Wearing a Kilt
 

My husband has decided that he wants to wear the traditional Scotish Kilt while in Edinburgh. I have heard that you may be able to rent one, like we have tuxedo rentals here in the US. Does anyone have any insight as to where we might be able to do this?
Thanks

Topping to enjoy the responses.

And just where would he wear it? And will he go commando? >)

Kilts are lovely garments - most men look marvelous in them. But seriously - on holiday? You will see wedding guests, some street performers, the odd nationalist in kilts. But they are not 'dress up fun' for tourists.

Tell him it is a bad idea. A good kilt (and the accompanying gear - one doesn't wear them w nikes and t-shirts) - one that is fitted and is of good quality is very VERY expensive.

Bad idea all around (and I am trying to be really nice here)

The obvious question would be... why? Would you walk around Munich wearing lederhosen or Paris sporting a beret and stripy jumper? It would be just as daft for an overseas tourist to wear a kilt in Edinburgh. There <i>are</i> plenty of places you can hire Highland dress, but these cater almost exclusively for Scotsmen who don't own their own kilt who are attending a wedding or (very) formal public event. If you're not dissuaded (sigh), go to Moss Bros on George Street in the New Town - they'll hire you the full outfit: http://www.moss.co.uk/pws/hire/highl...wear_home.html

Gordon_R: Why, oh why, did you tell them about Moss Bros - now he might <i>actually</i> do it?!

:D

Why shouldn't he, if he wants to, and doesn't mind people laughing at him?

Your husband will need the full costume to look like a real Scot

http://tinyurl.com/qfng9ad

This has to be a joke, or the idle thinking of a masochist.

Is he planning as well to wear a ..... sheath when he viits Papua New Guinea?

We (DH and I) were in Amsterdam while a soccer (footie, or whatever it is called) game was going on between Amsterdam and somewhere in Scotland. The visiting Scots, many of who were staying in our hotel, were wearing their kilts with all the attachments... the full costume. Loved seeing them. Didn't laugh at all. But maybe folks don't quite feel that way about it in Edinburgh... never been there so don't know.

Hey, I saw a guy in a utility kilt in Costco the other day. You never know... :-)

Lee Ann

For all things tartan, plaid or kilt, refer to the authority, Mathew Newsome, who can be found here, dispensing answers:
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...s-plaid-12420/

Your husband can easily rent one just like a tuxedo for a wedding. Which one to rent is the question I would ask. Does he have any clan affiliation?

Anyone can in fact wear any tartan pattern but wearing the tartan of a clan you are not affiliated with is considered to be in bad taste. Wearing the Balmoral Tartan (you won't find it for rent so dont' worry about it) would be the height of bad taste. Where you might find it is funnily enough, in the USA.

Wearing a Black Watch tartan kilt for example might get you called on it if you ran into my cousin who was the Regimental Sargeant Major for a number of years. He gets quite annoyed by people who wear it and were not in the Regiment. As you might imagine given his background, he's not a good person to annoy. ;-)

Better to wear a 'general tartan' or 'fashion tartan' if you have no clan affiliation to point to. You can find help here in how to choose which tartan pattern:
http://www.tartansauthority.com/resources/faqs/

Many years ago I was walking through Edinburgh with my father-in-law. A circumferentially challenged American walked by in full Highland (as invented by Sir Walter Scott) regalia.
The old boy sucked his teeth and muttered, "The sights you see when you havenae got your gun."

I'm surprised no one has come up with the old saw about how to tell the clan affiliation of a Scotsman; check under the kilt, and if you find a quarter pounder he must be a McDonald.

>>if you find a quarter pounder he must be a McDonald.<<

That's one thing, but what about the onion rings and mustard?

And BTW for Glasgow the native attire is more likely to be:
http://i.digiguide.tv/up/1109/131784...3172243880.jpg

"And BTW for Glasgow the native attire is more likely to be:
http://i.digiguide.tv/up/1109/1317848400-5402-RabCNes-13172243880.jpg"

Yawn, how predictable, like London is populated by Pearly Kings and Queens... Have you ever visited Glasgow?

Yes, frequently. You don't think I was being serious, do you?

We have found ourselves walking around in kilts after we have performed (in a Pipe Band after a parade). The locals are NOT impressed.

That about the onion rings and mustard is a wonderful straight line, Patrick, but I don't dare follow up. :-)

Of course, no underwear for a kilt.