What's Modern Kilt Wear> ...or...what's this subforum really about?

[CMcG]

Clap, clap, clap. Good words from good thinking.

First off; CMcG, that was one outstanding well thought out post! Agree wholeheartedly.
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And my new word for the day? "Teleological" (I didn't go to a very good school and spent most of my time there either playing rugby or smoking tabs behind the bike sheds.) Thanks CMcG. Great post by the way. I'll bet if you'd written that with with a quill you'd have undersigned it with a satisfied grin and an extensive flourish. I would have, were it mine.

Thanks gentlemen for taking the time to read that post and comment. English Bloke, I gave as extensive a flourish as the gesture of pressing 'enter' allows

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The Modern Kilt Wear forum section's description is correct. "As the kilt is worn today."
That is everything including full Prince Charlie with all the bells and whistles and also a totally punked out or goth kilt with enough spikes to terrify an airport security agent.

I had to pause and think about how a full PC rig can end up on the same sub-forum as punk/goth kilts... and then English Bloke came to the rescue with a picture! First I looked at his outfit and thought he looked very sharp, jaunty sporran and all

Then I tried to think from a traditional perspective and quickly pulled out several things that might be considered at least a bending of the "rules" for formal THCD: black socks rather than diced, Argyle, or self-coloured; overall matchiness in colour choices; and double box pleats, which I understand weren't invented until the 21st century. Overall, he still looks quite traditional but does show some modernist tendencies that might be subjected to disapproval on the Traditional Kilt Wear sub-forum.

I think this poses a bit of a problem.

Lumping everything that isn't purely traditional or historical into one sub-forum seems potentially confusing, as this thread has shown. Perhaps there needs to be a split of Modern Kilt Wear into two: Modernist Kilt Wear and Contemporary Kilt Wear.

Modernist Kilt Wear would be the place to talk about style that breaks with tradition, while Contemporary Kilt Wear would mean the way the kilt is worn today as an evolution of tradition. Steve Villegas vs. Howie Nicholsby, punk kilt vs. tank with a twist, and cargo pockets vs. machine-sewn P/V tartan.

On the other had, Steve is the forum owner and has been on Xmarks for a long time, so perhaps there is some wisdom to lumping contemporary and modernist approaches on one sub-forum. They share a common freedom from rules though each approach pushes past the boundaries of tradition in different amounts. If I may paraphrase him, the Modern Kilt Wear sub-forum is the place where there are no Kilt Kops

Here's something to help visualize the extent of the clash:

Modern Formal. Black PC Jacket and waistcoat (silk lapel facings and Great Grandfathers silver pocket watch). Formal ripple front white shirt with plain collar, black tie, black socks, plum red flashes, black brogues (bulled up), black bovine and pewter "dress Sporran" worn at a jaunty angle on a black leather sporran strap (more attention to detail required). Double box pleated kilt, hand sewn in 15oz wool (merci Madame).
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Chains, studs, and motercycle with kilt:



Slanj's version of a "modern" PC:



All black kilt outfit with metal highlights and pin stripes:

So I have a question. Is there a formal look for modern kilt wear?

And here's ones for Cowher: tuxedo Utilikilt!