Kilts

[FKL1980]

I don't understand kilt-wearers. Wearing something described as a kilt seems a half-hearted gesture to me - are they for people afraid to say "I'm wearing a skirt, deal with it"?

[crfriend]

Whilst technically speaking, kilts are one highly-specific subtype of skirt, it's generally considered inappropriate to call them "skirts"; this is because of the cultural connection that the garment has. Calling them such also tends to enrage kilt-wearers which is rather pointless and impolite.

So, I'd posit "No" on the supposition that kilt-wearing is a half-hearted gesture; the kilt is a fully legitimate garment in its own right and deserves to be treated as such (and so do the blokes who wear them).

[Colin]

I collected my Scottish National Tartan Kilt and various accessories yesterday. It was a belated 60th birthday present from my Wife. It looks really smart. It is more comfortable than the denim kilt, that I am used to. I wore the new kilt to Church this morning. Lots of people are very encouraging when I wear a kilt.
I am not sure how they would respond if I got a skirt but it is one step at a time. Rome wasn't built in a day.

[Ray]

That's going to generate interesting responses....

[Uncle Al]

Kilts are generally ok for Scots.

Anyone else wearing one is, well, a bit daft.

Well Curran, I must disagree with you on this. Granted,
I'm part Scot and part Irish with a bit of German and
French. But I believe Any Man can wear a kilt.
Especially with the 'newer styles' of modern kilts available
to anyone who wants one. A Kilt is a skirted garment, but
it is more 'acceptable' for a man to be wearing a kilt.
IMHO if kilts became a 'common' part of any mans wardrobe,
we would be a lot closer to having any skirted garment as a
choice of/for menswear.

The above is my 2 cents worth!

Uncle Al
Duncanville, TX

[Peter v]

I attended a fair today, called the "castlefest" at: http://www.castlefest.nl
It was held at the "Kasteel Keukenhof"
Keukenhof 1, 2161 AN Lisse, Holland.

By the way, something like the elf fantasy fair.
http://www.elffantasy.eu/?p=464

Although this was a "fantasy fair", it was open to all commers, of all ages. And is taken quite serious. That was a great feast of people enjoying fantasy and other's company. There were roughly thirty or more men of all ages, possibly more, wearing kilts in different configurations, they were daft too I suppose?

I know better, all enjoyed themselves very much.
The fair being an ideal opportunity possibly for the most to wear what they apparently enjoy at least on the three days of the fair, not being hassled by anyone there. At such events you can see that there are much more men willing to wear skirts, allright, in this case kilts, than you may realise or see on the streets. Of course this was not on public streets, but it was very public.

[Kris]

Kilts are generally ok for Scots.

Anyone else wearing one is, well, a bit daft.

Well Curran, I must disagree with you on this. Granted,
I'm part Scot and part Irish with a bit of German and
French. But I believe Any Man can wear a kilt.
Especially with the 'newer styles' of modern kilts available
to anyone who wants one. A Kilt is a skirted garment, but
it is more 'acceptable' for a man to be wearing a kilt.
IMHO if kilts became a 'common' part of any mans wardrobe,
we would be a lot closer to having any skirted garment as a
choice of/for menswear.

The above is my 2 cents worth!

Uncle Al
Duncanville, TX

Al, I'll see your 2 cents and raise you another 2 cents!
I agree with you. Although I'm part English, Irish, and Scots, I don't think that's a prerequisite for wearing a kilt.

Kris

[RichardA]

Anyone can wear a kilt, but a Scott may object you wearing a clan tartan when you have no connection at all with it, and that's why there is "non clan tartans" and of course we also have the new designs of kilts in every colour of the rainbow.
In the true sense "is a kilt a skirt" that depends on how big you are and how big the person is wearing the kilt.

[mugman]

I wouldn't assume anyone who wears a kilt to automatically want to wear a skirt, so IMO it isn't a cop out at all. As has already been said, a kilt is a legitimate male item, and has nothing whatsoever to do with skirts. A kilt befits a man as much as a suit befits a man...but as I personally hate suits, I choose kilts instead. My two suits in the closet are now about twenty years old, and getting slightly dusty. Currently I don't see any need or reason to wear skirts as well. Looking for a quiet life, I honestly wouldn't want the hassle of having to explain to every conformative Tom, Dick and Harry, why I'd be wearing a skirt. I get enough strange looks wearing a kilt, but I'll be damned if I'll decompose into the fuddy duddy realms of men's 'smart casual' beige over-60's-club slacks. Stuff that.

[RichardA]

I too don't have a suit, but I do have a navy blue blazer and grey slacks, but normally if it's a dress up do with a tie duing the daytime I wear my kilt with an Argyll Jacket in blue Lovat tweed and in the evening Argyll jacket in black barathea.

[Since1982]

Being Scottish, German, Irish, Welsh, English, Norweigan, Cherokee, French and Mutt = (Heinz 57 varieties) I am very qualified to wear a kilt, however, as I'm fairly rotund, sitting, jumping or bending at the waist while commando could be a really interesting experience for anyone nearby and so, I wear straight or slightly A-line skirts that are not in any way kilt-like. It's a personal choice. I won't comment on Curran or FKL1980's comments as they will probably start a flame war without my input on it. That's my 2 cents worth.

[JRMILLER]

Hey, here's an off-the-wall thought...

I too have several Northern E. components which certainly "qualifies" me too for kilt wearing.

Did you ever think, however, that as guys we carry both an X and a Y Chromosome, so doesn't that also qualify us for skirts regardless of anyone's notion of gender?

[Uncle Al]

Uncle Al- don't be silly.

It's only my opinion.

You have more different nationalities that McCHOPPER

Well then, if your intent was to 'stir things up a bit' you've succeeded,
and IMO, helped bring the forum back into one accord.

I can tell that your statement above was tongue-in-cheek, and
I could see the as I was reading it

Now, I'm not sure of the reference to 'that McCHOPPER'

Uncle Al
Duncanville, TX

To Skip********The correct number is 57, not 47.
Trivia---What did 'Heinz 57' represent

[JRMILLER]

Heinz 57 varieties of tomatoes? Skip is a little older than me, perhaps when he grew up, they only had 47.

-john

[sapphire]

JRMILLER wrote:

Did you ever think, however, that as guys we carry both an X and a Y Chromosome, so doesn't that also qualify us for skirts regardless of anyone's notion of gender?

Could you explain that? I'm not challenging you, just feeling a bit "fuzzy" today.
Thanks