Kilt or a tartan.

[Fearnest]

Wearing my Loch Ness Sportkilt today, I received an interesting question...

Here it is, word for word. No changes at all...

"Is that a kilt or a tartan?"

tar·tan (tär'tn)
n.

1. Any of numerous textile patterns consisting of stripes of varying widths and colors crossed at right angles against a solid background, each forming a distinctive design worn by the members of a Scottish clan.

2. A twilled wool fabric or garment having such a pattern.

So by #2, 'tis both.

[Kid Cossack]

tar·tan (tär'tn)
n.

snip

2. A twilled wool fabric or garment having such a pattern.

So by #2, 'tis both.

Aye, but the SportKilt isn't wool, it's cotton (or a cotton blend) so . . .

Note: just pointing out the definitional issue, not attacking SportKilts. I still think they're great pajamas/pyjamas.

[Fearnest]

Aye, but the SportKilt isn't wool, it's cotton (or a cotton blend) so . . .

Good point!

Webster's hasn't kept up with new innovations in the weaving of tartans (and I've forgotten how to read carefully)!

[scoutniagara]

:buttkick:

Aye, but the SportKilt isn't wool, it's cotton (or a cotton blend) so . . .

Note: just pointing out the definitional issue, not attacking SportKilts. I still think they're great pajamas/pyjamas.

You begin by saying you're "not attacking SportKilts", then add, "I still think they're great ..../pyjamas", ...and that's not an attack?

I have a poly/cotton blend, a micro fibre and two poly/viscose Sport Kilts. "We (SK) are constantly striving to improve our kilts, and are proud of having the largest selection of poly-viscose tartans on hand in clan tartans and universal tartans." They also do have some 100% cotton specialty prints.

Also, regarding the comment about SKs being pyjamas. You've just made up my mind for what I'll wear to our SOKS, Hamilton Scottish Rite dinner on the March 29....my poly/viscose Loch Ness Sport Kilt. It's a semi-formal event, and my SK will look great! I'll make sure photos are taken. There is a place for kilts such as SKs. I don't have to wear my expensive $700+ 13 oz. hunting MacIntosh, hand made by Burnett's & Struth, for daily activities, and I don't consider my other kilts to be "pyjamas".

[Kid Cossack]

:buttkick:

You begin by saying you're "not attacking SportKilts", then add, "I still think they're great ..../pyjamas", ...and that's not an attack?

I have a poly/cotton blend, a micro fibre and two poly/viscose Sport Kilts. "We (SK) are constantly striving to improve our kilts, and are proud of having the largest selection of poly-viscose tartans on hand in clan tartans and universal tartans." They also do have some 100% cotton specialty prints.

Also, regarding the comment about SKs being pyjamas. You've just made up my mind for what I'll wear to our SOKS, Hamilton Scottish Rite dinner on the March 29....my poly/viscose Loch Ness Sport Kilt. It's a semi-formal event, and my SK will look great! I'll make sure photos are taken. There is a place for kilts such as SKs. I don't have to wear my expensive $700+ 13 oz. hunting MacIntosh, hand made by Burnett's & Struth, for daily activities, and I don't consider my other kilts to be "pyjamas".

I didn't MEAN it as an attack. SportKilts were an important stage in getting me into what the pure traditionalists (and you know who you are!) would call a "real kilt."

I wore my SKs out in public, and proudly and happily. I don't do that any more: I have a USAK casual and a semi-trad and a couple of PKs, and a Newsome box pleat tweed kilt . . . but I still do yard work in the SKs, and still wear them around the house.

I'll admit, I didn't know that SK offered pv kilts. I've got one SK with the pleats sewn down (to the fell) and two unsewn. In my honest opinion, they are in every way inferior to the USAK.

If my post encouraged you to wear a SportKilt that you like to a semi-formal event, well, that's all good.

[Mike1]

You begin by saying you're "not attacking SportKilts", then add, "I still think they're great ..../pyjamas", ...and that's not an attack?

I didn't MEAN it as an attack. SportKilts were an important stage in getting me into what the pure traditionalists (and you know who you are!) would call a "real kilt."

Deep breaths everyone. Deep, cleansing breaths.

[Kid Cossack]

Deep breaths everyone. Deep, cleansing breaths.

I mean no offense! One of my watchphrases is found at Matt Newsome's blog, to wit:

"The Highland dress is essentially a 'free' dress -- that is to say, a man's taste and circumstances must alone be permitted to decide when and where and how he should wear it... I presume to dictate to no man what he shall eat or drink or wherewithal he shall be clothed." -- The Hon. Stuart Ruaidri Erskine, The Kilt & How to Wear It, 1901.

I started off with a Utilikilt original, and then bought a couple of SportKilt kilts. Since that time, my preferences regarding "my kilts" have changed. I am slowly inching towards the traditionalist view of things, and it's frankly been ages since I wore either the UK or SK out in public.

I have other kilts that I prefer, and if I wasn't so technically illiterate, I would put the second "I" in this sentence and the "prefer" in bold.

When I was wearing UKs and SKs, I bitterly resented having people denigrate them as skirts or non-kilts. (Including some people who were kilted.)

In accordance with my taste and circumstances, I wear USAKs, PKs and my fabulous Newsome kilt. I presume to dictate to no man what he shall eat or drink or wherewithal he should be clothed.

I wear my SKs around the house as lounging/pyjama type attire---yet I would never, upon seeing a man in a SK, accuse him of wearing pyjamas.

Mike1, if I'm out of line with this post, please delete it. I did not intend to give offense, and now I am trying to explain, but sometimes I can make a hash of things.

Kilts forever!