[Monkey@Arms]

The growing popularity of kilts

By Nicholas Spencer

Published: December 12 2009

Some people smile, giggle and make a humorous remark upon hearing the word “kilt”. Others freeze, po-faced, as if they don’t want to reveal what they’re really thinking about the possibility of a man wearing “a skirt”. Then they mumble something about my (non-existent) Scottish heritage or New Year celebrations, as if desperately trying to find something that will mitigate such aberrant behaviour – while also neatly summing up the stereotypical view of the Caledonian traditional costume as suited only for fancy dress, high days and holidays, and those who live north of the English border.

So it was with mixed feelings that I made my way to a hotel near London’s Hyde Park to get a kilt of my own. I’d been tempted to invest for a couple of years, after first wearing a borrowed kilt for a celidh and realising that the garment is versatile, elegant and fun to wear – even a little bit naughty if one bows to folklore and goes “commando”. And, despite common prejudice, it turns out I’m not the only non-Scot to have learned these lessons.

Full article and picture here. Not 100% accurate perhaps, but a positive piece nevertheless.

Best regards,

Jake

[paulhenry]

I read with interest Nicholas's piece, he is a friend of mine, and he was rather shame faced that he didn't get me to make a kilt for him,as we had talked about kilts before, but the article had to have a very commercial side to it, so I think Geoffrey Kilts fills that slot very nicely. I haven't yet seen him in his kilt, I look forward to it, perahps I'll even get the chance to take some photos and post them on here!
I think it would have been nice to have included a broader look at differnt sorts as well, but it wasn't a long article, so all in all it was fine!

[bricekolob]

I enjoyed the article.

[cavscout]

Good article.

[Inchessi]

Neat article, though I never thought of wearing a kilt as "aberrant behaviour."

[Hamish]

I think the article is fine and whilst, unlike Paul, I do not know Nicholas Spencer, I think he has captured the atmosphere of a Geoffrey (Tailor) London showroom at the Ramada Jarvis Hotel very well. It's been a few months since I have attended one - in fact, since my good friend Howie Nicholsby took TFCK away from his father's premises in Edinburgh - but it sounds as if TFCK is still represented, which is really good news.

Take care,
Ham.