NOT a plea for a new forum, but...

[The Q]

We range here in xmarks from contemporary kilts kilts worn in a contemporary fashion though to traditional kilts in a traditional fashion, with all varieties between.
The. Problem is confused by such thing as tweed kilts which are over a century old but are not recognised by the public as traditional.
To me:
kilts with external pockets, are definitely contemporary kilts as are non woollen materials.
But tweed and tartan kilts are traditional.

I think some may need to consider more carefully where to place their thread, but we all view things in different ways.

My own personal attire is heading in style between the Wizard of BC and Jock Scot but I defend the right of anyone to wear anything.
So leave forum sections as they are, just consider not just how a style should fit in each section but how others think a style should fit.

[Downunder Kilt]

A questionQ. Does your statement above mean that a pv kilt , no matter how it is pleated or the amount of cloth used is always to be considered a contemporary kilt?

[Mel1721L]

When I first came to this forum a little over a year ago, I had all sorts of hang ups about wearing a kilt. I was English born, with Welsh and later I discovered Irish ancestry on my mothers side. What kind of hat should I wear, what kind of shoes etc. Now I often wear a utility kilt, which I definately would never even have contemplated originally and in fact have a second one on order. I wear it mostly with t shirt or polo shirt and sandals because its bloody hot where I live. I finally figured out that February would be the only month of the year I could wear an 8 yard woolen kilt, making it totally unviable. The only thing I haven't done is bought any Scottish tartan, as I still don't feel entitled to do so.

[Steve Ashton]

Folks, we have been down this road many times.

Perhaps I should repeat what I said in an old thread.



Ladies and Gentlemen of X Marks.

There seems to have been a lot of posts recently about "The right way to wear a kilt." or "What is or is not proper with the kilt."

Just so there are no mistakes about what X Marks is, let me state this as plainly as I can.

This is a kilt forum. It is where those who wear the kilt, appreciate the kilt, or can identify a kilt 2 times out of 3 without having to look in the back of the book, can gather and share our love of this garment we call the kilt.

It does not matter how you wear your kilt or what type of kilt you wear. It is not about what you wear with your kilt.

There are no, and will not be any, Kilt Kops on X Marks. A member can post photos of how they choose to wear their kilt. A member can ask other members for opinions on how their kilt looks. A member can state their preference for their chosen accessories.

But so far no one has been able to come up with a single definition of what a kilt is.
We have as many opinions on what is worn with a kilt as we have members.
It would be the height of egotism for one member to tell another that they are wearing their kilt wrong.

We have members from the Scottish highlands, the lowlands, from elsewhere in the UK, from N. America, Europe, S. Africa, Japan, and about everywhere else you can think of. We even have a member who wintered over in Antarctica with his kilt.

We are a community of kilt wearers. We share and respect the kilt in all its forms and in all the ways it can be worn. Of course we will sometimes disagree among ourselves but when someone outside of our community attempts to tell a member that they are wrong or cannot wear the kilt we band together in support.

Our community is made up of individuals. Individuals who are strong willed, opinionated, self-confidant, and even, sometimes, eccentric. Each has their own reason for wearing the kilt. Even our advertisers and staff participate here as individual members first.

As individuals we can share our opinions. We can offer advice from our own experiences and preferences. We can even state "I would not wear my kilt that way", but we always respect each other for their experiences and preferences.

This forum will welcome anyone who wears, or wishes to wear, the kilt.

Kilt Kops? Well, you're free to tell me that you would not wear your kilt a particular way. What you can't do is try to tell me I am wrong to wear my kilt my way.

Actually, I guess you can try. Just remember that if you do try, you had better bring friends, lots of friends. Because I've got 19,000 X Marks members on my side.

[The Q]

I made a mistake there, I would include a tartan pv kilt 4 + yards pleated knife or box as being traditional, since unless you are a real expert, you wouldn't tell the difference from wool without touching.

[Downunder Kilt]

Thanks for the rep[ly Q. Cheers

[The Wizard of BC]

Just a note of caution. We seem to be using the single word 'traditional' to mean both the kilt and how it is worn.

A traditionally made kilt would be one made in accordance with "The Art of Kiltmaking". A low yardage kilt (with the exception of a 4 yard box pleated kilt) can be made in the traditional manner but most are not. Those sold as 5 and 6 yard kilts would usually be in the casual kilt category.
In general a kilt made from P/V or some other fabric type are not made the way a traditional kilt is made. They could be, but its not the usual way they are made.

Almost any kilt, traditional, casual, contemporary, etc. may be worn with traditional accessories or in a traditional manner.

I don't want people to get confused by seeing the one word without understanding that it can mean two totally different things.

[MrLion]

Alan,
I appreciate your original post. What I see in the pictures there are non-tartan/tweed kilts. I can see how the ones you picture there as contemporary could be called that.
So, it appears that you are getting at what is a contemporary versus traditional KILT itself, rather than how any kilt is worn. Thanks for your observations Alan.