Why you don't see Scots wearing their kilts often

[OC Richard]

What I'm currently seeing pretty much universally for males up to age 30 or so in my area is a t-shirt worn untucked with knee-length baggy shorts (or alternatively, though far less commonly, with jeans) and athletic shoes. An optional but common accessory is a ball cap with the bill turned backwards...
nearly every male in the place -- Caucasian, Black, Asian, Hispanic, Pacific Islander -- was dressed this way.

Yes for sure if you're in San Francisco. But travel a bit eastwards- to California's rural agricultural central valley- and you'll see Western Wear a-plenty. BTW you can pretty much tell when you're in an area where Western Wear can be encountered by turning on the radio. Nothing but Country Music round the radio dial, and you're in Western Wear country. Hip Hop? The locals will be dressed as Dale says above.

Just to clarify, I did not suggest that Western Wear was the most common dress today in the USA. What I did say was that it symbolises the USA to many outsiders. As I said before, dress which within a country is strictly seen as a regional (often rural) dress is often perceived by outsiders as a National Dress cf lederhosen for Germany, kilts for Scotland, cowboy dress for the USA etc etc. And, there are many places here in the USA where Western Wear is worn all day every day by most people, whether to clean out the barn or to go to a formal event.

[Matty Ross]

When I was a teen I dressed like this much of the time. I lived in a small rural community in the western US. In some areas it is still VERY common to dress like this.

[piperdbh]

Phewee, that's alright then, I shall sleep rather better tonight. As I have never owned or worn a pair of jeans, or ten gallon hat, or cowboy boots and being in no danger of me ever owning such, it appears that I an not going to upset the sensibilities of our American friends by wearing their national attire incorrectly! :

I'd like to see that!

[DrCelt]

I've been in Scotland for about 2.5 weeks now, (lowlands) and here's what I've noticed. In general, natives don't wear them regularly unless they work in a kilt shop (though I walked into one in Edinburgh the other day, and neither of the men were wearing them), or are a piper/ drummer and are performing. There seems to be an unspoken rule here that in general you have to have a REASON to wear it. Aside from a very few exceptions, the three occasions I've seen it worn: Formal events (worn like a tuxedo, such as weddings), To a football (soccer) or rugby match (usually with appropriate team shirt and literally anything else), or when you're out "on the pull". (Trying to snag a woman). This last use is considered by some to be a somewhat underhanded thing to do, as it gives an unfair advantage by making you stand out from the rest. Otherwise, the vast majority wear jeans and trousers the majority of the time.

If the man was wearing a shirt tucked in, he always had a belt on. If the shirt was untucked, there was usually no belt but always a sporran, even with the most casual footwear you can imagine. In general, casual footwear (particularly among younger wearers) was work-type boots, although on game day, I saw pretty much anything thrown together in terms of footwear/ socks.

[DrCelt]

To add to that; I spoke to a friend from America yesterday who has been living here for the past 7 years. He told me that there are a few natives who wear theirs everyday, but they are kind of viewed as "freaks". I asked him to explain, and he said, "well, wouldn't you think someone in the U.S. was a freak if they wore a tuxedo everyday?" That would certainly explain someone else's comment I saw on here about it being considered "Old fashioned and elitist" to wear it all the time. If anyone here has ever seen the television show "Monarch of the Glen" (great show, by the way), it's sort of part of that "anti-laird" mentality that they conveyed in the show, even though the one character who wore his all the time was just the simple country-boy ghillie (Duncan).

[Gael Ridire]

Interesting. I love Monarch of the Glen, and enjoy the character Duncan in part because he wears his kilt every day. Guess I'm a freak too.

[Oddern]

Do you own your country's National attire? How often do you wear your National attire? How often do you see your National attire being worn? How often do you see your National attire being worn on a daily basis?

I am sorry, I am not sure if your country actually has a National dress, but if not, apply my questions to any country that does have National attire and see what answers you come up with. I think then you will have your answer.

Wow this thread has gone on and on...
I have had a good long thought about this question from Jock.
I think the kilt stands out from many other National dresses, as the kilt has evolved through time, is a comfortable attire and that the kilt can be worn in many diferent styles. If you look at other national dresses they often are replicas of clothing styles from earlier centuries. Take the Norwegian National dress, Bunad. You will find diferent styles of bunad depending on where the owner comes from, much like district tartan. But all the bunads are replicas from the 18th and the 19th centuries. They do not evolve in style and they are not very practical or comfortable. That is some of the reason we Norwegians only use the bunad on special occations.
If you look at the National dress of the Sami people, it has not evolved much either, but it is a very practical attire and it is in daily use by many Sami people.
If you look at the Indian and Pakistani population, they are very proud of there National dress and they wear it often and for no special occation at all, its just a very comfortable attire.
So what I'm trying to say is that a National dress can quite well be used on a daily bases if it evolves with time, are comfortable and practical. And I think that the Kilt falls under this category of National dress.
Another thing. If I see a non Norwegian wearing a Bunad correctly and with respect I would be very pleased and honored. But that is just how I see it.
Skål!

[GG]

"well, wouldn't you think someone in the U.S. was a freak if they wore a tuxedo everyday?"

So true, it is. Therefore cheaper, unpretentious kilts could be the answer, but should probably look a bit more "Scottish" than modern kilts.

[Jay]

Tuxedo every day? Worked for Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.