Please explain...

[Panache]

Got a garment I’m wearing (Can't explain)
It's a certain kind (Can't explain)
It’s got pleats and an apron (Can't explain)
Yeah, but down in my soul, yeah (Can't explain)

I said ... (Can't explain)
Wearing it makes me feel good now, yeah, but (Can't explain)

What makes it what it is, I haven’t a clue
The things you've said, well, maybe they're true
I'm gettin' funny thoughts again and again
I know what it is, but …

Can't explain
But it’s a kilt
I’ll say it to you
Without any guilt

But I can't explain (Can't explain)
Yeah, hear what I'm saying, girl (Can't explain)

Dizzy in the head and I'm feeling bad
Narrow definitions can get me real mad
I'm gettin' funny dreams again and again
I know what it means but

Can't explain
But it’s a kilt
I’ll say it to you
Without any guilt

But I can't explain (Can't explain)
Forgive me one more time, now (Can't explain)

(INSTRUMENTAL INTERLUDE)

I said I can't explain, yeah
Wearing it makes me feel fine
Yeah, I'm not the worrying kind, babe
I said I can't explain


With apologies to The Who*




Jamie

[Gaian]

I wear kilts of all kinds as an alternative to the usual limited range of men's clothing. They look good. They are comfortable to wear and they attract attention. Why should women have all the choices in wardrobe? A woman can wear anything she wants of any ethnic origin and attract no attention. Why can't a man do that?

For some kilt wearing is about their heritage. For some comfort and for others a fashion statement and perhaps a political and social statement.


Do not not limit your thinking. Embrace the differences.

[Rex_Tremende]

The STA is a registry of tartans and provides services to its members and the public to help sort out which tartans are which and to maintain a history of where they came from. From their own pages:

We are a registered Scottish Charity with the major objective of promoting a deeper knowledge of Scottish Tartans, their origins, manufacture, use, history and development and we study, record and stimulate research on the subject.

A vitally important objective has also been to compile and maintain the International Tartan Index to record and document all known historical tartans and to provide a free, dependable and accountable information resource for the public and a 'register' for the Recording of all new tartans.

In no way do they grant or restrict wearing whatever tartans or polkadots in anyone's kilts nor do they proscribe how a kilt should be constructed.

Regards,
Rex.

[creativeaccents]

Because I want to.

Not trying to be terse or seem rude in any other way, but I wear what I want because I like it. If anyone has a problem with what I wear, that is their problem.

[muirkirkca]

I have no problem with the many multiple designs and fabrics as copying the basic kilt is a high form of flattery and helps in the popularity of the kilt. One caveat, I draw the line at floor length, sewn up to the crotch and severed into two legs.

[DTrain]

RobertsonII, I am glad that you enjoy kilts as an extension of your Scottish descent. Many people first investigate kilts as interest in their Scottish heritage. But the kilt TRANSCENDS Scotland and Scottish people. There are people all over the world on this forum, some with Scottish heritage, some without.

The kilt has evolved from a tartan-only, Scottish garment to be a more widely accepted, modern piece of clothing to be worn by anyone, male or female, Scottish or not. If you disagree with this, that is unfortunate. It is simply the reality of the situation. Free your mind and your a-- will follow.

[Riverkilt]

Stay appropriate Ron...stay appropriate Ron....deep breath...okay...

Ya know....I've been through sooooo much just getting "permission" to wear kilts at work - in a free country that allows women to wear pants to work - that I'm really not much up for "what type" of kilt. The victory is in the freedom for both sexs to choose the type of garment I wanna wear. And I do own and occasionally wear a Dashiki...purchased from a vendor who sewed it up herself at a Black Pride gathering.

What is interesting to me, because it is me, is how my attitude towards kilts evolved. My grandfather Murdoch slathered me with our family heritage and history. I first went to Highland games and didn't much like them since so many there were "dour Scots" The idea of me ever owning a kilt or wearing one never occured to me until my late 50s.

I was impressed by the first Utilikilt workman's I saw at a Ren Faire. Just had to have one...that count is now 15 Utilikilts. They made sense. I bought some AmeriKilts and Freedom Kilts and Pittsburgh Kilts too in solids and camos.

Somewhere along the line my preference for solid and camo kilts evolved into tartan kilts. Now I'm attracted to tartan kilts much more than solids.

Go figure. A round about way to come to the tartan kilts.

But if anywhere during this process, this evolution, someone had told me what I can and can't wear I don't see one reason to listen to him or her.

The freedom is mine. I did have one bird at a highland games tell me I wasn't entitled to wear my first hand sewn kilt, Macdonald Lord of the Isles Hunting. Checked with my Clan Donald...they said he was a nut case. Following year I looked for him at the clan tent and they said they kicked him out for being rude and obnoxious. Ya gotta love the clan.

A good friend of mine made his living as a speaker. After every presentation there'd be a few people who just "had" to talk to him and tell him he got something wrong, or didn't understand, or really should know...

His stock response was, "I don't want to hear it." Of course they'd press on with their "but -buts" but John would just stand firm and say clearly and firmly, "I don't want to hear it."

He knew who he was and what he believed and he had no interest in having other people "set him straight."

That was a great example for me. Today, I'm a 63-year-old intelligent, aware adult with degrees, licenses, certifications, and experiences that include knowing well the sound of a bullet passing close by, and I don't need others wiser than me telling me how I should dress, or live my life thank you. If I've an interest I'll seek them out and ask them.

Course, never mind that I often run around doing the same thing myself...but that's different...right...

Ron

Okay...Murdoch would rise from the grave and bestow the wrath of Hell itself on me if I ever wore the tartans of certain clans or regiments....

[Woodsman]

I wear kilts because they are comfortable and good looking. I enjoy the historical aspect of the tartans and the Scottish origins. I like the look, feel and praticality of contemporary kilts too.

The question SHOULD be why do we wear pants?

[Nighthawk]

:crap: And that's all I (a Wolfe and Leddy) have to say on this subject.


Ya know, I bumped into a NATIVE BORN Scot the other day. I was wearing my Black Stewart. I am not a Stewart. He was a Scottish military historian. He had a few interesting things to tell me about my own family name, which had NOTHING to do with any of the tartans I wear, other than the Wolfe family tartan. He (being a native born Scot) thought it was awesome that I was wearing a kilt in public, in America, for no reason other than that I love them. And that has been the reaction of EVERY Scot that I have ever met. So really, why should I care? Why should I care anyway? As was already pointed out, everything we wear came from somewhere else, some other culture, and then evolved. So I will wear it as I please. Thanks a lot for asking the question.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I even fail to see the point in buy any kilt just because you like the color. To wear kilt is to show pride not a fashion choice .

Do these non-tartan kilts tick you off?


("Sheep Washing in Glen Lyon" by nineteenth century artist Richard Ansdell)


("The Good Shepherd" by the same artist, c. 1870)


(John Brown, painted by Kenneth McLeay)


The London Scottish regimantal pipe band


The USMC Pipe Band


Honestly, you can like or dislike contemporary kilts. That's your choice. I, personally, don't like many "contemporary" style kilts. That's one reason why you don't see me posting often in the "contemporary & non-traditional kilt" category. But I don't begrudge anyone else their choice in wearing them.

You need to be very careful in painting with broad strokes as you are. Condemning anything other than wearing a kilt in your own bonifide clan tartan while calling on "tradition" to back your opinion is not justifiable. There is a lot more in the realm of traditional Scottish attire than clan tartans.