at all my cup of tea and in my opinion are bad for the reputation of the garment. I think that the current evolution that the kilt is going through is a sad one that tends more towards the deformalization of society and is rather annoying. Anybody can wear a kilt if they want to--but I don't have to pretend that the original kilt, phillabeg and belted plaid are Scottish, and none other. I can accept certain modernized conveniences, but kilts don't look good when made like this one. The same goes when they're branded with a logo... it makes it look cheap.

[Zardoz]

I gotta agree with some of the posts about the white color, I can mess up white clothes that are hanging in the closet!

In the media it seems like the only time I see folks waving the St.George cross (other than BNP rallies) is at football matches. Just me, but I don't think I would want to sport an 1100 dollar white wool kilt to the match or pub!

[davidlpope]

to each their own... If someone chooses to wear the kilt... more power to them. I am sorry to see my fellow English having to defend their opinions, while those keep acting like only their opinons matter. does it really matter if another would wear something you wouldn't? Get real guys...

Right, forgot for a second that the opinion I should have expressed is:

"Nice Kilt! You wear it well!"

[Wompet]

My first impression was "extra bit of costume from Prince Valiant (1954 version)"
Not my cup of tea, but if someone else wants to wear it - okay.
That "first ever English kilt" does stick in my craw, though.

[London_Vic_2010]

I've just seen all your comments...I was at the launch event last night for The English Kilt, which was an incredible night. Perhaps I'll put some pictures on here from the fashion show which will bring the concept to life a little more for all you who aren't sure!

[dfmacliam]

I look forward to seeing the piccies of the fashion show. I have always enjoyed seeing designer fashions, though my fashion sense is much more simpler..

[Brian K]

I've just seen all your comments...I was at the launch event last night for The English Kilt, which was an incredible night. Perhaps I'll put some pictures on here from the fashion show which will bring the concept to life a little more for all you who aren't sure!

Sounds like a good idea. Perhaps it'll look a bit better seeing it on someone rather than all by itself.

[O'Callaghan]

I wouldn't bother going down that road Chas. Racism only applies if it's the English speaking out. It never seems to apply to those who speak out about the English.

Sadly, there's some truth to that. Mind you, IME there is very little overt racism against the English. I did once experience an employer here in the US telling me to my face that England was "an awful place full of awful people", to quote his exact words, but I can't honestly come up with any other incidents. His son's ex-wife was English, which seemed to be his motivation for that remark, although that doesn't justify or excuse it, particularly coming from someone with authority over me. As these sort of incidents go it wasn't terribly serious, though.

I have never found the Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Indians or Americans to be unpleasant to anyone simply for being English. They seem fond of us as individuals. The Irish in the Republic made me very welcome without knowing that I have Irish blood, and other English people tell the same story.

Generally, what you do get is rehashing of how the English (or the British in some cases) did terrible things to their respective countries in the past, and for the most part what they say is largely true, if not necessarily balanced. Of course, it would be fair to say that I may be influenced by what the English did to the Irish, but I can see the English side too, being as I am permanently stuck with being both.

[Morris at Heathfield]

As there are already Irish kilts, Welsh cilts, etc., it was only a matter of time before the English got in on the action. And let's not forget that the English are about as mixed up, ethnically speaking, as the Scots.

As for this particular kilt, I kind of like it, but it looks like a surcoat or a tabard that's missing its top half, not so much like a kilt. In my opinion, a tartan non-kilt would be more suitable for the English than a non-tartan kilt.

Of course, there aren't a whole lot of tartans to choose from. I'm partial to mine, but it's not registered and hasn't been woven, so it wouldn't do for me to promote it. I really don't care for International Tartans' St George tartan, which doesn't seem to have gotten much traction anyway.

Without delving too far into the thorny question of what English national dress is or ought to be, I'd like to see someone (besides Anglo-Saxon reenactors) do something with diamond twill. A diamond twill waistcoat, perhaps?