kilts in Edinburgh

[McClef]

I think people should just wear what they want to wear. I genuinely believe the vast majority of folk in Edinburgh see wearing the Kilt as something for a special occassion not everyday particularly as general acceptance of non tartan kilts is some way off. For example looking at the Utility kilts described on this forum I can't think of ever seeing one of these worn in Scotland. Certainly at Rugby internationals, when you would think this is the ideal opportunity to wear something like this.

While I wear a kilt regularly I would never consider wearing it to work unless it was a specific event where it had been requested.


As such I'm not sure the term "Room for improvement" applies here.

Well, Rugby Internationals are certainly one of those exceptions and the "Tartan Army" are precisely that - wearers of tartan kilts.

It's the "special occasion" mentality which needs to be improved. Of course people should be allowed to wear what they want, and of course during the week many will be prevented from wearing what they would really like to wear because of work considerations.

But not everyone you see on the streets on a weekday is necessarily working and these have an opportunity to choose what they wear. Giving their kilts at least an occasional outing outside of special occasions would really help to raise the profile of kilts as well as the numbers.

Tourists have had their expectations raised by all the travel literature of kilts galore. They want to go home with photos of guys in kilts to show their friends and relatives who will of course ask why there are no such photos.

To illustrate - I have been to Canada twice and have been asked where the photos of the Mounties are on my return. I had to confess it's because I didn't see any. Well I did but in ordinary police uniforms which means that the colour and symbol was absent.

Clearly you can't expect ordinary Canadian citizens to make up for this shortfall by donning the Mountie uniform themselves. But I would contend that a little more kilt wearing in Edinburgh would help to make up the shortfall that you find. It's a sad reflection that when you do see someone wearing a kilt in weekaday Edinburgh it's likely to be a visitor.

And as I said before it's not just Edinburgh, the special occasions mentality is nationwide. It just seems more acute in Edinburgh because of its status as the capital city and biggest tourist destination in Scotland.

[Hamish]

Well, Rugby Internationals are certainly one of those exceptions and the "Tartan Army" are precisely that - wearers of tartan kilts.

It's the "special occasion" mentality which needs to be improved. Of course people should be allowed to wear what they want, and of course during the week many will be prevented from wearing what they would really like to wear because of work considerations.

But not everyone you see on the streets on a weekday is necessarily working and these have an opportunity to choose what they wear. Giving their kilts at least an occasional outing outside of special occasions would really help to raise the profile of kilts as well as the numbers.

Tourists have had their expectations raised by all the travel literature of kilts galore. They want to go home with photos of guys in kilts to show their friends and relatives who will of course ask why there are no such photos.

To illustrate - I have been to Canada twice and have been asked where the photos of the Mounties are on my return. I had to confess it's because I didn't see any. Well I did but in ordinary police uniforms which means that the colour and symbol was absent.

Clearly you can't expect ordinary Canadian citizens to make up for this shortfall by donning the Mountie uniform themselves. But I would contend that a little more kilt wearing in Edinburgh would help to make up the shortfall that you find. It's a sad reflection that when you do see someone wearing a kilt in weekaday Edinburgh it's likely to be a visitor.

And as I said before it's not just Edinburgh, the special occasions mentality is nationwide. It just seems more acute in Edinburgh because of its status as the capital city and biggest tourist destination in Scotland.

Hear! Hear! Trefor. Very well stated.

As a kilt wearer of over 57 years standing and a full-time kilt wearer for the past 8 years, I have frequently worn Utilikilts (and had them admired) in Edinburgh and other parts of Scotland. Admittedly, I opt for tartan more often than not nowadays, and regret so much that so few kilts are seen as everyday wear - especially in the capital.

Visitors want, and expect, to see this everyday garment as they travel around, which is evidenced by the number of occasions I have been, and am, asked to pose for their cameras! Had I charged £1 everytime I have been snapped, I am sure I could have paid for one, maybe two, new kilts by now!

[Phil]

I have had arguments with Edinburgh residents about the frequency of kilt wearing in Edinburgh. They point to weddings, sporting occasions etc. (which are not in dispute) and of course to Festival time which Alex also mentions.

But when I ask how many they see in an ordinary weekday situation they seem to think that seeing two or three (out of countless numbers of passers by) is somehow an acceptable situation.

Of course this problem is not unique to Edinburgh by any means but seems more acute there given its position as a major tourist destination and its high proportion of kilt and tartan related shops. A conflict of image and reality results and kilted visitors such as myself become centres of photographic interest when they normally wouldn't be!

Well this is one Edinburgh resident who won't get into an argument with you. Sadly though kilt-wearing in Scotland is very much reserved for special occasions, probably because so few people actually own kilts here and will hire them for a wedding etc.. If you do see someone about Edinburgh in a kilt then it is more than likely he works in tourism or a highlandwear shop. The tourist board should pay students and unemployed people to walk about in kilts so the tourists will get their money's worth.

[Nervous Jock]

Well this is one Edinburgh resident who won't get into an argument with you. Sadly though kilt-wearing in Scotland is very much reserved for special occasions, probably because so few people actually own kilts here and will hire them for a wedding etc.. If you do see someone about Edinburgh in a kilt then it is more than likely he works in tourism or a highlandwear shop. The tourist board should pay students and unemployed people to walk about in kilts so the tourists will get their money's worth.

although its good that so many young people seem to be getting kilts, if not the whole rig, for their 18th or 21st birthday.

[Phil]

although its good that so many young people seem to be getting kilts, if not the whole rig, for their 18th or 21st birthday.

But they rarely wear them. My son got an outfit courtesy of his granny when he was 18 and I don't think he has worn it more times than the fingers of one hand and that was 12 years ago.

[Nervous Jock]

But they rarely wear them. My son got an outfit courtesy of his granny when he was 18 and I don't think he has worn it more times than the fingers of one hand and that was 12 years ago.

Which is a shame but much of this will depend on his circle of friends and his social activities i suppose.

[McClef]

If you do see someone about Edinburgh in a kilt then it is more than likely he works in tourism or a highlandwear shop. The tourist board should pay students and unemployed people to walk about in kilts so the tourists will get their money's worth.

Now that sounds like a good idea though it does run into the danger of creating a Potemkin Village.

But some kind of reward system such as refund of parking charges (<g>) or a monthly lottery (tickets free but you have to be kilted to get them) - the possibilities are endless really.

[Martin S]

As it happens, I have just received a note from another French kiltwearer, who told me there were several kilts on the streets of Edinburgh Fridays as office workers leave for home (or for the nearest celidh, perhaps?).

Martin

[Phil]

Which is a shame but much of this will depend on his circle of friends and his social activities i suppose.

I suppose you are right. He last wore it to a wedding and before that I think it was his graduation ball in Aberdeen 8 or 9 years ago. His brother wears his to Scotland rugby and football games (kilt only) but only the full outfit for weddings etc.. Neither wears their kilts on a day to day basis. I posted earlier about wearing my kilt in Sainsburys. What I didn't say was when I got home I had to change as the sweat was lashing off me. A kilt is a bit too hot even for Edinburgh this time of year.

[McClef]

As it happens, I have just received a note from another French kiltwearer, who told me there were several kilts on the streets of Edinburgh Fridays as office workers leave for home (or for the nearest celidh, perhaps?).

Martin

Would his name be Bruno by any chance? If so he is one with whom I was having the discussion about numbers!