Counterrevolutionary - X Marks the Scot

**CDNSushi** · #1 02-21-2010, 11:57 PM

I know that more than a few posts have come through this forum that talk about peoples' experiences becoming "the kilted guy" to the point where one's friends, co-workers, acquaintances, etc come to expect that you will be wearing that.

Happened to me this weekend... I arrived at church in my favorite (only pair) of blue jeans. The church pastor was taken aback and asked, "Where's your kilt?"

I mean, I've been vaguely aware of this for some time now, which is why I've scaled back my kilt wearing the past month or so... I've been airing out other garments that I used to wear.

See, rather than being happy about people expecting me to be kilted, I was not. Thinking about it further in fact, I am just a wee bit vexed by the fact that I've allowed it to get to that point. Not that there's anything wrong in being kilted all the time, as I know many of the XMTS rabble ARE, but for me the kilt represents choice in a wardrobe full of interesting items.

After this weekend's experience I've been thinking to myself, "Have I become a one-trick pony? Is this all I know? All what people know me for?"

I'm not quite sure what to do about this minor identity crisis. I don't plan to give up wearing kilts, but perhaps it's time to start varying things up a little more too.

In March, I will attend the graduation ceremony for the college students whom I teach. I was originally thinking that I would come wearing Highland formal. But now I'm torn -- I've all but decided to take a different tack on this one. I was thinking I would wear an all-leather black suit instead (as in: black leather slacks, vest, suit jacket, white (non-leather) dress shirt

and a funky Italian silk tie). Still very unusual and different (that's me!) but from a distance, would look restrained, elegant, and almost conventional.

What does the rabble think? Agree? Disagree?

walkerk · #2 02-22-2010, 12:23 AM

Graduation day. Pictures will be taken and memories made. How would you have your students remember you fifty years from now when they're writing their memoirs? Choose wisely.

Vegan Scot · #3 02-22-2010, 12:32 AM

I think it's a human tendency to compartmentalize the way we perceive the world around us and reduce complex things into easily digestible black or white issues. Even tonight I was referred to (endearingly) as "the kilt guy" (objectification), not a person (subject) wearing a kilt (object).

It seems that you have two options and that either option will work your problem out for you. You can continue to wear the kilt to the point that it becomes a mundane item and not costume or you can vary your wardrobe from day to day so that people realize that the kilt is just as usual an item to you as your shirt and shoes (or p***s).

In the end however, I think how you feel internally about what you choose to wear shows through to people around you in your actions and demeanor. If you feel comfortable in whatever you choose to wear, others generally will as well.

That being said, if it were my decision to choose something to wear to a graduation ceremony, I think a kilt would be the grander/classier of the two options!

Jock Scot · #4 02-22-2010, 02:11 AM

Vegan Scot.

Er, just so you know, Scots Highland attire should not be described, or even suggested, that it might be a "costume".

Vegan Scot · #5 02-22-2010, 02:35 AM

I use the term loosely and/or anachronistically and/or with my tongue in my cheek, but:

Costume, n.

1. Unusual attire not characteristic of the place (such as the USA or Kofu, Japan)

2. A style of dress, including garments, accessories, and hairstyle, especially as characteristic of a particular country, period, or people; "Scottish national costume"

However, point taken!

Jock Scot · #6 02-22-2010, 02:51 AM

We in the Scottish Highlands are not much interested in weasel words, jargon, splitting of hairs, dictionary definitions or any other form of word craft when it comes to our national attire. The one thing we know for sure, is that the kilt and its accompanying accoutrements is not, never has been and never will be "costume". But thank you for taking on the point.

skauwt · #7 02-22-2010, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

We in the Scottish Highlands are not much interested in weasel words, jargon, splitting of hairs, dictionary definitions or any other form of word craft when it comes to our national attire. The one thing we know for sure, is that the kilt and its accompanying accoutrements is not, never has been and never will be "costume". But thank you for taking on the point.

here here

CDNSushi not too sure if a all leather setup would work but hey what ever floats your boat

,if its the wow factor your after i think the leathers would do the job

**CDNSushi** · #8 02-22-2010, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skauwt

CDNSushi not too sure if a all leather setup would work but hey what ever floats your boat

,if its the wow factor your after i think the leathers would do the job

Well, I still got a few weeks to decide... For the record, I have worn all three to work: leather pants, leather vest, leather jacket, just never all together as a "suit" before. Didn't get so much as a second glance.

On the other hand, I've not worn my kilt to the college before. If I wanted to make waves, that would certainly do it.

We'll see... It may also come down to how I feel that morning when I get up.

BTW, for whatever it's worth, no matter what I wear I won't be upstaging anyone... It's a little hard to describe the scene, but if anything, the young ladies wearing their dazzling array of kimono will be the stars of the show.

P.S. Maybe just for giggles I'll try both on, take pictures and ask for some opinions/ideas over in the Off-topic forum... Couldn't hurt. :-)

RockyR · #9 02-22-2010, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vegan_scot

I think it's a human tendency to compartmentalize the way we perceive the world around us and reduce complex things into easily digestible black or white issues. Even tonight I was referred to (endearingly) as "the kilt guy" (objectification), not a person (subject) wearing a kilt (object).

It seems that you have two options and that either option will work your problem out for you. You can continue to wear the kilt to the point that it becomes a mundane item and not a 'not seen everyday' clothing choice (at least here in America) or you can vary your wardrobe from day to day so that people realize that the kilt is just as usual an item to you as your shirt and shoes (or p***s).

In the end however, I think how you feel internally about what you choose to wear shows through to people around you in your actions and demeanor. If you feel comfortable in whatever you choose to wear, others generally will as well.

That being said, if it were my decision to choose something to wear to a graduation ceremony, I think a kilt would be the grander/classier of the two options!

I ditto Vegan Scot's comments. I DID edit the bold text in defference to Jock's comments.

Riverkilt · #10 02-22-2010, 06:45 AM

Well, too bad there's not enough time for a leather kilt - a bit of both worlds.

Otherwise - KILT UP!...as a gift to your students.

I well identify with what you're saying about others expecting us to wear kilts all the time. Well, that is THEIR expectation - not ours.

But if you want to be better remembered by your students for your contribution to their lives, and if you want to be pointed out and talked about for years to come when they look at their graduation pics, then kilt up.

Otherwise they'll be saying, "I don't know why he wore leather to the graduation, he usually wore kilts to class."

Just my opinion, as requested.