Kilts at the University of Virginia

**Sir William** · 18th May 09, 03:35 AM

This weekend while attending my daughter's graduation at the University of Virginia I saw someone wearing a kilt and black Argyll jacket. I had hoped to chat with him at the reception afterward but couldn't find him.

My first thought was that he was wearing either Black Watch or Campbell - and when I saw him taking photos of as young man named "Campbell" walked across the stage I was pretty much confirmed in that impression.

I thought of wearing a kilt myself, but as this was my daughter's weekend I didn't want to detract from that by drawing attention away from her.

**JolyStNicholas** · 18th May 09, 03:53 AM

Ya never know where ya will see another kiltie! A missed opportunity.

Congratulations to your daughter!

**Dan R Porter** · 18th May 09, 05:40 AM

It seems the days we want to kilt, but don't, we see others had the same idea, and the courage to capitalize. Durn-it!

**Sir William** · 18th May 09, 06:08 AM

Originally Posted by Dan R Porter

It seems the days we want to kilt, but don't, we see others had the same idea, and the courage to capitalize. Durn-it!

Live an learn! Next time I won't be so reticent!

It was a nice soft day, too! Wet and cold -- just like Scotland!

**george7** · 18th May 09, 06:21 AM

Congratulations to you for raising a college grad and to your daughter for being a college grad. You never know when you'll spot a guy in a kilt... we live among the rest of society's mortals and change into our kilted form when it suits us most.

**Tartan Shortbread Jock** · 18th May 09, 06:22 AM

It's great seeing more kilts outside Scotland.
I hear alot more kilts are being worn at American graduations, great stuff.

**McFarkus** · 18th May 09, 07:19 AM

Great to hear about it. I was at UVA for my niece's graduation a couple of years ago, and for my brother's graduation about 30 years ago. "The Lawn" is an amazing setting for the event.

When my other niece graduated from Northwestern, she acknowledged the power of the kilt by asking my brother and me NOT to wear kilts. "It's my day," she said, "and when you guys wear kilts everyone pays more attention to you than to me."

**bchunter** · 18th May 09, 07:44 AM

Like others, whenever I don't kilt up I usually wind up wishing I had. I attended my oldest daughter's graduation from NC State last week, and wished I'd been kilted even though it hit an even 90 that day. My decision not to kilt was driven by the 3 hour car ride to and from, and I didn't want to subject the pleats to that kind of treatment.

**The Barry** · 18th May 09, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by Sir William

My first thought was that he was wearing either Black Watch or Campbell

I don't mean to confuse, but are you suggesting that BW and Campbell are different? I always thought that BW was Campbell.

**Sir William** · 18th May 09, 03:11 PM

Originally Posted by The Barry

I don't mean to confuse, but are you suggesting that BW and Campbell are different? I always thought that BW was Campbell.

I differentiate in the sense that there are several tartans, though of the same sett, shared by members of different clans. In this case, the wearer may have considered it as Black Watch, or he may have prefered to wear it as Campbell. It may be the same sett, but that doesn't mean the wearer interprets it that way.