It may be slightly over-simplified, but that's fine considering that one could write a book on the topic. In fact, I'd wager that the book may have been written already.

I think that many of us who wear a tartan or solid traditionally styled kilt do so to honor Scot or Celtic heritage, and/or to be somewhat unconventional. When it comes to how we do it in the states (not counting UK's, X-Kilts, etc.) I think a good chunk of the difference from THCD comes from an underlying attitude that we have and I never noticed until dealing with Brits in the military. That attitude, subtle as it is, can be summed up in one sentence: "We're Americans and we'll do it our way!!!"

Don't get me wrong. I'm not stirring a hornets nest--not intending to anyway--or trying to start a new cold war. It's just that North Americans, especially in the US, have an independant streak, which combined with a cultural "melting pot" have made us adapt a lot of cultures habits, traditions, technologies, etc. to our own use and what we want it to be.

It's 2010 now, and in the last few years there has been an increase in the number of Americans wearing the kilt. Granted, many wear it for special occasions, some much more frequently. Check again in 2020 and I think we'll see a "new tradition" here. It's still relatively new to a lot of people here. Many people picking up the kilt are the first in their family, or the first in several generations. Fashions evolve, and I think that given time for evolution to take it's course we will probably see a "split" with THCD and a more contemporary American style emerge. No doubt it will be similar to what we see today, and will not be drastically different from what will be worn in the Highlands ten years from now. The differences will be in the details, which is really what makes it what it is.

Of course there will be holdouts...traditionalists who refuse to change. That's fine. They'll yell and scream about how it's all wrong and things just shouldn't be done that way. Blue jeans became accepted in everyday dress despite those complaints. So did the t-shirt.

Whatever happens though, I think ultimately we should be supportive of each other. Allow change to happen, because if history teaches anything, it's that change WILL happen. As Red Green would say "We're all in this together. I'm pullin' for ya'."