Is it possible to wear a kilt and not look like you're from Scotland?

[Liam]

Jock, I'm honestly surprised at your stand that were you for some reason to emigrate to Canada, you'd cease wearing the kilt. I'm also surprised that you don't wear it at all when not in the Highlands. I didn't know that. Now, "surprised" is a good thing in this case, because I learned something from it.

So........

Good on ye for being consistent in what you say and do.

Honestly, everybody needs to try to UNDERSTAND other folks opinions here.... that doesn't mean you have to AGREE with them, and it certainly doesn't mean that just because you disagree with someone you have to change things that you do. It's just that on this forum about kilts, it's good to UNDERSTAND each other. Sometimes, as Jock has pointed out, that's the best we can do, and we just shake hands and carry on, happily disagreeing with each other.

It has to go both ways.... Lads from Scotland who look at all this fuss and bother and shake their heads need to understand that people outside of Scotland may feel that they have a wide variety of reasons for wearing a kilt, not all of them are grounded in "pretending to be a Scot". YOU may think they're "pretending to be a Scot" and certainly some of them are, but many believe they are not doing so.

On the other hand, folks in the US, Canada, Britain, Germany, New Zealand and Australia need to understand that some people...not ALL people, but some people in Scotland think that a lot of this obsession and dressing up in kilts is kind of odd, and in some ways inappropriate.

I'm not going to tell these lads that they have to... HAVE TO change their opinion so that my comfort level goes up.

I was actually aware that Jock would reply as such because of a previous thread a few years ago, and was pleased that he responded that way again so that others could understand his views, (not that I agree with him,) but I certainly respect his right to have an opinion that differs from mine and as he has regularly displays, so does he.
Again a good thread that has been educational.

[Jock Scot]

Jock,

I think this is the bit that is the hardest to get my head around. If I moved to the Highlands and became a subject of the Crown I would feel odd about wearing the kilt. In that context I would feel like an American "playing at being a Scot". It would seem like I was trying too hard to fit in to my new country. A bit like the Yankees who move here to the South and go overboard trying to adopt Southern ways. I would likely not even bring my kilt with me were I to visit Scotland on vacation.

On the other hand, I don't feel uncomfortable at all wearing a kilt in the context of Scottish heritage events here. It's taken as a given that we're all Americans. The purpose of wearing the kilt is to mark oneself out as an American of Scottish descent.

In terms of better understanding your view- Would your preference be that only native Highlanders wear the kilt while in the Highlands?

You are quite right if you came to live in Scotland it would raise a few eyebrows if you started to wear the kilt right off. Like any newcomer in any part of the world time needs to pass to let the locals get to know you and you to get to know them and overtime, a lot of time sometimes----decades even, a mutual understanding grows and that could be good or bad!

In fact we have a couple of Poles, who have been here in our locality for probably over twenty, possibly thirty years who do wear the kilt on occasion. Not every day, not even every month, but when they think an appropriate occasion arrises out comes the kilt and no one bats an eye.

As to your last question the short answer is, "yes".

[Jock Scot]

Jock, I'm honestly surprised at your stand that were you for some reason to emigrate to Canada, you'd cease wearing the kilt. I'm also surprised that you don't wear it at all when not in the Highlands. I didn't know that. Now, "surprised" is a good thing in this case, because I learned something from it.

So........

Good on ye for being consistent in what you say and do.

Honestly, everybody needs to try to UNDERSTAND other folks opinions here.... that doesn't mean you have to AGREE with them, and it certainly doesn't mean that just because you disagree with someone you have to change things that you do. It's just that on this forum about kilts, it's good to UNDERSTAND each other. Sometimes, as Jock has pointed out, that's the best we can do, and we just shake hands and carry on, happily disagreeing with each other.

It has to go both ways.... Lads from Scotland who look at all this fuss and bother and shake their heads need to understand that people outside of Scotland may feel that they have a wide variety of reasons for wearing a kilt, not all of them are grounded in "pretending to be a Scot". YOU may think they're "pretending to be a Scot" and certainly some of them are, but many believe they are not doing so.

On the other hand, folks in the US, Canada, Britain, Germany, New Zealand and Australia need to understand that some people...not ALL people, but some people in Scotland think that a lot of this obsession and dressing up in kilts is kind of odd, and in some ways inappropriate.

I'm not going to tell these lads that they have to... HAVE TO change their opinion so that my comfort level goes up.

Don't you read EVERY word that I post here Alan? I am surprised at you!

No of course you don't and why should you? Actually my thinking on not wearing the kilt outwith Scotland is not that unusual. If you want a very public demonstration of this, then we only need to look at our Royal Family. Has anyone seen them, or a picture of them, as adults, in CIVILIAN kilt attire(I am not talking about military uniforms) outwith Scotland? They may of course and no doubt some internet expert will prove me wrong, but I doubt it. They like me, might make an exception on rare occasion, but I think not.

You may remember some time ago Thescot(Jim) was getting all excited that Prince Edward was going to visit Jim's local Highland games and poor Jim was absolutely sure that The Prince would wear the kilt. Jim and I had a fun time for a month or two doing the "oh yes he will", "oh no he won't " thing and it even got to serious stuff of us having a bet----a wee dram------ I knew it was a sure fire certainty that I was going to win-------and I did! Sorry Jim.

Now I don't think as I do just because the Royal Family do, I am not that shallow, but we happen to think alike because that is traditional Scottish thinking on kilt matters. Nothing more. And before umpteen pictures get posted here "proving" otherwise, yes there are exceptions! We see Clan Chiefs at Highland Games abroad clad in the kilt so it happens.

I can not do those attachment thingies, but a piece on: Mail online 10 July 2016 called "No Clan Do Charles" might be worth a look for some of you.

[Grae]

There are no rules for wearing the kilt. There are no rules for which country you can wear a kilt in. The famous British " it isn,t done you know" is nothing more than a section of society views on things at a certain time often wrong by the way (and i am reminded strongly of those Brit Empire not done you know rules that are now against the law think discrimination laws , equal oppotunity laws etc). So its boils down to personal opinion which in my humble opinion is as of much value as next person,s. There's alot to be said for not getting uptight it has demonstrated health benifits!

[Holcombe Thomas]

Jock, thank you for the "No clan do, Charles!" information. Interesting, and perhaps useful for those of us outside Scotland.

Holcombe

[Jock Scot]

Jock, thank you for the "No clan do, Charles!" information. Interesting, and perhaps useful for those of us outside Scotland.

Holcombe

I wonder if this article is a reprint? The bit about Prince William going to St Andrews seems a little odd?

[CMcG]

...

I can not do those attachment thingies, but a piece on: Mail online 10 July 2016 called "No Clan Do Charles" might be worth a look for some of you.

Here's the link:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...n-Charles.html

That's very interesting! Apparently the kilt is not so universally loved in Scotland. Instead, there are some deeply ambivalent feelings about it

[neloon]

I wonder if this article is a reprint? The bit about Prince William going to St Andrews seems a little odd?

Yes, and the mention of the Braemar Gathering is a couple of months out.
Prince William's reluctance to wear the kilt may be due to his mother's dislike of Scotland.


"Any middle-aged or elderly man in a kilt was likely to be an eccentric, an exhibitionist or a cultural nationalist making a political point."
So which are we, Jock?

Alan

[CMcG]

Another quirky quote from the "No clan do, Charles!" article:

"I still think of it as a dress suitable for the young and not for those of us who are getting on in years - and indeed, for the young only if they have a sturdy pair of legs and a good-sized backside. Kilts worn over a flat behind and spindly legs look dreadful."

It seems that all our focus on choosing tartans, kilt hem height, hose colour, formality of jackets, etc. are all for naught! We should really be talking about the exercises at the gym to make our legs more sturdy and our backsides more full

[Jock Scot]

Yes, and the mention of the Braemar Gathering is a couple of months out.
Prince William's reluctance to wear the kilt may be due to his mother's dislike of Scotland.


"Any middle-aged or elderly man in a kilt was likely to be an eccentric, an exhibitionist or a cultural nationalist making a political point."
So which are we, Jock?

Alan

I don't know about you Alan, but not for the first time in my life I don't seem to qualify.