Alaskan Celt wrote: I for one am sick of anyone claiming to be Scot, questioning my RIGHT to wear a kilt, or telling me how to wear it.
My experience is that it is generally non-Scots who question the "right" to wear a kilt.
I am 100% Scottish - a Highlander, in fact - and I would never question anyone's right to wear any garment he chooses, unless it is the uniform (or insignia) of some particular organization of which the would-be wearer is not a member. In fact, I take it as a great compliment that any distantly-related or non-Scot should want to wear my national-dress.
There is, however, a body of opinion - strongest, I have discovered, among members of Caledonian groups and clan societies NOT in Scotland, but overseas - which questions entitlement to wear certain Scottish tartans. Again, I have no quarrel with anyone wearing any available Scottish tartan he chooses, although I cannot quite see any logic in selecting, say, Smith tartan, if your name is Wallace.
I do, however, look less favourably upon the practice of choosing to wear a kilt of Scottish tartan in a version which is greatly at odds with the standards of Highland Dress accepted in Scotland. I think that is mildly insulting, because the Scottish tartan kilt-outfit is, after all, just that: national-dress. For example, how many would feel comfortable "taking liberties" with other traditional costumes, such as Indian and Japanese, to the same point of travesty that Scottish kilts are often pushed?
I would suggest that if anyone wants to wear a kilted garment but not the rest of Highland-Dress attire, then he should not wear a Scottish tartan.