Kilt versus Skirt.

[STEVIE]

There seems to be a "debate" growing from another thread about the acceptability of kilts over skirts.
Rather than hijack it completely, I thought, yeah, why not?
Here's my take, I can choose, and do, to wear trousers or a skirt mostly at my whim.
All kilts" are skirts but not all "skirts" are kilts, surely, that's a "given".
When, I embarked on my skirted journey, I was asked several times, "why not wear "the kilt"?
My most glib reponse tended to be on the comparitive costs and that actually worked well.
However, there is a deeper motivation, choice.
I don't wear a kilt in any vaguely traditional sense, the "Nukilt" is a complete aberration, and I don't think it has been copied yet.
This is my stance, I have a choice between skirt or trousers, why should I swap that for kilt or trousers?
As a Scot, it might gain me less "looks", pehaps some more compliments, but it would lessen my personal choices that I have come so far to be able to actually make.
Using the "kilt" as an opener to the idea of our cause is fine but it's wrong to think of it as an end in itself, unless that's your "CHOICE"!
Steve.

[SkirtRevolution]

Using the "kilt" as an opener to the idea of our cause is fine but it's wrong to think of it as an end in itself, unless that's your "CHOICE"!
Steve.

This is how I see the kilt, a way of reintroducing and encouraging the idea of unbifurcated garments for men by promoting an already acceptable "skirt" for men (and not just acceptable but very masculine). Utility kilt versions are an example of how the men's skirt can evolve from the traditional kilt. Once kilts become more mainstream just about any skirt design will become acceptable over time. We just need to get away from this "pants only mentality".

[skirtilator]

It comes with the terretory. It seems pointless to me to explain the difference between a skirt and a kilt to the German Michaela and the German Michel. They are clueless. You better deal with the attention you get, cuz there is no other way arround to be yourself and skirt da issue.

[skirtyscot]

Well said, Stevie. To me, a kilt is just a style of skirt. As noted elsewhere, it goes down a lot better with a lot of people, but I'm with you on this. Having decided not to restrict ourselves to trousers, why restrict ourselves to trousers or only one type of skirt? I will continue to wear a kilt in situations where a different type of skirt would cause too much grief, but having leapt straight over kilts to other skirts, I am reluctant to buy so many kilts, or to wear them so often, that certain people close to me start to suggest that I should ditch the other skirts altogether.

Besides, I like the choice of different skirts. This morning Hazel commented on the denim skirt I was wearing and the three others which were waiting to be put away (i.e. lying on a chair, making the room look untidy). "Why do you need so many?" "Because they are all different!" was my reply, and they were. A 17" mini, two knee-length ones in different shades and styles, and a long one.

Wearing a tartan kilt does not really advance the idea of men's skirts, at least not here in Scotland. But I think that a modern kilt does, in that it is more likely to make the viewer think a bit about why men generally only wear trousers. The kilt made more practical for everyday wear, washable and with pockets instead of requiring a sporran - from there it is a much smaller step to a denim skirt.

Really the only part of your post that I'd disagree with is your description of your "nukilt" as an aberration. It's not that, it's another way out of the box for the kilt. A garment that is close enough to kilts that people are used to seeing, but different enough to give people something to think about!

Keep on skirting,

Alastair

[skirtilator]

Really the only part of your post that I'd disagree with is your description of your "nukilt" as an aberration. It's not that, it's another way out of the box for the kilt. A garment that is close enough to kilts that people are used to seeing, but different enough to give people something to think about!

Off course it is an abberation, cuz at some point a definition becomes pointless. Calling something similar to a scottish kilt a kilt is pointless. The only reason I could think of is to forcing up prices for particular garments by the vendor. Like with the "beach kilt" which was just a Sarong. I don't wear a skirt mommy, it is a quilt or something, a men thing. I keep on advocating skirts for men by wearing them, non restrictited, just out of the box manliness.

[Caultron]

...This morning Hazel commented on the denim skirt I was wearing and the three others which were waiting to be put away (i.e. lying on a chair, making the room look untidy). "Why do you need so many?"

It's amazing any woman would ask that question.

[Kilted_John]

...This morning Hazel commented on the denim skirt I was wearing and the three others which were waiting to be put away (i.e. lying on a chair, making the room look untidy). "Why do you need so many?"

It's amazing any woman would ask that question.

In some respects I understand her response. It's a double standard. No one would ask her why she had so many skirts and dresses (and pants, etc), because she's a woman and it's expected. In our case, we're expected to have a few pairs of pants (trousers, obviously - not the UK meaning), some shorts, and, if we're enlightened, maybe a kilt or two for formal wear or for the highland games. So, her question was something she thought was appropriate, since it's not "normal" in her mind. I used to have similar issues with the family, but they finally gave up.

-J

[skirtyscot]

Indeed, Caultron. She uses more than twice as much of our wardrobe space as I do.

[couyalair]

Wardrobe space could well be part of the problem. Our other halves are afraid we'll take over every available centimetre.
That's one of the drawbacks with trad kilts; being so thick, they do take up a lot of hanging space.

I think it's good to have a choice of unbifurcated garments; skirts are more appropriate on some occasions, kilts on others (have not yet felt the need for trousers in my daily life). Woolen kilts to look smart and colourful, or to keep out the cold; lighter skirts for comfort, long walks, or sitting for a long time (though I go kilted for air travel). I think well made kilts look really good, but they can be a nuisance (too much cloth, too heavy), and the traditional sporran is the biggest nuisance of all, so I always go without. A heavy cotton skirt is convenient, easy to clean, and denim goes with anything you want to wear on the upper half. I've not tried lighter or synthetic materials, as I prefer a garment that keeps its shape and its place round the legs (not flying away!).
One thing I'm not attracted to is the so-called Utilikilt, which has the drawback of weight and bulkiness, and lacks the simple elegance of a straight skirt or a good kilt.

I don't know if I would have tried skirts, probably would not even have thought of it, if I'd not already been wearing kilts for years.

Martin

[skirtilator]

In some respects I understand her response. It's a double standard. No one would ask her why she had so many skirts and dresses (and pants, etc), because she's a woman and it's expected. In our case, we're expected to have a few pairs of pants (trousers, obviously - not the UK meaning), some shorts, and, if we're enlightened, maybe a kilt or two for formal wear or for the highland games. So, her question was something she thought was appropriate, since it's not "normal" in her mind. I used to have similar issues with the family, but they finally gave up.

Double standard the spawn of evil, nothing I would ever accept in with people I am associated with. In relationships the standard tent to be a bit higher than with random strangers. People are so mindlessly entangled with cultural norms, that the thinkers suffer in the light of arbitrary standards.

The guy with the 100 kilts is an addict but he couldn't say to his chick that the 85th pair of shoes were a no-go.

[Kilted_John]

In some respects I understand her response. It's a double standard. No one would ask her why she had so many skirts and dresses (and pants, etc), because she's a woman and it's expected. In our case, we're expected to have a few pairs of pants (trousers, obviously - not the UK meaning), some shorts, and, if we're enlightened, maybe a kilt or two for formal wear or for the highland games. So, her question was something she thought was appropriate, since it's not "normal" in her mind. I used to have similar issues with the family, but they finally gave up.

Double standard the spawn of evil, nothing I would ever accept in with people I am associated with. In relationships the standard tent to be a bit higher than with random strangers. People are so mindlessly entangled with cultural norms, that the thinkers suffer in the light of arbitrary standards.

The guy with the 100 kilts is an addict but he couldn't say to his chick that the 85th pair of shoes were a no-go.

I don't think Hamish (he's the guy with other 100 kilts, btw) has a girlfriend or a wife. He doesn't swing that way.

-J

[STEVIE]

Thanks for the responses guys, and, some from me now.
The "Nukilt",I chose the title, as far as I'm aware it's unique. The name, label, call it what you like, is no different, better, or worse than the "Utilikilt". It's a skirt by any other name.
Price, that's only what I'm willing to pay for a particular item, my choice.
Quantity, don't much care, I have enough skirts at the moment, my choice to add when I see fit.
Sexuality, nothing to do with anything except your own good self and certainly not your clothing choices.
Double standards, men and women have had to live with them in all sorts of ways for generations, get over it and live in the now.
Wear a skirt, wear a kilt, no matter, as long as it's you that's choosing.
Steve.

[Sinned]

For my 2d worth. I've nothing against kilts except the expense consequently I only have that's a bit tight and long and was bought by MOH from a charity shop. I have my limits and they're very low so I can't see me paying 30, 40 or 50 quid for a kilt no matter how good the quality is. It's not that I am tight it's just that I think that women get ripped off with clothes prices and I don't want to be either. Not paid more than £5 for a skirt yet and I don't intend to - it would have to be really special for me to break that rule. The pattern gets a bit monotonous with all the tartans. The more modern kilts in any other name are better but then again the boring black, dark blue, khaki gets to me. I've decided that a utilikilt I will make myself in brighter colours since I can't see anything I like on the market yet. There was a "women's" purple one that I liked but not the price. I have 81 skirts of various colours, lengths, materials and styles so enough for the moment. In fact I'm thinking about thinning out the herd shortly as there's some I've bought that I don't think that I'll wear.
My sexuality has nothing to do with my clothes - I'm hetero and have no intention of changing that - ever.
Yes, the double standards gets to me big time. No need for it yet it's there and it's inertia is a problem for us all, not just skirt wearers. I'll live with it, try and change it and as long as nobody tries and sets fire to my skirts then I'm fine.
I wear what I want to wear without upsetting MOH too much and try and push the boundaries baby steps by baby steps and hope that she doesn't want to leave me.
Dennis

[skirtilator]

A kilt lasts a whole life and requires 10 hours+ of labour and high quality fabric. You get what you pay for and 50 quid for a kilt was pretty cheap for a traditional kilt. You cannot say, no matter how good the quality is, it is still a rip-off, that makes no sense. Either women get ripped off with clothes or you are deluded to think that 5.00 quid was a realistic price for a sparkling new garment. I tend to think of the latter. Pricing is subjective, so, no thing to get huffy about.

I don't pay more than €30.00 for a skirt if I don't have to. The latter is only the case if I am picky, mostly because I am a bold guy and the most good looking pleated skirts are for the skinny Joe Average only. It took a long period of time to source a bunch of decent pleated skirts in knee length from chinese online shopping sites like paipai or taobao.

[Sinned]

Time means very little with me and clothes. I don't wear them out very much and they go out the door more because of changes in fashion than being threadbare. So I can pay very little for something and it last me my lifetime. I have some clothes that are basic and not what you would call style-dependent that go back to the 1970s. Hence I don't believe in paying a lot. And if the garment turns out to be rubbish quality then I don't feel so bad at losing that small amount of money. I don't feel the need to go for a specialist garment when I have all my other skirts. As I have said I will probably make my own kilt - I have the time, a sewing machine and dextrous hands still. As I don't have a particular tartan to go with my surname I will probably make it out of some bright coloured material. Purple is my favourite at the moment.