CommanDO or DONT

[Woodsheal]

There is a bit of historic misconception regarding this subject. Highlanders never made some sort of rebellious decision to not wear underwear with their plaids and kilts. In fact, they wore the same kind of underwear that men did elsewhere - long shirt tails!
Historically, a man's shirt was his basic undergarment up until the early 19th century, when separate "under drawers" began to appear. Prior to that, the shirt - which in those days was knee-length - formed one's underwear, with breeches, trousers, or the kilt. The length of the shirt kept a readily washable barrier between the body and the outer garment.
When breeches/trouser-wearing men switched over to using actual under-drawers, the kilted Scots (mostly in the army) clung to the old habit of "shirt tails equals underwear"....

[Dale Seago]

There is a bit of historic misconception regarding this subject. Highlanders never made some sort of rebellious decision to not wear underwear with their plaids and kilts. In fact, they wore the same kind of underwear that men did elsewhere - long shirt tails!
Historically, a man's shirt was his basic undergarment up until the early 19th century, when separate "under drawers" began to appear. Prior to that, the shirt - which in those days was knee-length - formed one's underwear, with breeches, trousers, or the kilt. The length of the shirt kept a readily washable barrier between the body and the outer garment.
When breeches/trouser-wearing men switched over to using actual under-drawers, the kilted Scots (mostly in the army) clung to the old habit of "shirt tails equals underwear"....

Dang, you beat me to it!!

[mddock58]

Thanks Woodsheal.

Many people need to take this into consideration as they make their judgments. Throughout the years, no matter how far back you go into civilized history, we have tried to keep some form of sanitary conditions, all dependent on what was understood at the time.
Many look at the "tradition", and want to live up to those traditions, or we can understand that time changes those "traditions" as does attitudes and knowledge surrounding them.

Thanks for reminding us of the reality of the situation.

[xman]

the CBC Radio One show known as "As It Happens" will be covering the Scottish Tartran Authority's no-commando advice this evening.

And a fine report it was. Brian Wilton was perfectly respectful of people's decisions to go without, but spoke against the notion of brow beating people into upholding the 'no undies' fallacy. Any interpretation in the Times of the STA position being mean spirited is more likely that of the journalist and editor expressing a catchy story than Mr. Wilton or the STA getting grumpy.

[macwilkin]

And a fine report it was. Brian Wilton was perfectly respectful of people's decisions to go without, but spoke against the notion of brow beating people into upholding the 'no undies' fallacy. Any interpretation in the Times of the STA position being mean spirited is more likely that of the journalist and editor expressing a catchy story than Mr. Wilton or the STA getting grumpy.

Thanks to xman and Woodsheal for setting the record straight.

T.

[Pyper]

I've been told, and I'd appreciate a reference if it's incorrect, that in the UK military that a Soldier who is either a musicain or a dancer or any other fellow who might have his modesty compromised is out of uniform if he is not wearing underwear.

[Riverkilt]

Hello...."underwear" can also be an underkilt - a slip-like garment that is also unbifurcated. I wear them with my kilts to protect my kilt from me while still maintaining FREEDOM.

Yes, some kilties say that wearing a slip-like garment under the kilt is feminine - but that makes absolutely no sense to me since it is as unbifurcated as the kilt itself. If the kilt is masculine then so is the unbifurcated underwear worn underneath the kilt.

You can have both hygiene AND freedom - even in the kilt rental business.



And does not Freedom Kilts still offer a very long tailed shirt for this very purpose??

[Chas]

There is a bit of historic misconception regarding this subject. Highlanders never made some sort of rebellious decision to not wear underwear with their plaids and kilts. In fact, they wore the same kind of underwear that men did elsewhere - long shirt tails!
Historically, a man's shirt was his basic undergarment up until the early 19th century, when separate "under drawers" began to appear. Prior to that, the shirt - which in those days was knee-length - formed one's underwear, with breeches, trousers, or the kilt. The length of the shirt kept a readily washable barrier between the body and the outer garment.
When breeches/trouser-wearing men switched over to using actual under-drawers, the kilted Scots (mostly in the army) clung to the old habit of "shirt tails equals underwear"....

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, A Thousand times Thank you.

Every kiltwearer in the world should be made to read and understand this. If they then choose to go without - fair enough. Personal choice is personal choice - some like tea, some like coffee. But I hate it like poison, when there is some pretence that going without is "Traditional" and you are not a real kilt wearer if you even contemplate wearing underwear.

In fact, that quote should be a sticky somewhere.

Regards

Chas

[auld argonian]

I usually make the observation that they didn't have underwear back "in the day" (Woodsheal's post point this out admirably) and if they did, this wouldn't be an issue. If, however, anyone has been to a museum that proudly displayed some 18th Century jockey shorts, I'd like to know.

Oh, to bury this issue for once and for all....

Best

AA

[Jerry]

I mostly wear black underwear under mine. The few times I don't, I wear a homemade underkilt, made from a tee shirt, as per Steve's instructions in another thread.The first time I went commando was at a Celtic Festival. It felt great and everything was cool in both senses of the word. Then I sat on a hay bale at one of the entertainment venues. All I can say is OUCH! There are tender parts which should not even come close to being exposed to dry straw.I've only gone commando a few times since that experience, and I knew the seats were soft and comfortable before I went there.