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

[The Wizard of BC]

I attempted back in post 46 of this thread to explain by example the difference between this forum section and the General Kilt Talk section.

This section is to give our members a way to highlight how they wear their kilt in today's world.

Here is a quote from post 46



As this section of the forum is for those who wear the kilt as clothing in today's world... to give those looking for examples and inspiration...some ideas about how the kilt can be worn....

How about we try this -

Example:
You have a hand sewn, 8 yard wool, Tartan kilt. You want to go out to dinner with your partner. Post a photo, as an example for others, of how you would dress.

Guidlines:
The restaurant you have chosen is a new, small, ethnic place in your local area.
What you choose should be appropriate to what others at the place will be wearing.
Your choices should be appropriate for the weather.

The idea is that you are out for a pleasant dinner with your partner, not to stand out or show off. In essence, for this outing, the kilt is just another piece of clothing not the focal point.


Does this clear up the intent of this forum section? It should be where members can go to see examples of how the kilt can be worn today. We can take inspiration from the Historical Kilt Wear section, and also the Traditional Kilt Wear section. We can veer away from those as we deem.

There are no kilt cops, No one should be able to tell you that you are not doing it right or dictate rules based on how the kilt was worn in 1782 or 1900.

Now, go inspire the newbies and show off how you wear your kilt today.

[kc8ufv]

a totally punked out or goth kilt with enough spikes to terrify an airport security agent.

That doesn't take much... I wouldn't even risk wearing a kilt pin thru there...

[Tony]

I attempted back in post 46 of this thread to explain by example the difference between this forum section and the General Kilt Talk section.

This section is to give our members a way to highlight how they wear their kilt in today's world.

you don't expect me to memorize ALL the posts in this thread do ya?

OK, if that is the intent of this forum, then maybe another Subforum for those of a less traditional/tartany bent, especially with regards to X Kilts, Amerikilts, alt Kilts, Utilikilts, Freedom Kilts etc etc....
(not that I would post cuz I don't own nor likely to own such a garment)

[Mike_Oettle]

It seems there is modern kilt wear, and modern kilt wear.
Kilts are so rarely seen in my city (except at Caledonian gatherings, which I have rarely attended) that I would be taking a great risk in wearing a kilt that did not in some way resemble a traditional Scottish kilt.
In other words, a Utilikilt or a Cargokilt would only draw unwelcome attention.
At the same time, limited finances have (so far) precluded my acquiring a “tank” in a Scottish tartan.
So I wear a South African-made PV kilt in a South African-designed tartan.
My second kilt (being made right now) is also South African – that is to say, it is made of South African wool woven in Cape Town. (The tartan is a design by a Scot for another African country.)
And having worn a military kilt, I had a fair idea of how the kilt could be worn even before I joined X Marks.
I never did wear what is known in the army as shirtsleeve dress, but it is familiar from uniform regulations, and I have mostly worn my kilt with a shirt, because in summer it is too hot to think of wearing a jacket in daytime.
I have two jackets suitable for conversion to kilt wear, but one still awaits conversion, while my wife has objected to the conversion of the other (a suit jacket bought for my children’s weddings last year).
Modern? Traditional? Not quite either. But I like my style.
When I finally get pictures onto X Marks, I expect a few criticisms, but I think I conform to established norms most of the time.
Regards,
Mike

[CMcG]

<snip>
Does this clear up the intent of this forum section? It should be where members can go to see examples of how the kilt can be worn today. We can take inspiration from the Historical Kilt Wear section, and also the Traditional Kilt Wear section. We can veer away from those as we deem.

There are no kilt cops, No one should be able to tell you that you are not doing it right or dictate rules based on how the kilt was worn in 1782 or 1900.

Now, go inspire the newbies and show off how you wear your kilt today.

This statement from the forum owner does clear up some of the confusion about the intent of the Modern Kilt Wear sub-forum, at least for me. I think it does more, however, to explain why there is relatively less going on here; this sounds like a catch-all sub-forum. It overlaps with several other sub-forums such as General Kilt Talk and Show Us Your Pics. The theme of the kilt as worn today is very broad, perhaps too broad...

I think it is obvious by now that this is the place to talk about modern utility kilts as well as obviously untraditional wearing of tartan kilts. There is something in Steve's definition, though, that could stimulate a different kind of discussion. It seems that the key point is that Modern Kilt Wear is about freedom from the "rules" of tradition or the accuracy of re-enacting historical attire.

Does the inclusion of semi or nearly-traditional approaches in this sub-forum mean that this would be the place to talk about co-ordinating matching outfits, the virtues of white hose, and flatcaps with the kilt?

[Steve Ashton]

Please notice that the major heading of this section of the forum is "How to Wear The Kilt"
Under that major heading are the four sub-headings:
Historical Kilt Wear
Traditional Kilt Wear
Modern Kilt Wear
How to Accessorize Your Kilt

This section was originally intended as a photo showcase of, and inspiration for, how to wear the kilt in relation to time periods.

Fashion changes. Likes and preferences change. Marketing changes.

i.e. If someone wished to find information on how the Kilt was worn during the period of the of the early to mid 18th Century they could go to the Historical Kilt Wear section and find examples to guide them in creating a Historically appropriate outfit.

The information in each section would be appropriate to the time period.

It was originally thought that the Modern Kilt Wear section would have the most posts as the wearing of the kilt today is still undergoing much change and adaptation.

The way the kilt was worn in the other time periods are already set simply because those time periods are in the past. They are not changing anymore.

The question was asked if the Modern Kilt Wear section would be the appropriate place to show examples of wearing white hose and flat caps. Well, yes it would. If someone wears white hose and/or a flat cap with their kilt and wished to post an example it would be acceptable to do so here.

Just as acceptable as it would be to post, for example, a Prince Charlie with black buttons, an 8yard, hand-sewn Tank made from Silver Lame, a Utilikilt with kilt hose and wing-tip shoes, or any other way that some of our members have done it.
None of these examples would be appropriate to any other time period than the present.

This section would also be the appropriate place for showing how a kilt can be worn with an "Ike" Jacket, Ghillie Brouge Boots, or while rafting the Colorado River just to borrow from some current threads.

Where we have had problems is when we have used what was appropriate to one time period being used as 'rules' to judge the wearing during a different time period.

[Cowher]

But wouldn't traditional wear fall into this category? For example if I took my wife to a nice dinner and wanted to wear a kilt with a tweed waistcoat and jacket I would be wearing it in current times. To me it's the equivalent of a nice tweed suit that I wear currently. Saying that the traditional style is not modern is.… well… wrong.

[Steve Ashton]

Cowher,

You are correct. You can wear your kilt in any traditional manner any time and anywhere you wish.



Folks,

This is not a situation where something is right and something else wrong. In today's world it is a win-win situation. You wear your kilt. It doesn't get any better.

This entire section of the forum is for inspiration and example. I thought we just settled this. There are no kilt cops. Wear your kilt however you wish and wear it with pride.

[English Bloke]

Steve:

I'm happy to post my Kilt adventures here in future rather than the "Pics" section as was the norm before you took the helm... I'm all for change where change is needed and I think this section, now explained, is more appropriate to the way I wear my kilt anyway. It puts a badge on where I am and indicates to other members outwith the badge, to be considerate in their critique.

I know many of the membership couldn't give a fig about seeing me wearing a kilt in the pouring rain or on the wazz in a Pub in Northern England but I still get a buzz out of posting such pictures so it matters not to me where I stick them.

My only concern is where does this leave the existing pictures section if we all follow suit and disperse to our respective camps.
Accessible archive? That would move things along in a positive way.
"No more posts here, please post in the appropriate sub section."

How do we continue this message to new arrivals who may not grasp the complexities of a multi-faceted approach to Kilting without closing the picture section. This IS a feature of most other internet fora and therefore the natural place to stick a photo if you are not familiar with the site geography. It needs to be briefly explained after the whole forum tree has been reviewed.

The other argument of course is, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

By the way. I wouldn't do your job for all t' pies in Wigan.

I'm nothing if not helpful... Eh up?

[MacMillans son]

I don't know why we would change the current system. I for one only look at the title of the individual post to see if I am interested in it. And in fact, I read just about every new post unless the title has something in it that I know I am not interested in. I never look over at the subforum heading believing, from experience, that most people aren't clear what goes where anyway. How many times have we read something to the effect of "Mods if this is in the wrong place feel free to move it to where it belongs"

I think the only time the subheadings are useful are when wanting to look at historic posts for whatever reason or referring new folks to the "Martian Kilt Fashion" section for those interested in such things.

If I determine that I have opened something that I am not interested in, its simple enough to just click off of it and move on. After all, it's just a kilt board folks, I think we can make a very simple thing too complicated for it's own good.

Just my thoughts on it.