Why you don't see Scots wearing their kilts often

[Jaggy thistle]

I too have worn the kilt in Glasgow with no problem even on a Saturday night as recently as last Saturday I was not so lucky I did not even get a kilt check !!

[LeeAnne]

I too have worn the kilt in Glasgow with no problem even on a Saturday night as recently as last Saturday I was not so lucky I did not even get a kilt check !!

There's no way you would ever have any probs in Glasgow (or any town in Scotland) on Saturday or any night if you are kilted. Try wearing a Rangers or Celtic top OTOH!

As for the kilt check... You're not going to the right places! I have a few girlfriends who (after the obligatory beverage or two) are noted for their thoroughness in that department!

[bodysuittattoo]

having 2 sons in universitys in scotland, i have spent a fair amount of time in both aberdeen and edinburgh. only rarely does one see a kilted person in aberdeen, and usually for a wedding or such. the occasional kilt wearer is usually a street entertainer, ESPECIALLY in edinburgh, and the other people wearing kilts (edinburgh) are tourists, and they buy the unadulterated crap available at every little tourist shop on the royal mile.. and would prolly die of shock if they walked into the two real kiltmaker shops on the mile. now i have to admit to not having been to edinburgh for the festival, but perhaps i can fix that this year

[Legba]

Times and cultures change. I live out west and we use four wheelers to move cattle, and most cowboys wear ball caps.
Of course we see a few cowboy hats each day, and 90% or so wear them during rodeo times.
That gives me an idea, Kilt, Brushpopper, cowboy boots, 4wheeler and a Cowboy hat cattle drive photo coming up!

[chrisupyonder]

Times and cultures change. I live out west and we use four wheelers to move cattle, and most cowboys wear ball caps.
Of course we see a few cowboy hats each day, and 90% or so wear them during rodeo times.
That gives me an idea, Kilt, Brushpopper, cowboy boots, 4wheeler and a Cowboy hat cattle drive photo coming up!

I can hardly wait!

[okiwen]

I had occasion while in Coeur d'Alene, Id. to be in uniform (kilted and gun on hip) to have a young lady run up and ask If I was wearing it "correctly". I pleasantly answered "whenever I wear it (the uniform) I am correct". I wondered what this misplaced farm girl knew about what was or was not correct. I knew she was just being playful and meant no harm at all but I think the correctness in the Highlands or here is subject to the circumstance.

I was never "checked" while in my Utilikilt though. I used to work construction and the kilt was my most favoritest, provided the work for the day would not wrap me up in a saw or other machine.

[Orthzar]

Times and cultures change. I live out west and we use four wheelers to move cattle, and most cowboys wear ball caps.
Of course we see a few cowboy hats each day, and 90% or so wear them during rodeo times.
That gives me an idea, Kilt, Brushpopper, cowboy boots, 4wheeler and a Cowboy hat cattle drive photo coming up!

New internet etiquette rule: "if you announce an idea on a forum, you swear on your great grandmother's grave to carry out your idea."

[Gael Ridire]

Finally after ten pages and a few months late:

The native Scots have presented an excellent point of view. So have others. I loved the one Canadian who called himself a mud-blood (yea, let's see I'm Irish, Scot, Welsh, English, French, Dutch, German, Czech, and Pole). Born in the western U.S. in the Rocky Mountains, my grandfather wanted nothing more then to be a cowboy, I spent a summer working with a 100 head of horses, dressed as a cowboy, never again!

Just as the kilt began in the Highlands it evolved to be accepted in the Lowlands (sort of) and is the national dress of a nation. Then the sons & daughters of that country went abroad and the evolution of the kilt continues. Utility kilts might not be worn or even made in Scotland, but they are in America. Simply it is the kilt in evolution, for some it is good, and for some it is bad.

Some twenty years ago I met a gentleman from Cornwall who was on tour in North America expounding to all that the Cornish were not English but were Celts. He wore a kilt in the Cornish national tartan. He explained that the kilt was not native to the Cornish, but after much discussion it was decided upon that the kilt would be adopted and Cornish tartan setts designed, to tell the world that the Cornish are Celtic, because the world knows that the kilt belongs to Scotland, which is Celtic.

In the late 19th century the Gaelic League of Ireland searched the traditional clothing of Ireland to help designate for people their nationalistic leaning to the English establishment. The caubeen was worn by men, but the French adopted it into the beret. Women wore Celtic style jewelry to show nationalism. Finally it was decided that the kilt should be worn, but to differentiate from the Scots, the material used would be of a plain color and not tartan.

If I hadn't gained so much weight over the past few years, I would wear the kilt every day and probably the utility kilt. The kilt tells all what my heritage is! Next week is one of the state's Celtic festivals. I'm having my daughter make me a vest in the Black Stewart tartan for I'm not comfortable wearing a kilt until I lose weight.

A few years ago I wore my kilt to church no comments were received. The next Sunday sitting behind me was a young Tongan family, the dad wearing his lava-lava. I gave him a thumbs up.

[Dale Seago]

Just as the kilt began in the Highlands it evolved to be accepted in the Lowlands (sort of) and is the national dress of a nation. Then the sons & daughters of that country went abroad and the evolution of the kilt continues. Utility kilts might not be worn or even made in Scotland, but they are in America. Simply it is the kilt in evolution, for some it is good, and for some it is bad.

Some twenty years ago I met a gentleman from Cornwall who was on tour in North America expounding to all that the Cornish were not English but were Celts. He wore a kilt in the Cornish national tartan. He explained that the kilt was not native to the Cornish, but after much discussion it was decided upon that the kilt would be adopted and Cornish tartan setts designed, to tell the world that the Cornish are Celtic, because the world knows that the kilt belongs to Scotland, which is Celtic.

Pretty much how I see it too. Regarding the second paragraph quoted above, despite the fact that many Scots would not consider themselves Celtic it does seem that the kilt has caught on in areas which never historically wore it -- Ireland, Cornwall, Wales, etc. -- as sort of a generic expression of "Celtitude". I rather like that.

[tpa]

I'm sure it is wishful thinking that kilt wearing will spread, but personally I see no reason why people should not be educated as to the comfort, convenience and freedom of the kilt. There are styles, colours and materials to suit all tastes. As I recollect, evidence of kilt like garments has been discovered as far afield as China, dating back centuries, so it cannot be claimed to be exclusively Scottish garment.

However everyone's opinion is as valid as everyone else's and no one should be or feel criticised for voicing their opinion on a multinational forum such this. I suspect most of our feelings, prejudices if you like, were formed at a very young age, certainly among those of us who were introduce to the kilt in our formative years and changing them is not likely to happen any time soon.