Kilted Doorman at Missoni Hotel Edinburgh

[Jimmy]

Jimmy. I am all for the kilt to become more popular with the younger generation in Scotland--------but not under any and every circumstance-----that is not a price that our National attire should have to pay. In the end, without moderately stringent dress standards of the kilt, our Nation will be the poorer in the long run. By that I don't mean having a "kilt police", but I do mean knowledgeable peer pressure with a depth of knowledge to advise and steer our youngsters away from the pitfalls of kilt attire. Just like what happened in the past where a large proportion of the kilt wearing public were guided by past and serving members of the Sottish Regiments.That influence has diminished over the past few decades. So, the more people who know about the kilt the more there are to advise the next generation. And yes absolutely, I quite accept that every generation has adapted the kilt style one way or another--------even mine!

Now, some will say I am being jingoistic, some will say I am just being a stuffy old duffer, both comments I reject wholeheartedly. However, I will accept the comment of "speaking from experience!"

I accept and mostly agree with what you have stated, I am like you, a traditionalist at heart and proud of the culture and heritage of Scotland and would again like you, have rejoiced over the last couple of decades where we have seen the wearing of the kilt reach new heights in the numbers wearing it. I have said repeatedly on this forum that I can never understand the reluctance of Scots in Scotland who own kilts and seem to keep these kilts locked away in their wardrobe and wear the kilt fairly infrequently.
Tradition is important and that is what keeps a nation's heritage intact, without tradition, as you know, we would be living in an environment almost totallly empty of culture.
I agree again with you that we must have some standards in the mode of our national costume and must always be careful of wholesale change in some of the kilt designs and the introduction of kilted costumes that seem to be introduced as menswear from some weird fashion designers, I think that fashions such as what is created by these designers would prevent someone from wearing the kilt for the first time.
It may be that young people will experiment with different styles of kiltwear and why not, some of the outfits seen in photos from our members have been quite outlandish and far fetched. I believe that the traditional tartan kilt will always be at the heart of kilt wearing, I don't think there ever will be an major alternative to tartan, perhaps the solid black kilt is its nearest competitor but even some of these kilts have a tartan disguised in their fabric like the black Heritage of Scotland kilt which looks solid black from a few feet away but is indeed a tartan.

The hotel with their doorman is in my opinion quite an admirable concept and I after seeing this design physically on someone, I am not too critical of it, I think many young people seeing this may be encouraged to wear the kilt realising that they do not have to adhere to the traditional tartan but in saying that most young people from a formal point of view wll always go for tradition.
Look at the introduction of utilikilts, what are they, nothing more than a pleated skirt, yet there sales are quite massive but most of their wearers own tartan kilts. I don't think diversity is the enemy of tradition as many of our institutions in our society would have us believe, diversity in kilt wearing in the modern world, in my opinion can live alongside tradition

[Phil]

I'm not sure if the young lady in the spotty dress is either coveting that Missoni "kilt" for herself or is about to say to her friend "Did you see what that bampot was wearing?"
I believe Missoni are prominent in the fashion industry and no doubt this is their way of promoting their wares. I somehow doubt if it will catch on among the kilt-wearers of Edinburgh though.

[OC Richard]

Those kilts are certainly strange and jarring to the eye.

But at least that company is putting their employees in kilts! I'm all for that.

A well-made kilt out of artistically designed and substantial fabric (strange though it may be) looks better to me than a poorly made "casual kilt" made of thin flimsy fabric (tartan though it may be).

These Missoni kilts have a Southwest Native American look to them, something which would look more at home in Arizona or New Mexico than in Edinburgh.

[OC Richard]

“Fashion is about wearing today what you would not have wanted to wear yesterday and will not want to wear any more tomorrow.”

It is this very transience that makes me shy away from fashion.

But we cannot escape fashion, except by going naked.

Even if a person was to reject all modern fashion and dress in 18th century clothing, they would still be following the rules of fashion (just of another time period).

Fashion began when people first began wearing animal hides and it will be with us as long as we wear clothes.

[McClef]

I would rather have a well made kilt of unusual pattern than a tartan "cheapo".

When it comes to the design of "uniform" such as here and it is reflective of the design and ethos of that which it represents, I see no conflict with tradition at all and indeed any kilt is better than none.

I have only seen kilted staff outside any other hotel in Edinburgh at the Balmoral and even then, not all the time.

Like many other fashion things - one likes them or one doesn't and compared with some things you can see on a catwalk these kilts are ultra conservative in comparison!

[Mike_Oettle]

While the Missoni kilts are hard on the eye (you need dark glasses to look at them more than just for a moment) I am more than willing to live and let live.
What does concern me is that these are young men who might well be aroused at the sight of a pretty young lady and consequently embarrass themselves by producing a bulge in the kilt.
I do think they ought to wear some kind of sporran.
Regards,
Mike

[kiltiejimbob]

Any way to make the kilt modern and vital is a good thing. As people have said before, to only wear them as though one were decorating the cover of a box of shortbread is supporting the idea of a dated and quaint way of dressing. The fact is these garments, as we all know, are practical and comfortable. The kilt should be given new life as a proper sartorial alternative for men all over the world.
These are odd on first glance, but Missoni is a good family firm who make very fine textiles and have always "pushed" the envelope. Here is another example of their philosophy and I have to applaud their bravery. It is a pity that the men don't wear sporrans as this would be a practical addition to their uniform.
KJB

[Jimmy]

. The kilt should be given new life as a proper sartorial alternative for men all over the world.

I think you have hit the nail on the head with this comment, while adhering to tradition, moving with the changing times as illustrated with the hotel doormen, may help with getting more young people kilted

[josephkirkpatrick]

While not something that I would wear, I say bravo to the hotel. Why not have kilted doormen in Scotland? It is nauseating, however, and if I were to wear one, I would probably throw up on it at some point.

[Frank]

[QUOTE=Phil;1007838]I'm not sure if the young lady in the spotty dress is either coveting that Missoni "kilt" for herself or is about to say to her friend "Did you see what that bampot was wearing?"
QUOTE]

I know which outfit looks the more sensible to me - and it's not the one with the circles and the baffling height extensions (Look at me - aren't I tall ???). I would hope it's a glance of admiration ;-)