A Traditionalist's Review of Dressed to Kilt

A TRADITIONALIST’S REVIEW OF DRESSED TO KILT
©2010 Matthew A. C. Newsome, GTS, FSA Scot

As I write, the annual Tartan Day festivities across the USA are coming to a conclusion, and photos from the famous “Dressed to Kilt” fashion show in New York City are being publicized on the web. Those who have kept up with past year’s shows know that the outfits displayed at “Dressed to Kilt” can be entertaining, to say the least. Someone with a traditional approach to Scottish attire may find himself laughing or crying, depending on how dour he’s feeling that day.

One must keep in mind, however, that this is a New York City fashion show, and the styles gracing the catwalk at such affairs rarely reflect what is worn in the streets. Over-the-top, exaggerated fashions are to be expected. The fact that kilts are on display in this particular fashion show does not make it any different.

Most of the kilt outfits being modeled fit the fashion show mold. And so we have a shirtless Marcus Schenkenberg sporting what appears to be a floor-length feilidh-mor made from curtain fabric, and comedian Mike Myers dancing across the stage wearing his kilt with a Superman inspired t-shirt, a too-small glengarry, military hair sporran and scrunhed down diced hose. Traditional Scottish attire this certainly is not, but then again no one expects it to be.

From a traditionalist point of view, I don’t really have a problem with this sort of thing being done in good-natured fun. It seems rather obvious that these examples are supposed to be characatures and not taken too seriously.

I did, however, cringe a bit to see several examples of Highland attire that were almost good examples of how to wear the kilt. But just one or two aspects of the outfit seemed to purposefully deviate from tradition. Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not a slave to tradition, as long time readers of my colum will know. Tradition should be a guide, not a dictator. But I see nothing admirable in deviating from tradition just for the point of deviation. A few examples may illustrate my point.

Actor Sam Waterston turned out at “Dressed to Kilt” wearing a weathered Buchanan kilt, tweed Argyle jacket and waistcoat, cream colored hose and coordinating red tie and flashes. Not a bad outfit at all. The jacket and kilt were well tailored. Personally I think lovat green hose would have been a better choice than the ubiquitous cream color, or perhaps a nice deep brown. But that is a matter of preference. The major flaw with this outfit was not anything Waterston was wearing, but rather what he was not wearing. The sporran is noticably absent.

Sporrans are a near-necessity in Highland dress. People expect to see them when the kilt is worn. Surely a sporran would not have broken the budget in this case. When one wears the kilt with no sporran, it gives the impression of being not completely dressed. Waterston would have looked infinitely better with a nice brown leather day sporran. One assumes the absence of a sporran was intentional here, but for what purpose? The effect it creates is one of incompleteness.

Weatherman Al Roker wore yellow hose with his kilt, and a nice leather day sporran. In this regard he had the advantage over Waterston. However, Roker’s kilt was a few inches too long, covering his knees entirely. Adding to the too-long kilt was his too-long jacket, a typical navy blazer. Wearing a standard blazer or sportcoat with the kilt is a neophyte mistake that one might expect a new kilt wearer to make. Being too long to wear with the kilt, the jacket makes one look rather rag-a-muffin.

Al Roker is a well known celebrity attending a very public event. Certainly he is able to have a proper kilt and jacket tailored for the occasion. Instead he looks like someone wearing a borrowed kilt and a standard sportcoat to “make do” at the last minute. One can only assume that this look was put together intentionally; but to what end?

Scottish actor Alan Cumming was on hand in an absolutely splendid three-piece kilt suit in the Hunting Cumming tartan. An all-tartan outfit may raise some eyebrows but in fact is very traditional. His clothing was well made, tailored to a proper fit. Even if his sporran was a bit post-modern for my personal taste, there is no arguing that he looked fantastic. But the outfit was spoiled, in my opinion, by his choice of footwear. Rather than handsome leather brogues, he choose to wear wellies! I’ve been known to wear wellies with the kilt on the muddy fields of a Highland Games after a rainstorm. But at a formal function, with a three-piece kilt suit they are simply out of place. I suppose some would consider it trendy, but I cannot help but think we may be looking back at these photos ten years from now and laughing, whereas leather dress brogues would have made the outfit timeless.

I am happy to report that there were also some spendid examples of traditional Highland attire to be seen at “Dressed to Kilt.” Scottish soldier Private Mark Connelly proudly wore his military uniform, and looked very dignified doing so. Proceeds from the event were donated to various vererans charities, both in Scotland and the USA. It was very nice to see the military well represented, especially given the kilt’s long association with the Highland regiments.

As for civilian attire, Donald Trump Jr. was wearing an excellent Highland outfit which fit in with the best of Scottish tradition. He was wearing the MacLeod of Lewis tartan (his grandmother was a MacLeod, born in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis), with a black velvet regulation doublet and waistcoat, black musquash mask sporran, and red hose with black shoes. He looked like he had been wearing the kilt for years, and it was obvious that he considered the tradition behind the clothing for this event.

So kudos to Mr. Trump and to Pvt. Connelly for showing us how good Highland dress can look. And kudos to Mr. Myers for making us laugh, as always. And who knows, maybe Sam Waterston is holding out for “just the right” sporran. Let’s hope he finds it by next year’s show!