Why you don't see Scots wearing their kilts often

[Nighthawk]

Very well said.
We wear various kinds of trousers, depending on circumstances and for every task. Most men wear only trousers.

Inexpensive tartan kilts and modern kilts in addition to high quality expensive kilts give us the possibilty of wearing the kilt every where and everywhen, should we so wish.

Exactly! That's the thing that I love most about the kilt- the versatility of it! (That is, aside from the fact that it's much more comfortable!!) And I grew up surrounded by kilt wearers. My grandmother thought it an important cultural icon, and wanted us to keep the tradition alive. There was a movie- I forget what it was now- where one of the characters said "Without tradition, we're nothing but savages." I always thought that way, myself.

[Jock Scot]

Actually the Scot in general and the Highland Scot in particular are a very courteous bunch and apart from certain areas in the lowlands that are renowned for raucous behaviour,---take note of the football match two days ago!----- particularly when alcohol is involved, the tourist will have absolutely nothing to fear. Now if a visitor tries to tell a Scot ANY Scot(funnily enough lowlanders all of a sudden turn into kilt experts and can be very vociferous over all this!)how to wear the kilt,WHEN TO WEAR IT, potted clan history etc, etc ,even though the visitor may be right, then watch out!


The Lowland Scot has a tough and often seemingly unforgiving sense of humour which takes few prisoners , but actually means(most of the time)no harm and unless it is understood as such, real offence can unfortunately be taken.

So a person wearing the kilt in the lowlands MIGHT be the target for some tough , but generally good natured micky taking. A visitor , in most of the lowlands will probably escape unscathed. However a kilt wearing visitor in certain parts of the Central Belt(Lowlands), for example, could well have some serious fun poked at him!

[GG]

Actually the Scot in general and the Highland Scot in particular are a very courteous bunch... Now if a visitor tries to tell a Scot ANY Scot(funnily enough lowlanders all of a sudden turn into kilt experts and can be very vociferous over all this!)how to wear the kilt,WHEN TO WEAR IT, potted clan history etc, etc ,even though the visitor may be right, then watch out!

O Jock, I don’t miss your allusion to yesterday’s debating. I have no hard feelings about it, however. But perhaps I should stress that I have no intention to tell you/any Scotts WHEN to wear the kilt. My business was solely to suggest a more frequent wearing of it, i.e. that a special occasion should not be absolutely needed.
I think you can agree with me that the more the kilt is seen – worn in a proper way, of course – the better it shall be over all accepted.
I also think the kilt making business should profit from a more frequent wearing. Do you not see my point?

The Lowland Scot has a tough and often seemingly unforgiving sense of humour which takes few prisoners , but actually means(most of the time)no harm and unless it is understood as such, real offence can unfortunately be taken.

So a person wearing the kilt in the lowlands MIGHT be the target for some tough , but generally good natured micky taking. A visitor , in most of the lowlands will probably escape unscathed. However a kilt wearing visitor in certain parts of the Central Belt(Lowlands), for example, could well have some serious fun poked at him!

I do understand that the kilt is not particular welcome in the Scottish Lowlands, where 80% of all Scots live, at least not in day time, and that that has nothing to do with being Scottish or not, whereas in the Highlands it should be more accepted, even if some might wonder why on earth a foreigner should be wearing a kilt?

I still find it difficult to understand that I can wear a kilt in Denmark, Germany, Holland, France, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and probably in a lot of other countries without any problems at all. But not in the very home of the kilt?

I’m convinced that if in Germany I would wear short Lederhosen which the Germans themselves are no longer wearing (except for the October Festival in Munich), I shouldn’t be ridiculed or attacked, apart from, perhaps, by types I should otherwise not bore to communicate with.

[Jock Scot]

GG.

I think you are not quite understanding the subtleties of what I am trying to say and perhaps that is my fault.So let me try a bit harder!

We in Scotland don't need any encouragement to wear the kilt,those of us that do anyway, we are more than happy with the way and occasions that we do choose to wear it. Why? Well for reasons of I suspect, practicality, cost and even reasons lost in the mists of time to why we don't wear the kilt often in the day and we are actually more than happy with saving the kilt for special occasions. When you think about it we have had more than enough time to change the situation over the last 100 years or so, had we felt so inclined.

Please do not run away with the idea that the Lowlanders dislike the kilt, alright a few might, but in reality the kilt is not part of their culture(until recently) and you should regard any unflattering comments as part of the Highland/Lowland pretty robust leg pulling.

Certainly in the distant past the Highlanders were regarded as a troublesome, warlike bunch who did things their very own way, which was quite different to the lowlands-----although they were not averse to wars and banditry either!

Wear the kilt in Scotland by all means and many from outwith Scotland do quite happilly, every year. You are quite right, many Scots don't understand why anyone would want to wear the kilt as you and many on this website would like. I think you will just have to accept that we in Scotland choose to wear the kilt in our own good time and in our own way, which, I quite accept, is not the choice of many of you. I actually (I think I speak for most kiltwearers in Scotland)am happy with our choice and I have no problem with your choices either, but I do think the Scots are more than capable of making up their own minds when and where they wear the kilt, don't you?

[Redshank]

All Highland Scots and to a certain extent lowland Scots are aware that the kilt is regarded as our National Dress, and like all nations that have a national dress they reserve it for special occassions, as such they have high regard and great respect for the kilt, and many would pour scorn on cheaper alternatives, some see it as disrespectful to cheapen the national dress or wear alternatives to tartan, a vast majority see the alternative of wearing trousers/pants as a much more practical and easier option, couple that to the fact that they don't have to prove they are Scottish to the world, it's in the blood, it's in the heart.

[Jock Scot]

All Highland Scots and to a certain extent lowland Scots are aware that the kilt is regarded as our National Dress, and like all nations that have a national dress they reserve it for special occassions, as such they have high regard and great respect for the kilt, and many would pour scorn on cheaper alternatives, some see it as disrespectful to cheapen the national dress or wear alternatives to tartan, a vast majority see the alternative of wearing trousers/pants as a much more practical and easier option, couple that to the fact that they don't have to prove they are Scottish to the world, it's in the blood, it's in the heart.

Now why did I not say that? Thank you Chris!

[Elf]

All Highland Scots and to a certain extent lowland Scots are aware that the kilt is regarded as our National Dress, and like all nations that have a national dress they reserve it for special occassions, as such they have high regard and great respect for the kilt, and many would pour scorn on cheaper alternatives, some see it as disrespectful to cheapen the national dress or wear alternatives to tartan, a vast majority see the alternative of wearing trousers/pants as a much more practical and easier option, couple that to the fact that they don't have to prove they are Scottish to the world, it's in the blood, it's in the heart.

The Scots are not alone in this. From my perspective here in North America, we see folk enthusiasts from many traditions wearing National Dress. However it seems only the formal form has survived because it is used for special occasions. For example, the Norewegians actually have two words for the two: Bunad=formal, Folkeklader=everday. Once in a while one will see folkeklader.

I would not attempt to say anything concerning Scots Bunad (if I may mash the terms). I do however support the revival of Scots Folkeklader in the from of causal kilts. Again by way of simile, cargo pants have not changed formal wear standards. Why should the formal use of the kilt feel threatened by their more casual use?

As for the high cost of kilts, remember that we are paying kiltmakers the working wage of the developed world. I believe it is worthwhile to support these folks. Granted, one may not be able to stuff one's closet as full with such products. The determination of "enough" is hard to live by.

Hopefully increased use will create more supply and thereby induce lower prices. Remember, it took nearly a century for ladies to bring pants from the gymnasium to the street. We are already on a faster time schedule.

[lukeyrobertson]

Thank you Jock for a great and contextual comment on the wearing of the kilt. It reminds me a lot of the practice of kilt wearing in Cape Breton where the kilt is hardly seen until there's a special community event, or sadly a funeral and then without notice the kilts appear. I appreciate the distinctions you make about traditions between the highland and the lowlands and I, having not been to Scotland, have learned a lot from this exchange. I think it's fair to say, that a similar practice is observed here in Canada...the well made, well fashioned "traditional" kilts appear most at special holidays/observances and community/family celebrations like weddings. It is not common to see the kilt in daily use, but I suspect that for many, the kilt is regarded as very special and donned for the occasions that merit it. That being said, I like the fact that those in the Xmarks community are finding the where-with-all to wear the kilt more frequently at home and about which has created the "casual" approach. But thanks again Jock for adding to the conversation from where you are.

[Spartan Tartan]

...the well made, well fashioned "traditional" kilts appear most at special holidays/observances and community/family celebrations like weddings.

Although, I enjoy my kilt as often as possible, it really is not practical for me to wear daily...given I'm in the military and it's certainly not a uniform item for me--but maybe I can write a point paper about it and get an approved kilt option within the Navy uniform regs

Even though I am relatively new to kilt wearing, my purpose for getting my kilt was to wear it for special occasions--not necessarily formal, but special. I do, however, consider a kilt night a special occasion

[GG]

Jock, I deeply respect your comments and contributions. And I see your points.

My point of view is different, however.

I think we are both in our ages, so probably we shall never find out, who was right, if any of us.

So, let's stop the discussion and live on in peace. I wish you a good weekend!