Can I do it?

[HarborSpringsPiper]

I suspect you might be at one end of the extremes of members here, which is fine, but most of the active contributors seem to err on the side of wanting to wear the kilt more rather than less.

While "most" might be true, I seem to read pretty consistently from the contributors from Scotland that wearing the kilt is largely relegated to special occasions there. Daily wear of the kilt is somewhat of a novelty in the place that calls it their own.

There are also a lot who are active pipers, and so I'm not entirely convinced that your assertion, that "Most every piper would... much rather compete in T-shirt and bluejeans", is going to hold water here either.

It's difficult to assess from an internet forum whether one is hearing from the silent majority or a vocal minority. I too am a long-time piper but have not been involved in the band scene in quite some time. I would say that my experience with other pipers has been somewhat mixed. I never knew anybody who minded being in any kind of a setting in their kilt after an engagement, like a bar or restaurant for instance. However, if it was going to be an all day get together like a picnic after a parade, I'd say most would change into other attire. At the Games, I would say it's a mixed-bag and depends.

As far as competing, I sense from another active piping forum that things have changed quite a bit in this regard. I have always accepted that piping and Highland wear are fairly inseparable. I think rules for competing in piping/drumming/dancing competitions requiring appropriate Highland attire wear were instituted as a way to maintain and celibrate Scottish Highland culture. I'm not sure if the thread Richard mentioned in his post is the one I'm thinking of, however, the majority of the posters there would like to see that requirement dropped ASAP. I think that is sad but again, I don't know if that truly represents the majority or not.

Enjoy the forum and I look forward to seeing how you feel over time. Out of interest, what was it prompted you to join given that you see the kilt as purely a business necessity?

Cheers, Graham.

I'll let the individual you posed that question to answer it, but I don't see this forum as being the exclusive realm of those who wear the kilt 24/7. I think it is a great place to exchange ideas and discuss history regarding Highland wear and other associated facets. I too mostly wear the kilt while piping and in fact, rarely otherwise. Hopefully those are reasons enough to be here.

[Bugbear]

While "most" might be true, I seem to read pretty consistently from the contributors from Scotland that wearing the kilt is largely relegated to special occasions there. Daily wear of the kilt is somewhat of a novelty in the place that calls it their own. ...


I'll let the individual you posed that question to answer it, but I don't see this forum as being the exclusive realm of those who wear the kilt 24/7. I think it is a great place to exchange ideas and discuss history regarding Highland wear and other associated facets. I too mostly wear the kilt while piping and in fact, rarely otherwise. Hopefully those are reasons enough to be here.

I'm not one of the daily kilt wearers. I've actually almost completely stopped wearing the kilt and focused on learning about the kilt and Highland attire, instead.

That's not to say anything against those who do wear the kilt frequently.

[OC Richard]

Cavebear said:
There are also a lot who are active pipers, and so I'm not entirely convinced that your assertion, that "Most every piper would... much rather compete in T-shirt and bluejeans", is going to hold water here either.

Yes I'm sure that there are kilt enthusiasts who are also pipers... I'm one myself... but in the Pipe Band scene, at least around here, which I've participated in for over 30 years, enthusiasm for kilt-wearing is extremely rare. Most people drive to competitions in their street clothes and change into their kilts at the Band Tent. Most people drive to band gigs in street clothes and change into their kilts in the "Green Room" if such exists, or simply change in the parking lot.

As I said this topic came up on a Pipe Band forum and many people there expressed dismay that I would wear a kilt outside of piping once every five years. Many said that they would never wear a kilt other than when piping under any circumstances. Many forumites there have said over and over that they would much rather compete in street clothes.

One thing is sure different at competitions in Scotland: bands go to the competitions as a group on a hired coach in full kit. Our band does the same when over there, but I've never seen that done here.

As to classical musicians not wearing their Concert attire other than when playing a gig, well that's definitely not my experience here in the UK. I frequently see classical musicians travelling around London going to and from performances. In Oxford, I have a couple of good friends who are also performers and I often attend their concerts - afterwards, we always go to either a pub or, more often, a party where there are many others present and none of whom will have changed.

True here also. I know a number of "classical" musicians and sure enough they travel to and from their gig in their tux. But my point was that they would not wear their tux otherwise: not to go grocery shopping, not as everyday wear on non-gig-days. Not "full time tuxed".

what was it prompted you to join given that you see the kilt as purely a business necessity?

I'm one of those rare Pipe Band persons who is also a kilt enthusiast, one of the few who view it as more than a "gig suit".

[Tobus]

Pics, man, pics! I'd like to see what kind of variety you put into your wardrobe when wearing a kilt every day. One of these days I'd like to go kilted full-time, but I feel like I would need a great number of wardrobe combinations so it didn't seem like I was wearing the same thing over and over. Are you doing different styles each day, or just varying color combinations?

[Nighthawk]

Pics, man, pics! I'd like to see what kind of variety you put into your wardrobe when wearing a kilt every day. One of these days I'd like to go kilted full-time, but I feel like I would need a great number of wardrobe combinations so it didn't seem like I was wearing the same thing over and over. Are you doing different styles each day, or just varying color combinations?

I hope you don't mind if I chime in here, as the question wasn't directed at me, but I do feel that I can give some input as a full time kilt wearer. Personally I have a different for every day of the week (weather permitting!) and I have a large variety of shirts to go with them. I can wear a nice green shirt with green hose and my saffron today, and tomorrow when it warms up, I'll wear my Clergy with black shirt and black hose. Friday when it gets cold again, I may put my saffron back on with a navy blue shirt and either white or blue hose. Same kilt, very different look. I look dressed business casual today, and Friday I can look business casual and support my Broncos! That as a matter of fact is the only reason I would wear white hose- the Broncos uniform colors are orange, blue and white- hence the orange kilt, blue shirt and white sox. I also have 2 solid color modern kilts- one black Amerikilt and one green Flamingo kilt. Those go with most anything, and when pressed neatly, they can be very dressy with the right accessories. So there you go- my daily ideals in a very small nutshell.

[McFarkus]

Greg, since your employer encourages you to wear your kilt, I say, "Go for it." Remember, we DO want pics.

[beloitpiper]

The only thing that would keep me from being kilted full time is laziness (it's SO much easier just to throw on some jeans) and wind. I work in downtown Madison which is an isthmus. The wind between the lakes can be kilt-defying.

I'll try to take a photo every day from now on.

[sathor]

The only thing that would keep me from being kilted full time is laziness (it's SO much easier just to throw on some jeans) and wind.

Meh. Easier for me to throw on my kilt and go about stuff than dig out underwear and get my jeans on. Granted, my ONLY pair of jeans are button fly, but still. One zipper incident when I was three, and I still remember the pain 26 years later.

[Standard]

So Greg, how goes the full time kilt wearing for you?

[Fit2BKilted]

I have every intention of doing exactly what you are doing... I just don't have enough kilt accessories in my wardrobe, yet. For example, I don't have enough hose to wear a fresh pair every day; so I either have to wait for my doting knitter to produce enough, or I have to find the cash to buy more in the meantime; but, money is tight. I also would like to get a few other things to break up the sense of stagnation in the outfit; but, I am determined to get there! I would also like to get kilts of different weights for different weather conditions. Kilt on!