Can you be too kilted?

[James MacMillan]

For a few days I’ve been bothered by something.

Here’s the question: Can someone be too kilted?

This is a question that has been stewing in my mind for several days now. Last Monday, I went to a gathering and one of my friends showed up in kilt also. We were the only ones kilted, but he looked, well, too kilted.

Let me describe our clothes:

I had on a nice casual tartan kilt, (Scottish National) lovat green hose, heavy blanket pin style kilt pin, red flashes, antler handled sgian dubh, Buzz Kidder sporran, wide black belt with my Marine buckle, black leather walking shoes and a light yellow golf shirt. I thought I looked pretty good for the casual occasion. I know that I felt comfortable and at ease.

My friend had on a Manly Richardson clone tank in Dress Gordon (really nice kilt!), sword kilt pin with a thistle, Gillies, off white hose, matching tartan flashes, dress sgian dubh with a red jewel, wide kilt belt, shiny silver buckle with a thistle, semi-dress dark fur sporran, chain and leather sporran belt, wide sleeved off white peasant shirt, and balmoral hat with a St George style clan badge. I think he bought all the items as a package. He looked uncomfortable and stiff. Oh, I forgot his walking stick.

Everything he had on shouted out “I’m Scottish!” (He’s parents are from Sweden, if that matters.) Somehow, he just seemed too kilted. Sure you don’t have to be Scottish to wear the kilt. I believe that, I support that, I want more men to wear the kilt!

But his whole ensemble was just wrong somehow. Sort-of like he just came from a rehearsal for a Brigadummy play or something.

Can you be too kilted? - -

[kiltedinUSMC]

I think you can be too formal in a kilt for a causal event but yes I argee he was too kilted for the event

[Mr. MacDougall]

This is what comes of thinking of the kilt as a costume, rather than clothing.

[James MacMillan]

No - It wasn't that he was too formal. He didn't have on a PC or anything, it was just over the edge somehow.... I'm still not sure what bothers me about it. Maybe it was that just everything that he had on was Scottish related, and now that I've typed that, it doesn't come out right.

It was a costume, not clothing..... and here we go again, but that doesn't fully describe my full impression either. It was just too much!

[James MacMillan]

This is what comes of thinking of the kilt as a costume, rather than clothing.

Yea - that's part of it, but not all of it........ I don't really know what bothers me about his get-up.

[cacunn]

It sounds to me that he mixed styles and over did each. His shirt is what most of us would see as very casual. But every thing else was very formal. From the belt down he is dressed semi-formal for a casual affair and the shirt is semi-casual.

As you said it sounds like he purchase a kilt package with out understanding the time to wear each piece.

Picture someone in old sneakers, no socks, aged jeans, a wide western belt and a tux jacket, tux shirt and bow tie. There would be a disconnect even though each item is acceptable.

[tamblackwood@yahoo.co.uk]

there is a time and place for everything far better to be too casual than too formal

[beloitpiper]

Yeah, you gotta dress for the occasion. From the way you described it, he was dressed for a Renn Faire, but it was just an everyday occasion.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I have the same pet peeve...
http://blog.albanach.org/2005/08/loo...l-in-kilt.html

[McGurk]

By the sounds of it, he's seen a picture on a highland wear retailers website and coppied it down to the last detail.

Might it have been his first time? He could have looked a lot better if he lost the hat. To me, the hat is worn as part of a uniform, either by a soldier or a piper. Being Scotish isnt a religion, but wearing a hat like that to a casual event makes it look like it is.