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So a few weeks ago a friend of mine threw a renaissance costume party, and I decided that I wanted to
go wearing a kilt. Ordered one in the Black Watch tartan from these guys.
This was the first time I had ever worn one, and I've gotta say, they've grown on me. I now wear it maybe
two to three times a week. Being in Eastern NC this has lead to a range of reactions from the people I
was with literally being asked "Why is that man wearing a skirt", to the manager of business coming out of
their office to ask if it was, in fact, Black Watch, and to thank me for wearing it.

So I'm curious to see if any of you guys wear them, if so what tartans, what kinds of reactions you get if
you aren't in Scotland, and what all you Scots think of this?

Rennaisance? Kilt?




EH?!?

Even Scotland got in on the Rennaisance, eventually.

But kilts have nothing to do with The Renaissance. They were dreamed up at the turn of the 19th century as a symbol of scottish nationalism.

Well, I suppose I should mention that most of the ren-fares here are focused on Elizabethan England, so when I think of renaissance and dressing up that's the association I make.

Ah. Gotcha.

So it's a kind of catch-all term for a sort of 'dressing-up' festival? I always wondered about that.

Albatross wrote:But kilts have nothing to do with The Renaissance. They were dreamed up at the turn of the 19th century as a symbol of scottish nationalism.

From what I've read the direct predecessor of the modern kilt was around in the 16th century, and that the basic design of the modern kilt started showing up in the 18th. Which strictly speaking, makes what I bought a bit of an anachronism, but it looked good.

Now what I've read agrees with you in that the concept of given clan being represented by a particular tartan didn't show up until then.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Albatross wrote:Ah. Gotcha.

So it's a kind of catch-all term for a sort of 'dressing-up' festival? I always wondered about that.

Depends on the fare, some are more strict about historical accuracy from those involved with putting it on than others.
Of course, most won't say anything to a patron who is wearing something from the wrong period.

I'm a proud 2nd generation Irish American with a large amount of family still in Ireland. Well a couple years ago my cousin there got married in a traditional Irish wedding and he choose for all the men at the wedding to wear kilts.

When I tried to explain to him that kilts wern't apart of traditional Irish clothing he said that it was a symbol for celtic pride. So not one to argue with celtic pride I was custom fitted for my own kilt which now sits in its own little box. I only take it out on St. Patricks Day and use the same excuse he did when people say kilts aren't Irish

Ah yes. Celtic.... a surprisingly modern notion.

Me, I have two. Tartan one, and a long one. I enjoy wearing them.

I'd love to have a proper kilt.

There isn't a Kilkrazy official tartan unfortunately, even though it is an ancient and respected celtic name.

Japanese girls go mad for men in kilts, or so I've heard. Obviously this is a theory I wouldn't be testing while Mrs Kilkrazy was in company.

I have a clan surname which has it's own tartan. However despite a few friends proclaiming I should "rep that gak" I haven't got one made. Besides a proper kilt from a kilt maker is hugely expensive. The cheap ones are pretty much tartan skirts, not kilts.

You could always test it on Mrs. Killkrazy, I know I've caught Mrs. iPwned ogling a fair amount when I wear mine.

whatwhat wrote:I have a clan surname which has it's own tartan. However despite a few friends proclaiming I should "rep that gak" I haven't got one made. Besides a proper kilt from a kilt maker is hugely expensive. The cheap ones are pretty much tartan skirts, not kilts.

That's part of the reason I don't have one.

Yet. I have long term ambitions though.

My Grandad on my Dads side was a Scot, my grandad on my Mums side was a Paddy, but unlike the Americans who view their heritage favourably, my Irish grandad was a drunk and my Scottish one was a miserable whinging bastard, so i would never wear a bloody kilt, even though im entitled to.

Its just another name for a dress.

Oh and all piercings are for women as well, as is long hair.

Thanks for that bitter angry streak as well gramps, i hope i get your male pattern baldness as well!

Mr Mystery wrote:Ah yes. Celtic.... a surprisingly modern notion.

What do you mean?

Albatross wrote:Rennaisance? Kilt?




EH?!?

Exactly what I was thinking.

EH?!?

Kilkrazy wrote:

whatwhat wrote:I have a clan surname which has it's own tartan. However despite a few friends proclaiming I should "rep that gak" I haven't got one made. Besides a proper kilt from a kilt maker is hugely expensive. The cheap ones are pretty much tartan skirts, not kilts.

That's part of the reason I don't have one.

Yet. I have long term ambitions though.

My thinking is if I was going to spend that much on clothing I'd buy a suit.

Albatross wrote:But kilts have nothing to do with The Renaissance. They were dreamed up at the turn of the 19th century as a symbol of scottish nationalism.

Is incorrect.

It doesn't matter either way.

They are a symbol of Scotland now.

Ancient Egyptians and Mesopotamians wore kilts 5,000 years ago.

Kilkrazy wrote:It doesn't matter either way.

They are a symbol of Scotland now.

Ancient Egyptians and Mesopotamians wore kilts 5,000 years ago.

And look what happened to their societies:

if one would like to wear one of the kilts worn in the movie braveheart, as i´m german, what kind of tartan motive can a german wear. obviously i´m not part of a clan so when liking the idea of wearing tartan, what options are for a foreigner?
i mean, as a native it would look rather silly seeing a visitor of scotland prancing around in a kilt with tartans he is seemingly not understanding...
so when wanting to do it right is there an option for someone not from around the hills?

thanks, vik

Being half Irish, I've always sort of wanted to try one on, but you can't exactly go out to the local kilt shop for a fitting here in the states.

I do wonder what kind of reaction I'd get if I showed up to rugby practice in one though

Kilts?
in Braveheart?

if they were an invention of the late 16th century as stated, what are they doing back in the late 13th/early 14th?

Albie is sort of correct actually.
The kiltings were an invention of the Scottish Tourist Board.

Viktor von Domm wrote:if one would like to wear one of the kilts worn in the movie braveheart, as i´m german, what kind of tartan motive can a german wear. obviously i´m not part of a clan so when liking the idea of wearing tartan, what options are for a foreigner?
i mean, as a native it would look rather silly seeing a visitor of scotland prancing around in a kilt with tartans he is seemingly not understanding...
so when wanting to do it right is there an option for someone not from around the hills?

thanks, vik

You could either design your own tartan to give to a kiltmaker or no doubt a german one is out there somewhere. I know you can get dutch ones for example.

Chibi Bodge-Battle wrote:Albie is sort of correct actually.
The kiltings were an invention of the Scottish Tourist Board.

Kilts have been worn in scotland wince the fifteen hundreds. The idea of tartan identifying different things like clans is what your talking about.

what i´ve meant was a full body cloth thats more wraped around ones self rather than being a little skirt...
and in the movie and in ceratin other documents i saw this described cloth that has some resemblance of a toga, which were worn in ancient rome in a same manner...

Viktor von Domm wrote:what i´ve meant was a full body cloth thats more wraped around ones self rather than being a little skirt...
and in the movie and in ceratin other documents i saw this described cloth that has some resemblance of a toga, which were worn in ancient rome in a same manner...

Most people call it a full kilt. Kiltmakers will do that for you. Funilly enough kiltmakers in Edinburgh particularly cater for toursits more than they do scotsmen.

There is a difference between tartan and a kilt.
The earler ones were blankees cos the softie Scots need their comforters

the codification of the clan tartans generally seems to have been late so you basically can make your own design like Whatwhat says.

leather and camo kilts are all the rage.

well then thats waht i´ve meant...^^

and if i would want to wear such an item in what way should that be woven to not be looked at as an idiot? should it be colored in black, red and gold rather than classic blue or green and other commenly used colors?

Chibi Bodge-Battle wrote:the codification of the clan tartans generally seems to have been late

What's funny is the article you linked to trying to prove that point is actually arguing the opposite if you read it.

Viktor von Domm wrote:well then thats waht i´ve meant...^^

and if i would want to wear such an item in what way should that be woven to not be looked at as an idiot? should it be colored in black, red and gold rather than classic blue or green and other commenly used colors?

If you were from a Scottish family you would traditionally get the tartan of your clan. A tartan is a pattern of colour like so....



They make the kilt to match the tartan. Considering you are german you could either find a tartan which has been designed for germany, if there is one. Or use a universal tartan which is what I think you are referring to.

Hmmm, latex kilt.

I imagine you can wear any tartan you can pay for, if you are German or English, etc. Even most Scots won't know them all, anyway.

http://www.scotweb.co.uk/tartan?gclid=CI_zxM-d4qQCFVBc4wodr0X6Jw

This site even allows you to design your own.

It is a criminal offence to misappropriate Scottish coats of arms, however tartans are not similarly protected.

@whatwhat - So, you're a Scottish Geordie?


You just keep getting better and better.....