Right or Wrong

[Spc. Scott]

I would say that you should be comfortable in whatever it is that you are wearing. No more, no less.

You see, ya can't please everyone, so ya got to please yourself. - R. Nelson


Oh, and welcome from Ithaca, NY!

[swampfox]

I would say that you should be comfortable in whatever it is that you are wearing. No more, no less

agreed 1,000%

[Nighthawk]

First off,

Second, I think you may be misunderstanding some things. It's not that we're against you wearing Jacobite shirts and white hose. It's that to most of us, wearing a Jacobite shirt for daily wear is a little silly, because when you get right down to it, they look like costume wear. I would sooner wear an Iron Maiden t shirt with a traditional kilt than a Jacobite shirt because there is this attitude that the kilt is itself a costume of some sort. Wearing a costume-like shirt with it only helps to reinforce that attitude. However, wearing "normal" clothing with the kilt makes it look more like regular clothes, instead of costume. So I leave the costume shirts in the closet and reserve them for festival wear. If you like it, then by all means, wear it! Just don't make the mistake of thinking that they're actually traditional. Wearing the kilt as normal clothing is traditional- because that's what the kilt is, and what it always has been!

As to the white hose... They are a product of the rental industry. To my eyes, they look like part of a rental outfit. It's as simple as that. They look cheap to me. If you like them, then hey- great! Wear them. Personally, the way I see it, there are so many better options! Forest green hose look beautiful with my Colorado state tartan kilt, purple looks spectacular with my Albannach. White looks... generic.

So to restate the point- if you like it, that's fine for you. Just don't think that Jacobite shirts and white hose are something other than modern inventions! And just so you know, this is coming from someone who wears both modern and traditional kilts interchangably.

[xman]

Nighthawk got it right. These are false fashions forced upon the hapless innocents who haven't the experience with highland dress to know so.

I used to wear those 'pirate' shirts all the time with jeans, but don't think I would with a kilt because, as mentioned above, it looks too costumey. I might wear ecrue hose some day, but would probably not go lighter than oatmeal.

[Burly Brute]

I think we should be really traditional and stick to the feilidh-mhor.

[Zardoz]

Well, I don't care for them, and there are so many other color choices, that I'll usually advise against white hose. At the end of the day, white, or ecru/off-white as it were, are just colors! If you like the way they look with your outfit, fine, but I would still politely suggest trying some other color choices too.

On the "jacobite" shirts... This is a sort of a confusing topic! Many "traditional" kilt wearers here would likely take issue with you calling yourself "very much the "traditional" kilt wearer" and them saying you wear those shirts!

Most folks here think of the jacobite shirts as a costume look, that should not be worn outside the Renaissance faire. I tend to agree, I have some, but they only come out at faire. But I often see photos of that style being worn at games, weddings, and various 'Highland' events in Scotland.

Anyway , welcome to the forum!

[piperdbh]

For what it's worth,
My biggest objection to some things that get said here is the pressure it puts on the newly kilted to "wear this, but not that" or "look like me, but not like him". Ultimately, if you're wearing what YOU want to wear, and not what someone else has TOLD you to wear, then go for it. Yes, I like some clothing combinations better than others, but I don't get very worked up over what someone else chooses to wear.
About white hose: I have no experience with kilt rentals, so I don't see white hose as looking like they come from a rental shop. Others here who have the experience of renting a kilt do see them as "rental-looking".
Wear what you want.

And welcome aboard, by the way, from western North Carolina, the greatest place on Earth!

[Nighthawk]

For what it's worth,
My biggest objection to some things that get said here is the pressure it puts on the newly kilted to "wear this, but not that" or "look like me, but not like him". Ultimately, if you're wearing what YOU want to wear, and not what someone else has TOLD you to wear, then go for it.

My one and only issue with this is that the OP referred to himself a "traditional" kilt wearer. If you want to dress the way he does, cool. I couldn't care less. I just don't want people dressing that way under the delusion that it's traditional. It's simple ignorance easily corrected.

[Cowher]

I would say that you should be comfortable in whatever it is that you are wearing. No more, no less.

You see, ya can't please everyone, so ya got to please yourself. - R. Nelson


Oh, and welcome from Ithaca, NY!

I agree with this also. Wear white hose and whatever you like! The important thing is that we love kilts and in my view to keep all traditional wear alive!

Matt Cowher

[AFS1970]

Welcome.

I am somewhat in the middle of the road with the whole Jacobite Shirt issue. I had two of them, one ripped and the other does not fit any longer. The one that ripped was much nicer in that it was a rough linen with flecks of brown and gray in it. Still not traditional but certainly a bit better than some of the modern colored ones from museum replicas. I have not decided if I will replace them or not, as I really don't have many places where they would be appropriate.

The white hose issue is indeed a myth of the rental industry, however it is one that has been with us long enough that there are some really nice ones out there. My former favorite pair of hose was off white, but very heavy wool with a nice pattern to it, more reminiscent of a fisherman's knit sweater. I was sad to see them wear out. I just recently got my first pair of argyle topped hose, and on the whole I do think colored hose looks better, but I don't have a problem with white hose.

I gotta tell you, the denim Jacobite shirt is a bit much for me. So even I have my limits.