Where does costume begin?

[Geoff Withnell]

Here's the question: are you dressing up, or are you dressing up as something? That , to me, defines whether or not it is a costume.

A kilt is a garment. Period. It is a type of clothing, in the same way that a shirt, a pair of pants, or a cap are articles of clothing.

Just like shirts, pants, and caps can all be part of a costume, so too can a kilt be part of a costume.

Are you dressing up as Bonnie Prince Charlie for Halloween? Then a kilt will be part of your costume.

Are you doing a parody of Mel Gibson as Braveheart for your Halloween party? Then a kilt will be part of your costume.

When you put on your kilt with shirt and tie, and Argyle jacket, to attend your church's Kirkin' service, are you wearing a costume? Or when you put on your kilt with a golf shirt and day sporran to go for a nice stroll through your neighborhood, are you putting on a costume? In both cases, no, you are simply wearing clothing.

I do admit that a lot of the Ren-Fair style outfits we see at Highland Games and other Scottish functions here in the US do cross the line into costume. I'm just not sure what to do about it.

Well said!

[J_Mimbs]

I would love to get into steampunk, and if I did I would most likely wear a very contemporary styled kilt as part of the outfit. Is it a costume? Sure. But to me the kilt is just a piece of the costume, not the costume itself. I could wear pants and it would still be a costume. Its not just being "the guy in the kilt" or something like that.

I can't really think of a way I'd want to dress in a kilt for Halloween. The traditional kilt is a beautiful garment, one I enjoy wearing, but Halloween turns everything into a parody of itself and I don't want to do that to the kilt. Maybe I'm splitting hairs, but its my opinion.

[O'Searcaigh]

As I mentioned in some other post, Halloween is the one day of the year I would not be inclined to wear a kilt in public precisely for fear of its being seen as a "costume;" Oddly, the more and more I wear a kilt, I even feel a bit strange wearing one to highland games where it feels more like "dressing up in a costume" than wearing one on any other ordinary day. "Oh nurse, is it time for my medication again already?"

[Joshua]

For the most part if I am not at work, I am in a kilt. Depending upon my mood when casual I normally will either dress down my kilt as if it were a pair of jeans, tshirt, boots and scrunched hose... Or I will dress the equivalent of business casual and wear a polo. Does Halloween change how I should dress?

That being said, I'm going mini-golfing with friends Saturday, and will be dressed smartly, tattersall and tweed, partly because I like to dress smartly, but mostly as a little lighthearted humor towards the origins of the parent sport. Costume? Perhaps. Any different than any other day? Not really.

[Dale Seago]

Speaking strictly of Monday, I'll be kilted -- wearing an originally-Gaelic garment in celebration of the Gaelic festival of Samhain. I can't think of a more appropriate time for a kilt.

For me anyway. For those of you who celebrate it as Hallowe'en, the kilt probably would be a costume.

[Steve Barclay]

If it's going to be a horror theme for Hallowe'en, how about:- Black top hat, white face paint with black eyes, black tux jacket, black cape and white bow tie with the kilt and a great big rubber knife and Gladstone doctor's bag, and be (wait for it........)


JOCK THE RIPPER!!!



Only kidding! Personally I would not wear a kilt at a Hallowe'en costume party myself.

[Meggers]

Good day all,

With approaching Holloween and a couple other reasons I've been wondering where the kilt is used as a costume piece?

I've always tried to stay away from cultural and religious based costumes for Holloween but more and more they are seen. I try to avoid ones like native American, the Rabbi, and other such by personal choice. I even felt a little awkward when wearing a priest outfit to a Tarts and Vicors party even though it was appropriate.

So I starting thinking about it. We view the kilt as both a cultural symbol of Scotland but also as a garment to be worn as an everyday one. Does it belittle the kilt when it is used in a costume such as Steampunk? Us Rennies wear kilts within a (relative) historical context but when you boil it down it is a costume.

The flip side is if it is not a garmet where does that leave it? To only be worn while engaged specifically Scottish events? Does that not regulate it to a simular place that other historical garments such lederhosen? They (and other such) have fallen so far in disuse that they have turned into costumes.

So where does this stand with you?

Jim

well....it bugs me and it also doesn't bug me. It doesn't bug me because I'm trying to minimize the things that bug me in life since I don't want to end up as a bitter old biddy at 23 years old...but it also does bug me a little because that's my heritage and if you apply it to someone else's heritage, it would be seen as offensive. If I dressed up as an Indian wearing a sari or shalwar kameez around on Halloween, an Indian or Pakistani would rightfully be a little annoyed. That being said, it would be offensive if someone wore MY traditional dress around as well. It also bugs me to no end seeing Islamic terrorist or even just regular Islamic costumes considering it usually is worn with a stigma of teasing the subject that the costume represents. As a Muslim, that rightfully offends me.

just depends on the situation entirely. if I saw a man wearing a full on decked out and tasteful kilted ensemble and he really put a lot of time, effort, and thought into his costume, and treated it respectfully and carried himself in a way that Scots would want to be represented--especially if he was dressed as someone specific, I would think it was awesome. If I saw some guy carrying a gigantic Guinness and pretending to stumble around all over the street with a big curly red wig on and a half-assed green kilt around his waist, I would be offended. Depends on the message being said by the costume.

[sp00ky]

Most emphatically NOT a costume for me. I was told I could wear my kilt to work Monday, since people were going to be in costume. Normally the company dress code requires suit and tie. I will not being wearing my kilt. That would undermine my whole contention that it is not a costume, but another legitimate garment choice.

***

[Meggers]

I do admit that a lot of the Ren-Fair style outfits we see at Highland Games and other Scottish functions here in the US do cross the line into costume. I'm just not sure what to do about it.

Amen! And honestly, that stuff annoys me more than someone who just innocently dresses up in a kilt for Halloween. It gives the impression that Scottish traditional clothes aren't meant to be taken seriously if it's crossed into costumey for Scottish festivals or Renn faire events. I have the same issue with pagans who wear fairy wings to circle. It makes the religion look like a costume party and not a real religious belief.

[Bugbear]

It's none of my business. I don't own the clothing or costume another might be wearing unless I have loaned it to that person.

I try to take into consideration context when I dress. I also try to take into consideration that I do not see or understand the world the same as another might before I take offence; again, context.