Women in Kilts?

[Tobus]

Out of sincere curiosity, if women have appropriate women's clothing to wear in competition, why do some prefer to wear men's clothing when solo piping? I can't imagine a man showing up for competition in the outfit that lovely lady is wearing. I even have trouble understanding it in band piping, but I assume uniformity is the reason there.

I'm not wanting to offend anyone's wife, or sister, or mother, or friend, or... but I think women always look better in a pleated tartan skirt, designed and constructed for a woman, than in a man's garment somehow adapted for them. I'm somewhat old fashion I guess.

You're not alone, sir. I know it's unpopular to say so, for fear of offending someone or hurting someone's feelings, but it's worth saying, just for the sake of full disclosure. Traditionally, the kilt is a man's garment. Women can turn tradition on its head and wear it if they so choose, but it seems odd for them to wear the style of skirt specifically developed for men, when they have so many other choices of style and length which are appropriate to a woman's build. A traditional kilt, especially when worn with kilt hose, sporran, necktie, jacket, etc., is a very masculine look (that's why we love wearing it!), and best suited to the body shape of males.

In conversations such as these, it seems that the overwhelming majority of responses seem to favour the opinion that the kilt is a unisex garment, equally attractive on the female form as on the male, but I rather tend to think that this is simply because most traditionalists are too polite (or too afraid of being seen as exclusivists or sexist pigs?) to voice their actual opinions.

And, not meaning to seem so myself, I'll leave it at that.