I may be out of my league here...

[NewPiperinNY]

Just joined the forum to share a comment about an article I read relating to this forum (this thread), and in browsing the topics it looks like I'm no match for some of the folks that frequent these boards. I own one kilt and wear it regularly, but only when I'm playing my bagpipes, and then only for performances or competitions. It's not part of my daily wear wardrobe, just part of a costume that I wear when performing.

The few times I've been to a highland games only as a spectator, I don't wear my kilt. When I am playing at a highland games I will usually change into jeans or shorts once I'm finished playing.

I'm not ashamed or embarrassed to wear my kilt, but I don't really see it as necessary unless the pipes are out. Practically speaking I prefer having pockets (I find the sporran to be generally unsuited to my needs), and I hate sitting down in a kilt, especially in a car, because the pleats get bunched up and wrinkled.

That's just my point of view; feel free to show me the error of my ways. You folks seem to be fanatical about your kilts, and that should not be taken as a derogatory comment!

Hey there Key, I am in the same boat as you and agree with most everything you say.. except for calling it a costume. I tend to refer to my kilt and accessories as a uniform. 'Costume', to me, just detracts from the aura that wearing a kilt can develop.

[bricelythgoe]

Just a bit more on ironing. Your pants get wrinkled just as easily as a kilt, you just never have thought to notice it. I notice when sit for a while my pants get pretty wrinkly, I just don't care. Same with the kilt. However, I have found that the wrinkles fall out pretty easily (even with my PV).

Now, back to topic. I wear my kilt occasionaly. Wish I could wear it more. For me the ideal would be 2-4 times a month. Usually only get about once.

Brice

[McMurdo]

Wow. And you do need to iron trousers pretty often if you want to look neat. Not that I actually get around to ironing trousers. Well, I do once in a while.

Kilt + H2SO4 = unhappy Scot.

I should really clarify, I do have a steamer, from time to time I steam the kilts to freshen them up a wee bit, however as for wrinkles hanging a wool kilt overnight normally straightens it out. If there are still wrinkles, I wear another kilt and let that one hang for a while longer.

[Zardoz]

OK, this Kilts / Bagpipers question has been rattling around in the back of my mind for a while. There was a mention here some time ago about some posts over on a piper's forum that got me thinking about it. On the piper's forum the thread started out being about Utilikits, but turned into a thread about kilt wearing "outside" of pipe comps or similar events.

I was kind of surprised that most of pipers on that forum only saw the kilt as an odd costume, or part of their band 'uniform', not suitible for wear outside of "Scottish or Celtic" events. Many made statements about how they would never wear a kilt unless they were playing, and could not wait to get out of it after. And some were very critical and dismissive of the notion of wearing Highland dress as casual, everyday or even dressy/formal wear. Many of them made the sort of statements and accusations one sees posted here by members with kilt loathing mother in-laws!

The folks on the Xmarks forum are quite varied in their reasons for kilt wearing, but many of us came to kilts through looking into our heritage, some of us have gotten more involved in additional Scottish/ Celtic arts like playing the pipes, Highland dancing, kilt making etc... Some of our members came here to our forum and kilt wearing from those areas as well.

My questions are, and maybe I'm oversimplifying the issues, but where are the disconnects in the Bagpiper/Kilt equation? While I know there are pipers (and kilt wearers) with little or no Celtic heritage, I would think that most pipers got into playing because of their links to heritage? If that is so, why are kilts, which are always seen to be just as emblematic of Scotland as bagpipes are, seemingly disdaned by pipers?

[Macman]

OK, this Kilts / Bagpipers question has been rattling around in the back of my mind for a while. There was a mention here some time ago about some posts over on a piper's forum that got me thinking about it. On the piper's forum the thread started out being about Utilikits, but turned into a thread about kilt wearing "outside" of pipe comps or similar events.

I was kind of surprised that most of pipers on that forum only saw the kilt as an odd costume, or part of their band 'uniform', not suitible for wear outside of "Scottish or Celtic" events. Many made statements about how they would never wear a kilt unless they were playing, and could not wait to get out of it after. And some were very critical and dismissive of the notion of wearing Highland dress as casual, everyday or even dressy/formal wear. Many of them made the sort of statements and accusations one sees posted here by members with kilt loathing mother in-laws!

The folks on the Xmarks forum are quite varied in their reasons for kilt wearing, but many of us came to kilts through looking into our heritage, some of us have gotten more involved in additional Scottish/ Celtic arts like playing the pipes, Highland dancing, kilt making etc... Some of our members came here to our forum and kilt wearing from those areas as well.

My questions are, and maybe I'm oversimplifying the issues, but where are the disconnects in the Bagpiper/Kilt equation? While I know there are pipers (and kilt wearers) with little or no Celtic heritage, I would think that most pipers got into playing because of their links to heritage? If that is so, why are kilts, which are always seen to be just as emblematic of Scotland as bagpipes are, seemingly disdaned by pipers?

Very good question, Zardoz. I've been thinking about it more after reading the bobdunsire thread you're talking about.
I've been wearing the kilt for almost 40 years, but piping for less than five. In our band, there is no great hurry to get out of our kilts; it's more that most of the members would probably not wear a kilt outside the band setting.
I'd be interested to hear some other observations/theories on this phenomenon!

[Bugbear]

Oh goody, now we have to worry about the pipers looking down on us for wearing our kilts.

[davedove]

OK, this Kilts / Bagpipers question has been rattling around in the back of my mind for a while. There was a mention here some time ago about some posts over on a piper's forum that got me thinking about it. On the piper's forum the thread started out being about Utilikits, but turned into a thread about kilt wearing "outside" of pipe comps or similar events.

I was kind of surprised that most of pipers on that forum only saw the kilt as an odd costume, or part of their band 'uniform', not suitible for wear outside of "Scottish or Celtic" events. Many made statements about how they would never wear a kilt unless they were playing, and could not wait to get out of it after. And some were very critical and dismissive of the notion of wearing Highland dress as casual, everyday or even dressy/formal wear. Many of them made the sort of statements and accusations one sees posted here by members with kilt loathing mother in-laws!

The folks on the Xmarks forum are quite varied in their reasons for kilt wearing, but many of us came to kilts through looking into our heritage, some of us have gotten more involved in additional Scottish/ Celtic arts like playing the pipes, Highland dancing, kilt making etc... Some of our members came here to our forum and kilt wearing from those areas as well.

My questions are, and maybe I'm oversimplifying the issues, but where are the disconnects in the Bagpiper/Kilt equation? While I know there are pipers (and kilt wearers) with little or no Celtic heritage, I would think that most pipers got into playing because of their links to heritage? If that is so, why are kilts, which are always seen to be just as emblematic of Scotland as bagpipes are, seemingly disdaned by pipers?

Perhaps the bagpipers simply have the same attitude that many in general society have: That the kilt is part of a ceremonial costume, worn only during those events. Most people in general society don't even think about kilts outside of those events.

Also, many pipe bands have rather elaborate uniforms and the pipers only wear the kilt with that uniform, thus linking the two together. They wouldn't think of wearing the whole uniform in a casual situation, so they don't wear the kilt either.

[David Dubh]

I'm an occasional kilt wearer. I purchased my highland attire for my daughter's wedding. I have found the kilt to be most comfortable, I started to look for more times too wear it as I thought the more that I wore it the less it cost per wear. I didn't want to be like my wife who during that time bought 4 dresses between 2 weddings and 2 graduations. I probably manage to wear my kilt on average twice a month.
Welcome too our community I hope that you find the same friendliness that I enjoy in this forum.wear your kilt as often or as little as you like we are all friends here
slainte
David

[Inchessi]

I like to wear my kilt as often as I can, however, my work has specific safety requirements. Now my suits, I wear them sparingly. I like wearing a suit, it is reminisce of my uniformed days. They need way too much care, they wrinkle easy, and they are light weight, requiring a trench coat on brisk days. So I tend to wear them to formal meetings only. You just can't wear a suit hiking or to a good old fashion mud bog. Now the kilts, they fit well in both, more so with the companies around making acrylic and PV kilts for less than $100 USD.

Welcome to the board, and like so many before have said, kilt on as often or as little as you enjoy.

[wildrover]

On the piper's forum the thread started out being about Utilikits, but turned into a thread about kilt wearing "outside" of pipe comps or similar events.

Tell me that's not the "man-skirt or edgy pseudo-Scottish fashion" thread on BDF.

I'd never wear my kilt, personal or otherwise, to a band function that wasn't a performance...everyone would probably think I was either crazy or a fruitcake.

...And I can honestly say I'm not sure why that is...if it's avoidance of a stereotype (we play pipes, therefore we must wear kilts), or avoidance of the gig suit, or avoiding looking like everyone else, or what. You'd think, if pipers hated kilts so much, they'd either pick a different instrument or change the competition rules.

Even sillier, considering at most band events, like someone else said there are a couple hundred people running around in everything from Clan MacTablecloth costumes (...and don't forget the claymore and blue paint!) to their heavyweight 8-yd knife pleat in family tartan.

Get a good wool kilt, and take care of it...no fire, no washing machines. Clean and store it properly. Wool is surprisingly easy to take care of, IMHO far easier than synthetic fabrics or cotton. Car seats, couches, restaurant seating, no problem. Only time I got up and noticed any wrinkling was after sitting in a pleather office chair...the kind that reflects body heat and moisture back at you...aka a butt-sweat chair. Those are the worst, and the kilt was surprisingly resistant to wrinkling compared to regular cotton pants. Dunno how a kilt of synthetic material would fare.

BTW I got my kilt because I wanted something other than the band stuff to wear for solo piping, and then realized how comfortable it is, and how good it looks, and so far it's been very well received...tho I imagine I could probably pull off wearing a duck on my head, and make it look good. If you like wearing a kilt, invest in a good one, and wear it as often as appropriate.

Oh, and Inchessi...WIN for the Samurai Jack avatar

-Sean