women in kilts

[Dirk Skene]

I'd say go for it. Just make sure you don't over accessorize. Having a sporran just doesn't look right to me.

My stepdaughter just said the sporran on a woman makes her think "hermaphrodite."

[Lily]

I say; why not?
Last weekend in Edinburgh I saw the most beautifull (gents) kilts but for the woman there wasn,t that much to choose from.
Not even at the mill, mayby it,s bacause I come too much in Edinburgh but i,ve seen the ladies kilts again and again ...........
For the men,s kilts there ,s a range of different tartans and colors(ofcourse)
Someday I will buy myself the saltire.

[Mipi]

I agree with cessna. For me it's more important how you wear it. It must fit you right.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Part of the issue here is not just the wearing of the kilt itself, but also of the various accessories that go with the typical male Highland outfit. I have seen at Highland Games women wearing men's kilts with sporran, kilt hose, garters, sgian dubh, even Argyle jacket, neck tie, and balmoral! In other words, it was a man's outfit and looked rather odd being worn by the woman.

I think, whether a lady is wearing a kilt-skirt, or a true kilt, she should accessorize it in a more feminine fashion. I think a nod towards traditional male Highland attire is not out of place, so long as it is not overdone. For instance, my wife sometimes will wear kilt hose and garters with her tartan skirt. These are, strictly speaking, part of the male Highland outfit, but they look rather cute on her. She wears them with Mary-jane style shoes, a nice blouse, and if it is cold, perhaps a sweater or a shawl. In other words, the rest of her outfit is feminine.

[Barb T]

Part of the issue here is not just the wearing of the kilt itself, but also of the various accessories that go with the typical male Highland outfit. I have seen at Highland Games women wearing men's kilts with sporran, kilt hose, garters, sgian dubh, even Argyle jacket, neck tie, and balmoral! In other words, it was a man's outfit and looked rather odd being worn by the woman.

I wander around games looking exactly like this, but I'm there to compete as a piper. So, it may look odd to people, but it's my uniform.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I wander around games looking exactly like this, but I'm there to compete as a piper. So, it may look odd to people, but it's my uniform.

I think it's generally understood that a woman who is part of a pipe band is th eexception, because you are wearing the same uniform as the rest of the band.

I should have been more specific with my example. The woman I am remembering was wearing a tweed Argyle, and lovat hose -- in fact she looked dressed like a Highland gent taking a stroll about his estate. Her clothes looked great. They just looked very masculine.

[cloves]

I think confidence plays a big part of whether an outfit "looks" right or not too. When i'm wearing a pair of jeans that I know fit well, i think that confidence carries over and i'm perceived as "well dressed" even though it's just a pair of jeans.
Same thing goes with kilts. I work at a record store, and when I wear clothing that is a little more "rock n roll" I feel confident. I can't wear my trad kilts and my hose up, even though it's a good look, in that particular setting because I'd feel out of place, and that akwardness would show through.

here's an example....and be assured, I'm not your typical "girlie" girl, so maybe that makes a difference too.....i digress

first one is what i'd wear to my store, or out clubbing...as mentioned above, it's a more relaxed look.


the next one is what I wore at a conference I attended. Photo doesn't show it well, but my shirt and socks (up this time) were both navy blue to match the blue in my kilt.
I can wear each outfit, but not in the wrong setting.....does that make sense?

[vmac3205]

I love wearing the kilt skirts. I tried on my husband's kilts, but the fit wasn't right, and at my age wearing an unbifurcated garment above the knee isn't realy attractive. For those of you over 50, think "Erma Bombeck" saggy knees and all.
I did solve the sporan problem by getting a swatch of fabric in the tartan of the skirt and making a draw-string bag that I wear around my waist.

[beloitpiper]

In a pipe band, women wear exactly what the men do. Bands are all about uniformity, so we're not going to give them a different uniform! But outside of a pipe band (or dancers), I think women in kilts looks a bit awkward...not bad, but just a little one-off.

[Southern Breeze]

No complaints here. I say go for it.