Under the kilt in freezing weather

[CDNSushi]

So a male friend suggested that during the cold weather on building sites, he would wear tights under his trousers (pants), why not wear them under the kilt?

So any suggestions from anyone who has done this or would a discreet skin coloured pair of tights be acceptable?

I have never worn tights under a kilt although I HAVE done so to keep warm under pants... (Heavy lycra, winter cycling tights work great for skiing, btw).

But the thing is, no matter how well-matched to your skin tone those "skin coloured" tights might be, it will be really, really obvious that you're wearing them and the net result would probably look either rather feminine, or quite ridiculous. The heavier the tights, the more obvious they are. You MAY fool a few people who don't get a closeup look at you with something very very thin, but that would also likely defeat the purpose of warmth.

The alternative being, if you can't conceal it, make it obvious (i.e. black or another color). There was some hip-hop artist (forget who) that did a concert in a kilt, wearing black tights instead of hose -- it was an old thread here or XMTS, and most people expressed that it didn't look very good.

So I would say: no, tights with kilts are not a good match.

There used to be a thread here dedicated to all the events, situations, and times where kilts would NOT be appropriate and perhaps SHOULDN'T be worn. The whole point behind kilt-wearing is freedom and comfort (among other reasons), so it makes little sense to become a slave to something that's supposed to be liberating. I would venture then to say that if you find yourself scheming and inventing odd ways that you can stay warm in winter with a kilt, maybe it's best to keep it in the closet and wear something you will be comfortable in.

[GG]

I never wore tights and have always considered them out of question. I also agree with many here that you normally feel less cold in a kilt than when in pants.

However, with this cold that we experience right now and the chill factor due to the wind I feel tempted to reconsider.
Like Jimmy said: ”…but in Scotland we are not used to extremes in temperature”.

Isn’t it, after all, not to believe that if the temperatures earlier and for longer periods of time had been that extreme and had tights in some form been invented then Scotsmen had sometimes used them under their kilts?

I shouldn’t wear transparent tights, however. To me they should look too feminine, but why not thick solid colored ones, like black or dark grey?

Wearing tights (men's tights are available) should also spare me for a lot of questions whether I’m not feeling cold.

What is worse in the mind of “normal” people not knowing about kilt wearing “rules”: A man with bare knees on a bitterly cold and windy day, or a man in black tights, mostly covered by a kilt?

Just thinking.

Greg

[CDNSushi]

Greg, personally it wouldn't make a lick of difference to me if someone chose to wear tights with their kilt, and clearly it seems that you would be of the same mind. But I do think that's a very European mindset, where men (especially in Germany) have been able to wear tights (even with shorts) for some years now without anyone raising an eyebrow. It's also a very utilitarian mindset, for what it's worth -- just do whatever allows you do be comfortable... Fashion police be damned.

In Japan, this fad is now making an appearance too... Tokyo has all sorts of men wearing footless tights with shorts -- seems to be de rigueur for this fall/winter season.

But that's all getting into territory that this particular forum does not get into -- so to avoid any backlash, I return to my original point....

Tights with kilts will seem/look wrong to many who live in N. America, not to mention all the traditionalists we have here, who won't abide anything other than kilt hose. As such, I think it's probably a good idea to steer clear from such a look.

[BroosterB1]

Lets see, bulky kilt hose with Hose toppers, a kilt that goes to mid knee, a set of long underwear or "tights", most likey will not be noticed.

Of course that is MHO and my experience; New Mexico can get right nasty.

Everybody said "aren't you cold?"; with that much wool I was more than toasty. ith: