Are Kilts Only for Men with Scottish Heritage?

[Math Is Hard]

I'd like to have a skirt made from my family's tartan (Chisholm). I don't know if it's called a kilt if a woman wears it.

 

[DaveC426913]

But where I grew up, a guy walking around in a skirt, would not be called manly.

That would be called ignorance. In that place they do not know what kilts are, and somehow think they are skirts. That says nothing about the wearer and a lot about the onlooker.

 

[DaveC426913]

not all kilts work for all men.

Quite true. I was going to mention that.

Manly men can wear kilts. It does not work so well on ... slighter men.

If a man thinks wearing a kilt is manly, then he's super hot wearing one :!).

If he's not sure, he really shouldn't wear one .

An excellent point!

There are many fashionable things that a confident man can pull off quite well that a man less sure of himself should not attempt.

 

[OmCheeto]

hmmm...

I seem to remember someone in a kilt.

Ah ha!

[PLAIN]http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs903.snc4/71675_167791689903463_100000178992764_606137_3443310_n.jpg

Kilt undies. (Guy just to the right of https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=3002458&postcount=3988".)

I want a pair of those.

And a gun like that to shoot anyone who says I look like a girlie man in them...

 

[Triple_D]

That would be called ignorance. In that place they do not know what kilts are, and somehow think they are skirts. That says nothing about the wearer and a lot about the onlooker.

Don't be silly.

It could also be called arrogance on the part of the people who wear them. Just because they wear them in one part of the world, does not mean everyone has to agree with it. Knowing what it is, and believing it is proper attire for a man, are two different things.

Like I said, different cultures in different parts of the world.

 

[mege]

I'd like to have a skirt made from my family's tartan (Chisholm). I don't know if it's called a kilt if a woman wears it.

Women can wear modern kilts*, and they're, well, kilts (women will wear kilts as part of uniforms for bands, dance troupes etc the same as men). Though, a woman in a kilt is different than a woman wearing a skirt that happened to be out of the tartan (both are totally fine). Growing up I have distinct memories of my Great-Grandmother wearing dresses out of our family tartan. Now, however, the women in my family all have sashes and scarves made out of our tartan for events where they'd want to 'represent' (and my wife was given one as a wedding gift).

*Modern kilts are different than the older great kilts. Modern kilts are fabricated into one garment that folds around the waist and lap, whereas the older great kilts (think Braveheart) are just one huge piece of fabric (sometimes pleated) that is folded in a manner that works for dressing (more akin to a toga, but without the 'sleeves' that a toga would have). Modern kilts are acceptable for women, but great kilts not as much.

But where I grew up, a guy walking around in a skirt, would not be called manly.

There's a saying: it's only a skirt if you wear underwear with it.
;)

 

[zoobyshoe]

I'd wear a kilt, if I could find one slutty enough.

 

[Danger]

I'm a Highlander on my mom's side.

Holy crap... we might be related.
My background diversity is such that I refer to myself as a MacMcSpic. I'm 1/4 each of Highland Scots and Lowland Scots, 1/4 Irish, and the rest is a mix of English, Spanish, and African. The Spanish part comes from being "Black Irish", which was a result of the Spanish armada crashing on the shores of Ireland.
I am (and I can prove it) a direct descendant of Robert. Since I have legs like a sparrow, it has never crossed my mind to appear in a kilt. I will, however, if a friend or family member requests it. For the record, my family tartan is the Royal Stewart. Robert never had one of his own, but William Wallace and the Stewart clan took him in and considered him kin. My grandmother's maiden name, in fact, was Bruce.
All of the foregoing is entirely useless when it comes to trying to get a job.

 

[Borek]

I am (and I can prove it) a direct descendant of Robert.

Not that I want to ruin your day, but... if I understand things correctly that was around 30 generations back in time. Assuming 10% of kids are bastards (in most cases unknowingly to their fathers), your chances of being a direct descendant are in the range of 0.9^{30}, that is about 4.2%. In practice higher, as even a bastard could be a Robert descendant, unknowingly to his family.

 

[DaveC426913]

Don't be silly.

It could also be called arrogance on the part of the people who wear them. Just because they wear them in one part of the world, does not mean everyone has to agree with it. Knowing what it is, and believing it is proper attire for a man, are two different things.

Like I said, different cultures in different parts of the world.

Exactly my point. If they knew they were kilts and still thought they were inappropriate, that would be fine, and I would be in complete agreement with you.

But if they think they're skirts then that's plain ignorance.


If I went to India and saw all the men who wear sherwanis, I might think it's an unappealing and inappropriate look. No problem there.

But if I thought the men were wearing women's evening dresses, it would be because I am ignorant.

 

[arildno]

I'd wear a kilt, if I could find one slutty enough.

 

[Chi Meson]

Not that I want to ruin your day, but... if I understand things correctly that was around 30 generations back in time. Assuming 10% of kids are bastards (in most cases unknowingly to their fathers), your chances of being a direct descendant are in the range of 0.9^{30}, that is about 4.2%. In practice higher, as even a bastard could be a Robert descendant, unknowingly to his family.

Some of my students have called ME a bastard. Does that mean I'm descended from the Bruce?

 

[Danger]

Some of my students have called ME a bastard. Does that mean I'm descended from the Bruce?

I suffer the luxury of being both.

Borek, I fully understand your point. You seem to have overlooked, however, the part about my grandmother's name being traced back to the origin.
By the bye, "Bruce" was originally a title rather than a name. Gramp's was referred to as Robert the Bruce, not Robert Bruce. Good on ya, Chi, for referring to him as such.

 

[Triple_D]

But if they think they're skirts then that's plain ignorance.

Oh come on, Dave. You don't seriously think I'm making this up out of ignorance, do you? More than one dictionary defines a kilt as follows:

Definition of KILT: a knee-length pleated skirt usually of tartan worn by men in Scotland and by Scottish regiments in the British armies

A few references:

The Free Dictionary

Merriam-Webster (see noun)

http://dictionary.reverso.net/english-definition/kilt

Dictionarist

I'm sure there are a few others, also.

So there you have a formal definition of "kilt". Looks like I'm not the ignorant one after all.

Peace brother.

 

[Danger]

Trip, I'm going to partially come to Dave's defense here.
Although I usually go by strict dictionary definitions (usually just to piss someone off), the term 'skirt' in normal North American culture indicates women's clothing. I agree with both you and the dictionaries that a kilt is technically a skirt, but I can't fault Dave for disputing the term based upon common usage. Several members of my Legion branch's pipe and drum corps would knock someone into the middle of next week for referring to the kilt as a skirt.

As a side-note... the highlanders used kilts for everyday wear. They fought naked.

 

[arildno]

By the bye, "Bruce" was originally a title rather than a name. Gramp's was referred to as Robert the Bruce, not Robert Bruce. Good on ya, Chi, for referring to him as such.

Not quite.

The "the" is an anglification of the French "de", and Robert the Bruce's dad was Robert de Brus.

So, Brus is a place-name, not a title.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_de_Brus,_6th_Lord_of_Annandale

The founder of the Bruce dynasty, a Norman by birth became Lord of Annandale in 1124:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_de_Brus,_1st_Lord_of_Annandale
According to that link, "Brus" is Brix near Cherbourg.

 

[Triple_D]

I'll quote my first post, just in case a few people missed it.

Well, of course, customs differ throughout the world.

Certainly a kilt is considered manly in Scotland, and you have to respect them for keeping their heritage alive.

You guys are the ones making a big deal about the term "skirt". Not me.

 

[Danger]

Arildno, you are such an irritating little creature that I sometimes wonder why I love you like a brother.
That Wiki article is not even close to accurate. For one thing, Uncle Bob's mother was one of your fellow Scandinavians. (Not a Norweed, but close...)

 

[arildno]

Which Robert are you talking about?

the Bruce (whose mom was marjorie), de Brus the sixth, de Bruce the first??

 

[Danger]

Which Robert are you talking about?

the Bruce (whose mom was marjorie), de Brus the sixth, de Bruce the first??

The one with the pet spider...

 

[arildno]

The one with the pet spider...

That was de Bruise, not the Bruce. He's told you a lie about your ancestry.

 

[Danger]

That was de Bruise, not the Bruce. He's told you a lie about your ancestry.

He didn't actually tell me anything, since he was dead several centuries before I was born. Secondly, no one in my family speaks French.
What I find ironic and disgusting is that due to the incident, I am forbidden by family honour to harm a spider, and I'm the world's foremost arachnophobe. Bugs of any kind scare the **** out of me, and the more legs it has the less I like it.

 

[Borek]

the more legs it has the less I like it.

Does it mean you love earthworms?

 

[Chi Meson]

What happened to kilts?

 

[CFDFEAGURU]

This thread is well past the 10 post rule. Anything after 10 posts has nothing to do with the original question.

 

[Danger]

Does it mean you love earthworms?

They're okay if dipped in salsa.

You—CFD... whatever... Upon which syllable of your name does the emphasis fall? Does your name even have syllables?

 

[CFDFEAGURU]

Mainly on the F the E and the A.

 

[Danger]

Mainly on the F the E and the A.

First or second 'F'?

 

[CFDFEAGURU]

The second one.

 

[Danger]

The second one.

Ahhh... thank you for the clarification. It's so much easier to pronounce that way.