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.

I would REALLY REALLY discourage him from doing this. He will just look silly and embarrass himself. This is like people who visit Texas buying cowboy boots and hats - and wander around looking totally clueless and silly and tripping over their boots. They aren't going to become cowboys and he isn't going to become Scots.

As noted, locals wear kilts for special events - not as routine day wear.

and what kilt would he be invited to wear?

When I was in high school kilts were very popular and I got one - Wallace. But I have a multi-great grandmother who was a Wallace - besides it being a great plaid.

If he is going to a wedding, sure. If he is going to an event and has a clan connection, okay. People will find it a bit amusing but won't be bothered. I wouldn't do either of these, but I wouldn't wear a Brigade of Guards or Old Etonian necktie, either. because I am a stuffy old bastard.

However, just to wear to walk around the street? People will think he is an idiot. But there are outs.

If he wants the sensation of a kilt without all the hoopla, he can wear a kilt and a Scotland rugby shirt. In season, no one will give him a second look.

There is a bar near Waverly station frequented by Gaelic speakers. We were in there late one night when several young [Gaelic speaking]men came in wearing kilts, black leather motorcycle jackets, and black bovver-style boots. Again, he could wear this style, especially if he shaves his head, and no one would think him strange at all. But not a kilt and plaid and sporran and plastic sgean dubh and please, lord, not a bonnet. That you have to be born to!

Such a nice wind-up:)

<i>Wearing a Kilt
Posted by: soods on Jul 6, 13 at 10:48am
My husband has decided that he wants to wear the traditional Scotish Kilt while in Edinburgh.</i>

Said husband may wear a kilt only while eating haggis with neeps and tatties. House rules. ;)

Instead of going to Scotland to wear a kilt, where he could be laughed at.

Go to Seattle! This is one of my favorite website (hopefully your husband will look as good as some of these guys)

http://www.utilikilts.com/

BTW in case there is a vote:

The one of the man holding a baby in Berlin is my absolute fav!

10 votes for him- just to start off.

And what's worn under the kilt of a true Scot?

Nothing - it's all in perfect working order! ;-)

Ackislander
<There is a bar near Waverly station frequented by Gaelic speakers. We were in there late one night when several young [Gaelic speaking]men came in wearing kilts, black leather motorcycle jackets, and black bovver-style boots. Again, he could wear this style, especially if he shaves his head, and no one would think him strange at all.>

Sounds like a Leather Bar outing for a group of McBears!

Nothing so exciting, bendigo! Just some Island lads finished withering gig in a Gaelic Rock band and dropped in for a whisky with the hame folk.

That's "with their" transformed by the dead hand of Steve "do it my way because I know what you are thinking better than you do" Jobs.

Although it may well have been withering - that would be a suitable response to those that are fully sick!

Wasn't it on this board that I read the line:

"If a man wears underpants under his Kilt, then it is a skirt"?

"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."

since the xmarksthescot site has been called...

anyone on there would tell you, that black watch _is_ a general tartan and can be worn by anyone. and as mathew newsome himself likes to point out: the rules about clan tartans are fairly recent and kind of "invented", so if you like a particular tartan, nothing should bar you from wearing it.

that being said: a good kilt will set you back a few hundred dollars. rental kiltwear is usually of the very formal variety, it's the equivalent of wearing a tuxedo to the supermarket.

however, especially if you go into the highlands, you'll see kilts being worn as everyday wear. nothing wrong with wanting to wear one yourself, because they're very comfortable, but there's no way you would pick up the unsaid do's and don't's in a brief visit.

the japery about what is and isn't worn with kilts i leave to the jesters.

you might go with a casual 4 yd kilt such as
http://www.burnetts-struth.com/casual-kilt-on-sale/

but you'd have to buy a belt, a sporran, kiltpin and kilthose with garter ties as well.

"And just where would he wear it?"

Around the waist, I would guess. But the question opens up a range of possibilities.

So here's what I think....some of you are funny, some are kinda mean, and some may be a bit too concerned about what other people think!

You also have gotten way ahead of yourself or us. Maybe he just wanted to try one on for the experience..(when in Rome, etc)... Maybe he wanted to try one on for my experience...! Maybe he might not have done it at all.

It is a fact Ms/Mr Papau New Guinea that on other trips to far away places, we have both worn the traditional "garb" of that country, by invitation of it's "natives". Seems to me that some of you could use a little more enthusiasm and zest for life, worry less about others' opinions, and be a whole lot less judgemental:)

p.s. nothing wrong with the "Seattle link" and if my husband wasn't great looking, this wouldn't even be up for discussion.

Wearing a kilt is great fun. The Black Watch no longer exists. Clan tartans mean nothing, all that was invented after the clans were destroyed. Enjoy!

Thanks Zippo!

I bought a dirndl in Vienna in 1972. I bought a cowboy hat in Oklahoma in 1965. I wore them both. I might have them both still.

In Edinburgh I ate haggis, neeps and tatties five years ago and hope to do so again in a few weeks.

I still have my lava-lava from Samoa and Kiribati; my formal, black malo from Tonga and my sarong from Malaysia - by arrangement with my wife, they are generally not for wearing where I am likely to be seen within 1000km of home.

My P*nis Gourd from PNG is, however, not to be worn at all, and is purely a conversation piece in my home-office!;-)

All are wonderful souvenirs, but it is important to remember how much future use they will be when working out how much to spend on them - perhaps a hire or dress-up photo is enough sometimes!

If you haven't heard the term 'a right Charlie' . . . you will >)