With time more diverse kilt wearing

[Makeitstop]

I always wear the kilt correctly; wrapped around the waist, pleats in back, apron in front, dangly parts out of sight, and absolutely not upside down or inside out.

There is really only one rule governing how we are to dress; when in public, keep your naughty bits covered. Sometimes we can add "no shirt, no shoes, no service" but that is in no way universal.


I wear my kilts with t-shirts and sandals. No sporran. No hose. I sometimes wear athletic shoes or work boots, as the situation may require, and with those, plain white socks (only because hygiene requires it) scrunched up at the ankle. And sunglasses, always sunglasses.

Why do I dress this way? Because it's comfortable and I like it. If I were to dress the way others seem to suggest I must, I would not only have to spend considerable amounts of money on new clothes, but I would also be far less comfortable, and as a result, far less agreeable. A happy slob is definitely better than a pissed off snob.

Honestly, why should I wear clothing that I find uncomfortable and generally unappealing? To satisfy the demands of total strangers? Sorry, but I don't live for the approval of others. You don't have to like it. Hell, you can call it the single greatest abomination in the history of the world. I don't care. Why should I be any more concerned about your opinion than you are about mine?

Anyone who throws a fit about how I dress clearly has too much time on their hands. Really, what does it matter? My clothing is my own business. If it offends you, I suggest looking away, and possibly therapy, as that just isn't healthy.

The only way anyone will ever get a say in how I dress is if they are paying and/or dating me. For anyone else, if they want me to lose the casual attire, they'll have to take it. And if they manage to do so, they'll suddenly find that they are in possession of stolen property, and facing a large, angry, naked man. Believe me, you'd be better off just accepting the t-shirt and sandals.

If anyone prefers to dress formally, semi-formally, casually, or like a total slob, that is their own concern. Let everyone decide for themselves how they prefer to dress, and don't be bothered if someone makes a choice that you wouldn't have made. There are so many other things for us to all worry about. This is right below "dandruff in polar bears" and just above "the problematic temporal mechanics of the back to the future movies" on the big list of things we should worry about.



So, to answer the original question, no, I don't find that I have gotten more casual, as I have nowhere to go but up. If anything, I have gotten slightly less casual. With the kilt, I keep my shirt tucked in.

[Jock Scot]

Well, whether we come from the more "traditional "casual end of the kilt world or the more "modern" end of the casual kilt world is a matter of choice and that is as it should be.It seems the one thing that, perhaps, we all agree on is as Erisianmonkey succinctly phrases it: "THE KILT IS NOT A F******* COSTUME!!!"The kilt is Scottish attire,and maybe some people forget that,so please humour this Scotsman when he takes more than a passing interest on kilt matters.I hope that does not qualify me as a "kilt snob"?

[McClef]

And especially not a costume for Gilbert and Sullivan Major Generals!

[Jock Scot]

And especially not a costume for Gilbert and Sullivan Major Generals!

Not even for a modern Major General.

[Chef]

THE KILT IS NOT A F COSTUME!!!*
*and that is as politely as I can put it.

Your right, it is not. A kilt is however recognised as a form of national dress. Because of that, you should recognise it represents more to some people than a way to thumb their nose at the establishment or to let their privates hang free. I'm not a kilt snob because I think everyone should dress more formally, I'm a kilt snob because the kilt means something to me. It represents my history, my heritage and my family.

Many people wear a kilt for no reason other that they like it. That is fine, I don't have a problem with it. I only have a problem when they thumb their noses at those for whom the kilt has more meaning. If someone wants to wear a dirty wrinkled UK or an AK half way their backside with a Bud Light shirt and sandals I don't care because it doesn't mean anything to me, but if you do the same with traditional kilt (or anything that passes for one) yes it bothers me. I doesn't mean I am going to call my congressman and ask them to legislate against it but in a forum where someone asks a question I am gong to answer honestly.

I understand the wearing of a kilt as an anti-establishment statement for many on the forum. I don't agree with it but I respect it. All I'm asking is while you might not agree with those who feel there is more meaning to a kilt you at least understand and respect that view.

[SportBilly]

Your right, it is not. A kilt is however recognised as a form of national dress. Because of that, you should recognise it represents more to some people than a way to thumb their nose at the establishment or to let their privates hang free. I'm not a kilt snob because I think everyone should dress more formally, I'm a kilt snob because the kilt means something to me. It represents my history, my heritage and my family.

Many people wear a kilt for no reason other that they like it. That is fine, I don't have a problem with it. I only have a problem when they thumb their noses at those for whom the kilt has more meaning. If someone wants to wear a dirty wrinkled UK or an AK half way their backside with a Bud Light shirt and sandals I don't care because it doesn't mean anything to me, but if you do the same with traditional kilt (or anything that passes for one) yes it bothers me. I doesn't mean I am going to call my congressman and ask them to legislate against it but in a forum where someone asks a question I am gong to answer honestly.

I understand the wearing of a kilt as an anti-establishment statement for many on the forum. I don't agree with it but I respect it. All I'm asking is while you might not agree with those who feel there is more meaning to a kilt you at least understand and respect that view.

The kilt is my heritage, history and family too. My paternal grandfather was a Murray (my surname) from just outside Edinburgh. My maternal grandfather was a Stewart from near Glasgow. One of my grandmothers was from Waterford in Ireland. I don't think I'm doing any side of my family a disservice by wearing a kilt casually. In fact, I know that my late grandparents would be proud to know I'm wearing a kilt and wouldn't give a damn if it's with a t-shirt, shirt and tie or anything else. I don't have a tank and may not buy one for some time. I have just one kilt, an SWK and I don't care where it was made. It's a kilt. I'd love a Murray of Atholl kilt that's been handmade by elves in a cave in Glencoe, but until I can afford or justify that, I'm happy wearing my Nightstalker. I may be new to kilts, but to me, wearing mine is about two things. First and foremost, it's comfortable. Secondly, it's a nod in the direction of my grandparents and their families before them. I don't need to have my socks pulled up to within 1.654 inches of the bottom of my kneecap or whatever when going for a stroll in the park to be respectful of either a kilt or my family.

I respect that others feel differently and that wearing a kilt for them is about rules and regulations. What I don't agree with is suggesting there's a set of rules for everyday wear. Surely we should just be happy if one more person dons a kilt and thinks 'Now I get it'

[macwilkin]

I respect that others feel differently and that wearing a kilt for them is about rules and regulations.

Respectfully, though, this sentence is a bit disrespectful. It implies that those who are more traditionalist in their take on kilt-wearing only care about rules and regulations, and not the meaning behind them. You youself said you wear the kilt as a nod to your heritage, so you should certainly understand a traditionalists point-of-view in this regard.

Honestly, I'm not going to lose sleep at night over whether you wear a SWK or a kilt from Kinloch Anderson, or if you place "comfort" above heritage. To some, "comfort" comes in tradition, while for others, comfort is a physical comfort. Horses for courses, after all. By implying that traditionalists are only about "rules & regulations", you're not returning the respect you ask of them. I have my own personal beliefs regarding Highland attire, but I am not going to say you're wrong in yours because they do not match mine -- my mother raised me better than that. We're all Jock Tamson's bairns after all.

Regards,

Todd

[Abax]

Despite a lifetime of not conforming to everyone else's expectations, dressing radically different from everyone around me creates some discomfort. But as the original poster points out, this discomfort decreases over time. There are now occasions I forget I'm wearing a kilt, and there's no doubt familiarity has changed how I wear my kilt.

I suspect that - at least internally - I justified my original choice of dress by referring to the "rules" of dress I chose for myself. These rules were really just my perception of what some imaginary group of authoritative people would describe as the "proper" way to wear a kilt in my circumstance. Conforming to my rules allowed me to easily withstand any criticism I might receive from people who couldn't imagine wearing a kilt. I no longer feel I have to follow the original rules I chose for myself. I take this as a sign of increased confidence and my own personal advancement. I created the first set of rules: I have just as much authority now to change those rules and decide to what extent I'll meet other people's expectations.

To the members who have offered their thoughts on how *they* dress and why, thank you very much. To the members who insist I do it their way or offer their disdain for my choices, no thanks.

Abax

[SportBilly]

Respectfully, though, this sentence is a bit disrespectful. It implies that those who are more traditionalist in their take on kilt-wearing only care about rules and regulations, and not the meaning behind them. You youself said you wear the kilt as a nod to your heritage, so you should certainly understand a traditionalists point-of-view in this regard.

Honestly, I'm not going to lose sleep at night over whether you wear a SWK or a kilt from Kinloch Anderson, or if you place "comfort" above heritage. To some, "comfort" comes in tradition, while for others, comfort is a physical comfort. Horses for courses, after all. By implying that traditionalists are only about "rules & regulations", you're not returning the respect you ask of them. I have my own personal beliefs regarding Highland attire, but I am not going to say you're wrong in yours because they do not match mine -- my mother raised me better than that. We're all Jock Tamson's bairns after all.

Regards,

Todd

If it came across that I wasn't returning respect for others' views on kilt-wearing (or anything else for that matter) then I apologise, because that wasn't my intent. I was merely stating that I don't believe there should be steadfast rules when it comes to wearing a kilt casually. Have all the rules you want for formal occasions but otherwise why not let people just wear a kilt with whatever as long as they're happy?

[Jack Daw]

I respect the kilt, but let's not forget its origins - it was the garment of the common man; not landed gentry. The bottom line is that one can wear the kilt anyway one wants as far as informal wear goes.