Dress Codes

[CMcG]

What this whole discussion reinforces for me is the importance of knowing the host and, to a certain extent, the rest of the guests at an event. As we have just seen, if Tobus and Jock Scot had National Attire Parties, they'd be expecting rather different things from their guests. When in doubt, ask!

CMcG.

In actual fact my brother does live on the Welsh border, but he is adamant that his kilt and his children's kilts are not to be worn South of the good Scottish city of Perth!

Well I guess the universities in Glasgow and Edinburgh are right out for my future relocation... maybe Dundee or Aberdeen, just to be safe

[McClef]

Many countries currently make a change of citizenship difficult but that would be outwith the rules to compare one with another.

So please keep it theoretical when making your arguments thanks.

And what of those countries/areas that are considered to be Celtic which have adopted the kilt as a suitable item to be worn with their tartans?

It would not be considered wrong by the Welsh for Jock's brother to wear a Cilt if he ventured across the close border for example. Even if we have to move Perth to achieve it!

Or some of the other places mentioned in my signature for that matter...

[Cygnus]

So...if I'm reading this correctly [and I admit I may not be]....A Scot is a citizen of the UK just as a Texan is a citizen of the USA. But the kilt belongs to Scots [specifically Highlanders] just as cowboy hats and big shinny buckles and pointy toe boots belong to Texans. So, no one but a Highland Scot should ever wear a kilt and no one but a Texan should ever wear cowboy clothing. And only folks from San Francisco should wear Levi's [that's where they originated] and only Americans should wear sneakers....only African Americans can enjoy Hip Hop...only Japanese can wear kimonos, eat sushi.... etc.

Okay, I think we can all see where this reasoning leads. I, for one, reject it. I sometimes wear a kilt, sometimes a cowboy hat, Levi's and boots and a variety of other kinds of clothing. I eat a variety of ethnic foods, listen to a wide range of music. In short, I am a complex individual. I'm going to wear the clothing I wish to wear. I don't claim to be a British citizen, a Scot, a Texan, or Japanese.

They are clothes people. Clothes. I feel like too many over-think this here. As long as the level of formality is consistent with the affair in question... let it go.

Rondo

I don't think the problem is with wearing them, per se, it's with wearing them as your national attire. The kilt may be my ethnic dress (being over 50% Scottish in genetic heritage and still practicing some Scottish customs that have been handed down), but it is not my national dress. Wearing a kilt (or a kimono, or a turban, etc.) when national dress is specified would, in most cases, lead to people thinking that I was either a poser or a Scot with an inexplicably flawless Western US accent. In that regard, I completely agree with Jock Scot.

I do believe that descendants of Scots have every "right" to wear the kilt whenever they please, even doing so as ethnic dress; though claiming it as their national dress is giving the wrong impression. Those that aren't descended from Scots also have every "right" to wear the kilt but shouldn't claim it as their ethnic dress, though they may wear it as national dress if they're British citizens residing in Scotland.

It's really a question of misusing (if a host) or misunderstanding (if a guest) the difference between "national" and "ethnic".

I don't think CMcG misunderstood the dress code for the event, and I also think he looked quite good and went to lengths to ensure people understood why he was wearing a kilt. All in all, I think it was good publicity both for his homeland and for the kilt; though I'd wager at least a couple of people at the event (perhaps that he didn't have a chance to converse with?) may have left with the wrong impression. For that reason, I don't think I would have done the same were I in his place.

[xman]

If a region were to declare top hats part of their national dress would everyone else be suddenly improper to wear one at an event? I don't think so. That Scotland has passed a motion declaring the kilt its national dress has no bearing on me nor my heritage and when given the opportunity to dress culturally (including an invitation to "National Dress") I am within my purview to wear the kilt.

[Tobus]

That Scotland has passed a motion declaring the kilt its national dress

They have never done that, have they? I thought this came up a while back, and I was under that same mistaken impression. I was told that there is no official statement from government or any other authoritative body which declares the kilt as Scotland's national dress. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong again...

This again takes us back to the question of "what is national dress"? Who makes it such?

[davidg]

This again takes us back to the question of "what is national dress"? Who makes it such?

Or, to put it another way, as English is the national language of England can you all please stop using that language as if it were your own national language ith:

I hope everyone sees the silliness of that approach. More than one nation can adopt the same thing as its national anything, surely?

[rondo]

Or, to put it another way, as English is the national language of England can you all please stop using that language as if it were your own national language ith:

I hope everyone sees the silliness of that approach. More than one nation can adopt the same thing as its national anything, surely?

Well said.
Rondo

[kc8ufv]

Or, to put it another way, as English is the national language of England can you all please stop using that language as if it were your own national language ith:

I hope everyone sees the silliness of that approach. More than one nation can adopt the same thing as its national anything, surely?

Well, the official language of Illinois used to be American, though it now is English.

[McClef]

The perfect solution.

1) Create your own imaginary country.
2) Declare yourself the leader of that country (doesn't matter if you are the only citizen)
3) Declare your country a nation
4) Pass a resolution that the kilt shall be considered its national dress

Problem solved!

[artificer]

The perfect solution.

1) Create your own imaginary country.
2) Declare yourself the leader of that country (doesn't matter if you are the only citizen)
3) Declare your country a nation
4) Pass a resolution that the kilt shall be considered its national dress

Problem solved!

Waitaminute, you mean other people HAVEN'T done this yet?!

ith: