The kilt cannot be universally accepted

[oldscubaguy]

I don't think I would WANT to be in a country that looked down on the kilt. They would not be my kind of people. Fortunately I live in America where I am free to wear what I want, where I want, and when I want.

Here,here.
There are also the casual utilikilt styles for everyday

[slothead]

I think we should all be positive about the situation being addressed and avoid complaining generally, and instead post the locations where experience indicates that we should take a second to think about whether we should go kilted (as in east Glasgow perhaps). I wasn't able to see much of Glasgow because of the movie shooting that was going while we were there but we did spend some time near the waterfront (or river-front as it were) and that seemed liked a very hospitable area kilted or not. It would be of significant interest to know where NOT to go kilted if such were the case.

[Liam]

The kilt is not or will be universally accepted, ... Well yes I think it is but primarily as a garment for those of Scottish ancestery. Now some here may think it it is is just for the Scots, or just for Scots north of the Highland line but we have politely agreed to disagree if we we do. Now the modern utility kilt is another matter, and I think there are those that do not think it is an appropriate garment for men. This may have its roots in religious reasons, but again not appropriate for this forum. BTW I am not one.
I was glad to hear that Jock expanded where he was convinced to wear a kilt. Not so that he will likely never do it again due to tics.😉
I recently wore a kilt to an out door function, and I have numerous mosquito bites on the backs of my knees, but shorts would have produced the same results and my kilt hose likely saved my lower legs.
Slainte

[Jock Scot]

Actually Liam I have worn the kilt from time to time out on the hill before and usually with the same result. Its just that I am a slow learner!

[iKiltIt]

I wasn't trying to stir things up with my post. Jock, I hope I didn't offend you or anyone else here. I wasn't trying to be arrogant. I was trying to say that the countries that I would have to NOT wear a kilt in public for religious or any other reason was just a place that I wouldn't want to visit. Then again those are places that I wouldn't want to go to in the first place regardless of rules on kilts.

I never said nor did I mean to imply that America was the only country in the world with freedoms. It's those countries that DONT share those freedoms that I have no desire to step foot in.

Please don't take my post as disrespect. None was intended.

[Jimmy]

So we have this wonderful and mysterious division about the kilt, half the world loves it, the other half look at it with susupicion.
Certain societies, certain cultures, certain religions believe that the kilt is the anti-Christ of modern dress for men, some say it is nothing less than blasphemy to see a man in a skirt, some say its a form of cross-dressing, some say like many up market sports, the kilt is for only the well heeled.
Then we have the societies, cultures, countries that love to see a man in his kilt, here a kilted man is singled out as some sort of dress hero, some sort of sex god , someone who has to be stopped in the street to pose for photos, someone who cannot go on a cruise ship and be left alone in his company without people wanting to engage in conversation with him.
Someone who cannot go to the toile in a public house without someone saying to him " I hope you are a true Scot"
Yes life in the kilt is divisive, hazardous, adventurous, sociable, never being left alone, people giving you side glances, admiring smiles, having to have conversations with strangers in a lift or escalator.
Why do we bother?

[Jock Scot]

So we have this wonderful and mysterious division about the kilt, half the world loves it, the other half look at it with susupicion.
Certain societies, certain cultures, certain religions believe that the kilt is the anti-Christ of modern dress for men, some say it is nothing less than blasphemy to see a man in a skirt, some say its a form of cross-dressing, some say like many up market sports, the kilt is for only the well heeled.
Then we have the societies, cultures, countries that love to see a man in his kilt, here a kilted man is singled out as some sort of dress hero, some sort of sex god , someone who has to be stopped in the street to pose for photos, someone who cannot go on a cruise ship and be left alone in his company without people wanting to engage in conversation with him.
Someone who cannot go to the toile in a public house without someone saying to him " I hope you are a true Scot"
Yes life in the kilt is divisive, hazardous, adventurous, sociable, never being left alone, people giving you side glances, admiring smiles, having to have conversations with strangers in a lift or escalator.
Why do we bother?

Why do we bother? Frankly, for those outwith Scotland, I have no idea!

If you are wanting to find a reason why Highland Scots prefer to wear the kilt above the Highland line then, this is it. Well said Jimmy! The kilt is understood by the locals and not one justification, not one explanation, not one defensive thought, not even a flattering comment is required, as the kilt is part and parcel of Highland Scotland, or perhaps these days in most of Scotland as well.

Interestingly, there is a suspicion of a trend starting in the Highlands where the locals are choosing to wear the kilt less as they do not want to be viewed as tourists in their own country.( See the thread:"Two Telling Comments")

I have said it before here and will say it again. I think anyone wearing the kilt out of its natural surroundings is asking for trouble, snide comments, frowns et al from all directions when they wear the tartan kilt and the Utilikilt style of kilt is only making the matter worse in some people's eyes and minds. Wearing the tartan kilt poorly cannot help either. And yes, there are parts of Scotland still, where the tartan kilt-------and those wearing it----- are regarded with suspicion. I take my hat off to all who do wear the kilt outwith its natural surroundings who may even get a kick out of doing so. But for certain sure, I am not prepared to make that sort of higher profile of myself. Besides I don't have to, I very rarely wear the kilt outwith the Highlands.

[Bluethunder90]

Why do we bother? Frankly, for those outwith Scotland, I have no idea!


I have said it before here and will say it again. I think anyone wearing the kilt out of its natural surroundings is asking for trouble, snide comments, frowns et al from all directions when they wear the tartan kilt and the Utilikilt style of kilt is only making the matter worse in some people's eyes and minds. Wearing the tartan kilt poorly cannot help either. And yes, there are parts of Scotland still, where the tartan kilt-------and those wearing it----- are regarded with suspicion. I take my hat off to all who do wear the kilt outwith its natural surroundings who may even get a kick out of doing so. But for certain sure, I am not prepared to make that sort of higher profile of myself. Besides I don't have to, I very rarely wear the kilt outwith the Highlands.

It has been a year or more since I commented in these forums, largely because my plans of purchasing a kilt came to naught (as a great many of my plans seem to do), but when I first joined these forums, I put forth the question of the reception of the kilted community to a black man, with no known Scottish heritage, wearing a kilt, and the response I got from these forums was nothing but positive.

Having said that, as a black man living in Hawaii, I would definitely be wearing the kilt out of it's natural surroundings, but I would do so because for reasons I really can't explain, I have a strong interest in the Scottish culture, to include a love of bagpipes (I swear I'm not just making that up), because the garment looks comfortable, and most importantly because I have always marched to the beat of my drummer, and I tend to do what interest me and makes me happy, despite whatever negative thing anyone would have to say about it.
The one thing I will take care to do when I do purchase and wear a kilt, is to research what I am buying, and how to wear it properly so as to not offend anyone of Scottish heritage by wearing a Tartan that I have no right to wear, or by wearing the kilt incorrectly. Those of Scottish heritage, whose heritage I would be appropriating, are the people I would be concerned with offending, anyone else with an ignorant opinion, I really couldn't care less.

[RCAnderson]

. . . I have a strong interest in the Scottish culture, to include a love of bagpipes (I swear I'm not just making that up) . . .

Tony,

Have you become active with the local Scottish and Celtic organizations on Oahu yet? We have several, and there is something happening almost every month somewhere on the island.

[Bluethunder90]

Tony,

Have you become active with the local Scottish and Celtic organizations on Oahu yet? We have several, and there is something happening almost every month somewhere on the island.

No, I have not; I wasn't even aware there were such organizations on the island, but now that you have enlightened me, I will definitely look them up.