About kilts in Scotland

[Chris Webb]

I have also heard from many native Scots that they do get tired of the 'kilts and castles' cliche. It would be if you lived in Texas and everyone kept asking you where your cowboy hat and 6 shooter were. Its to be understood really.

Yer right as rain, AllenJ! I call it the Alamo Effect. There's lots of folks who live in San Antonio, Texas, who have never seen the Alamo ... if yer from there you've seen so many danged plastic Alamo's, pueter Alamos, Alamo snow domes, postcards, inacurate movies and the like that they just don't really care to go ... the Alamo in San Antonio, like the kilt in Scotland, is rolled out for wedding pictures, special occasions and formal events, but no 'real' San Antonian ever goes there 'just for fun.'

I've seen the same danged thing in Fort Worth, Texas, home of the worlds biggest and longest running rodeo in the world ... but go down town on most any night and it's entirely possible that you will not see one single solitary cowboy hat. But just wait for that rodeo, or that wedding, or that 'Denim and Diamonds' ball and you'll see the natives showing up looking just like the rest of the world thinks they are supposed to ... Boots and Hats, BABY!

I used to travel alot and I've always said that it's more fun to be a Texan outside of Texas ... I suppose it could be more fun to be Scottish outside of Scotland too. When I was in New York, Boston, San Francisco, Brussels ... I was all Texan there, they ate it up like butterscotch puddin' and I loved dishing it to'em. But back here in Texas, shoot, people look at ya like yer hairs' on fire if ya dress and act like that during the normal day. They're likely to say, "Ya think yer special, ya yahoo?" And why wouldn't they say that, there's really nothing that special about being a Texan in Texas around everybody else who've grown so danged accustomed to all that makes Texas special to be inclined any longer to really stand up and take notice of it anymore.

Hum, I think I'll put on my cowboy hat with this US Army Tartan SportKilt I'm a wearin' and mosey on down to Walmart ... Texas, Scotland, it don't matter one bit, anyplace in the world is the right place to ...

Kilt On!!

Chris Webb

[Blu (Ontario)]

We have no business being either judgemental of or disappointed with the way Scots choose to wear their kilts. They simply do so in a manner that suits them.

Likewise, there is nothing stopping anyone else from doing the same.

.

[MacTavishOfJapan]

I think in Scotland there is perhaps some perception of highland dress as being "traditional" formal wear.

In Scotland there was (is) a perception of casual/contemporary kilts as being knock offs of the real deal, my brother was dissmissive of the Utilikilts idea for example. And I'm not sure the use of alterative fabrics to wool is common. Which means that the kilt most of us Scots would buy is an 8 yard 'tank' hence the formal dress thing.

This is coming from someone who has lived overseas for three years and from my own experience. I wouldn't dream of pretending to speak for all Scots.

Until I joined and read some of the posts here, I would never have dreamed of buying a PV kilt from USA kilts or the like. I am considering it now.

[Andrewson]

I used to travel alot and I've always said that it's more fun to be a Texan outside of Texas ... I suppose it could be more fun to be Scottish outside of Scotland too.

How very true. I do enjoy being a Scotsman in England. And for the same reason as some of us wear kilts - we stand out in the crowd.

I would feel much less comfortable wearing a kilt casually in Scotland than I do down here where I live in England. Not because there would be competition from all the other kilties - some hope - but because I know that the local natives would assume that I must be a tourist

[glengall1]

Hi from Scotland,

Yes I would say the "Alamo" scenario is a very good analogy (I've been there ).

I do not wear my kilt casually. Not cause I don't want to but it is not the culture to do so. It is probably either seen as formal wear only by some and as sports wear by others.

If you were in Glasgow last week you would have seen tens of thousands of kilt wearers. The Scottish football team were palying.

I wear my kilt when I am NOT in Scotland too. I am a major rugby supporter and travel with Scotland. I wear the kilt for the whole trip. Love it.

I sell the damn things and don't wear it casually. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: although as a sales pitch I may start doing so.

I really like the "new" non-traditional kilts. I really like the American Utilikilts and I think they would do very well over here. (Not a sales pitch Utilikilts but ..... )

Speak to you all soon.

[Monkey@Arms]

The price of kilts has been mentioned as a factor. Don't forget the cost of the jacket, etc. I wonder what percentage of Scottish men actually own a kilt? Given the infrequency of formal events, I would suspect that most just rent complete kilt outfits when needed for the occasional wedding (present company excepted), just like most men in the U.S. rent, rather than own tuxedos. (And like in the U.S. its the wedding party that more often wears them, not the guests.)

Best regards,

Jake
(Proud member of the kilt wearing minority)

[glengall1]

The price of kilts has been mentioned as a factor. Don't forget the cost of the jacket, etc. I wonder what percentage of Scottish men actually own a kilt? Given the infrequency of formal events, I would suspect that most just rent complete kilt outfits when needed for the occasional wedding (present company excepted), just like most men in the U.S. rent, rather than own tuxedos. (And like in the U.S. its the wedding party that more often wears them, not the guests.)

Best regards,

Jake
(Proud member of the kilt wearing minority)

I would reckon you are completely right. A full outfir costs in the region of £750 which is a lot of dosh. I reckon about 95% of people do not own a kilt and hire. It is my job to convince them that after 10 hires they would have had it for life.

[Alan H]

I undderstand that the football games thing has increased kilt-wearing, generally in Scotland.

Any comments from the locals?

Recently I wnt to Bishop, Calfiornia, on vacation. 20 miles east of Bishop is the Nation Bristlecone Pine Refuge...home of the world oldest living organsims, a colony of ancient bristlecone pine tree. Of the 9-10 locals that we'd talked to, they all knew about it, everyone knew how to get there, and not one of them had ever visited. It's another example of the "kilts and castles" syndrome.

I, however, drove nearly 500 miles to go backpacking, and wouldn't miss a visit to the bristlecones, when I'm in the area. wierd.

[MacTavishOfJapan]

I undderstand that the football games thing has increased kilt-wearing, generally in Scotland.

Any comments from the locals?

Yeeah it seems to have become part of the tartan army 'uniform'. The first non wool kilt I saw was advertised as 'excellent for going to football and rugby in".

There was a classic picture on the front page of one of the tabloids from the World Cup in France in 1998. We suffered a glorious defeat to Brazil in the opening game. The next morning there was a (whole page) picture of a pair of kilted legs sticking out a hedge or bush after a night of revellry! Excellent!

[KiltedKnight]

The price of kilts has been mentioned as a factor. Don't forget the cost of the jacket, etc. I wonder what percentage of Scottish men actually own a kilt? Given the infrequency of formal events, I would suspect that most just rent complete kilt outfits when needed for the occasional wedding (present company excepted), just like most men in the U.S. rent, rather than own tuxedos. (And like in the U.S. its the wedding party that more often wears them, not the guests.)

Best regards,

Jake
(Proud member of the kilt wearing minority)

It's been so long since I wore anything but a kilt to any kind of affair that I completely forgot that I have three tailor made tuxedos made while stationed in Germany, I need to go out in storage and see if the moths have done their work yet. Thanks for reminding me...lol

Chris.