Redundant or affectation?

[James Hood]

As one of the "not allowed to wear the kilt to work" crowd, the more-oft after-hours style, out of practicality (am a NOT-EVER blue jeans person and favour cargo trousers), is the "Cargo Kilt," particularly the 5.11 Tactical Duty Kilt.

Which brings up a query-topic-at-large on the continued evolution of our favoured garment....

Because it has as many pockets and in the same places as cargo trousers, wearing a sporran with a TDK seems at best redundant and at worst, possibly an affectation.

Furthermore, if the sporran is "forsaken," there is no reason not to wear a Saxon-cut rather than kilt-sporrran-cutaway jacket.

Thoughts are solicited from some of you pensive, more knowledgeable / experienced folks, thank you.

[Father Bill]

A very personal, and quite possibly improper perspective is that as we stray further from the original, it ceases to be as much an actual kilt and becomes a whole new kind of similar but different garment. That doesn't mean that it's wrong for the individual who prefers it, merely that the word "kilt" ceases to have its original meaning and starts to include all sorts of "skirty" male things.

The underlining is because I'm not excorciating such garments, merely indulging in an etymologically based linguistic excursion, so please save the rotten eggs and tomatoes for someone else.



(Ducks and runs.)

[cessna152towser]

I don't usually wear a sporran while wearing a non traditional kilt which has pockets.
I feel that this is a matter for the personal choice of the individual.

[MacMillans son]

Since the utility type "kilts" have no basis in Scottish tradition, I wouldn't think it necessary to apply traditional Scottish accessories to their use. It may be more appropriate to look to Seattle clothing traditions for inspiration and direction.

[Scout]

While it may not be necessary, I like to at least make a nod to the tradition and frankly I prefer the look of wearing a sporran with my TDKs. I wear mine with a black nylon "Nightstalker" from SWK.

That being said, a sporran is the only item of traditional Highland wear that I wear with my TDKs. I personally don't like the look of combining a TDK, Utilikilt or other non-traditional, pocketed kilt with other traditional accessories like flashes, kilt pins, kilt jackets etc. That look however, was very much in evidence at the recent NH Highland Games.

As has often been said here, there are no Kilt Police, so to each his own I guess!

[The Wizard of BC]

A non-Tartan kilt can be worn without a sporran if you choose.

At this Highland Games no one even noticed that I did not have a sporran.



But please notice that I am wearing this "as you would wear a kilt" and not as an alternative garment.

I have no personal experience with the 5.11 product but from the reviews I think it would be difficult to pull off the same look with a 5.11.

In my early kilt making days I experimented and tried a lot of different looks and combination. I never found a jacket designed for trousers that looked good with a kilt. It is not the sporran cut-away it is the length. A suit coat is cut to come down to the bottom of the buttocks (To hid the wrinkle formed by the trouser legs.) where a jacket cut for a kilt comes down only to the crest of the buttocks. This small length difference of about 3-4 inches makes all the difference in the world.

[rmccool]

As one of the "not allowed to wear the kilt to work" crowd, the more-oft after-hours style, out of practicality (am a NOT-EVER blue jeans person and favour cargo trousers), is the "Cargo Kilt," particularly the 5.11 Tactical Duty Kilt.

Which brings up a query-topic-at-large on the continued evolution of our favoured garment....

Because it has as many pockets and in the same places as cargo trousers, wearing a sporran with a TDK seems at best redundant and at worst, possibly an affectation.

Well, I'm not above the occasional affectation, and wearing my nylon Nightstalker sporran with my TDKs may be just that -- but I find it to be very practical. I carry quite a few things in my pockets when I wear trousers, not to mention a wallet (and, quite often, a small mechanical device about which discussion is prohibited by the rules of this forum) in my hip pockets. TDKs lack hip pockets. They also lie a bit flatter than trousers (IMO) along the sides, so carrying too much in the side pockets makes them bulge in an unattractive way.

Because of these design differences, when I wear one of my TDKs my wallet, comb, a couple of my various sets of keys, and the aforementioned mechanical device typically ride along in the sporran rather than in the side pockets of the kilt.

Also, while contemporary kilts certainly aren't "traditional" in design, I'm one of those who believe that they are kilts, just as both 5.11 Tactical trousers and tuxedo trousers are pants. I think that a TDK would certainly look odd with a dress or full mask sporran, or any other type of fancy or ornate sporran, but I think that wearing a simple day sporran, or one made with obviously modern design and materials (e.g., the Stillwater Kilts Nightstalker or the Tactikilts Tactical Sporran), is a nice nod to tradition while avoiding a "costume" look.

Of course, that's just my opinion; your mileage may vary.