American in Scotland

[freddie]

I think the kilt is worn more now in Scotland (other than formal events) than it was say up to thirty years ago, certainly by the younger guys anyway. I well remember my Mother quoting an old Edinburgh saying "If you see someone in a kilt along Princess Street it'll be a Yank" This comment alluded to a wealthy American tourist at a time when most ordinary Scots (my Mother came from a working class background where money was very tight) just couldn't afford a kilt. In fact none of my Scottish relatives ever wore a kilt, or even had the desire to do so, even the ones who wore it in the army never wore it in civilian life. In fact when we went up a few years ago our relatives were taking us out to dinner and my cousin, who knew I liked to wear the kilt, said "I hope you're not going to show us up by wearing your kilt". No, if you go to Scotland don't expect to see everyone running around in kilts, unfortunately it just doesn't happen.

[Ryan Ross]

If I'm not mistaken, the tartan was designed for identification purposes...

That's a very common misconception. Tartans were designed for fashion (with, perhaps, possible considerations made, now and then, for camoflage). Assigning tartans to clans is a pretty new idea that has really caught on.

[shawhighlander]

That's a very common misconception. Tartans were designed for fashion

Kiltie as charged. I stand corrected. ith:

[Ryan Ross]

Kiltie as charged...ith:

Nice.

[Nighthawk]

Ron ................ that'll be the Scottish sense of humour then lol

What do you call a man wearing a modern solid color kilt?




Wait for it...




Wait for it...




A Clansvestite!

I know, I know... but what are gonna do with me?

[Nighthawk]

That's a very common misconception. Tartans were designed for fashion (with, perhaps, possible considerations made, now and then, for camoflage). Assigning tartans to clans is a pretty new idea that has really caught on.

Exactly. They were regional before the 1800's. And they were only regional because the various clans living there used the natural dyes that they had on hand- and therefore used whatever happened to be most prevelent for their region! Which I also suspect may have been part of the justification for the idea of tartan as clan identifiers. BUT that's just speculation. I have no facts to back that thought up.

[ThistleDown]

I suppose I have to add my 2p, since I live about half the year in Western Canada and the other half at Inverness -- and I have been wearing a kilt almost daily for many, many years in both places. There are some in Scotland who will object to those from outside wearing Scottish National Dress, but they are few and far between. If you wear it well, as Phil said, most will wish they were wearing it, too. It used to be said that if you spotted a kilt it was Sunday or the one wearing it was a Highland outfitter on his tea break. That's no longer true and, in the Highlands at least, there are many more worn daily than there were years ago -- it is nice to have their company. The key to blending in and being accepted is how you wear the kilt itself, but far more importantly, what you wear with it.

[Bugbear]

It seems like for the first few months after joining X Marks, the number of times I wore the kilt went up quite a bit. Practice maybe...? I'm not counting the times I wore my pleated, canvas man skirt.

Then it dropped way off as I figured out I didn't quite have the right accessories and was doing all kinds of things wrong. I think I have fixed most of those issues, and even found my tartan etc, but I almost don't wear the kilt anymore...

Strange...

[ThistleDown]

It seems like for the first few months after joining X Marks, the number of times I wore the kilt went up quite a bit. Practice maybe...? I'm not counting the times I wore my pleated, canvas man skirt.

Then it dropped way off as I figured out I didn't quite have the right accessories and was doing all kinds of things wrong. I think I have fixed most of those issues, and even found my tartan etc, but I almost don't wear the kilt anymore...

Strange...

Ah now, Ted, is it the passion that's gone out of you, or the detail that's gone in?

[Bugbear]

Ah now, Ted, is it the passion that's gone out of you, or the detail that's gone in?

Don't know...

I've even mostly stopped wearing my canvas, pleated man skirt.