Utilikilts- Can they be considered kilts?

[Grov]

I've seen the black UKs pull it off very well, especially if the shirt or belt covers the loops and pockets.  A peek of back pocket label was the only thing that let me know it was UK.

[DeadBishop]

I wear mine while working the booth, as it's 100 times more durable than my wool/acrylic kilts.  Don't have to worry about snagging or ripping the material on rough/sharp things.  Easier to wash at the end of the day too.   

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

My husband says that if you wear underwear underneath it, it's a skirt.

If you wear just socks and shoes, it's a kilt.     lol

[Scotsman]

I do not own a Utilikilt nor do I see myself buying one ... that said, I see no reason not to wear them to faire. These kilts are fairly inexpensive and easy to adapt to any identity. I do consider them to be a kilt and would gladly stand by someone wearing one ... especially if it were at the pub and they were buying me a beer 

[Marietta Graziella]

Yup, that's Scotsman.  Always the diplomat and ever practical.

*snerk*

How goes it in the East, man?

Back on topic... Just got the husband into a kilt and I love love love it.  Still working on getting him into a UK for more day to day wear. 
UK's, not just a kilt for the faire!

[Adriana Rose]

I like a fella in a kilt!

UK are a kilt to me!

to hell with the garb nazis!

[Grov]

Yup, that's Scotsman.  Always the diplomat and ever practical.

*snerk*

How goes it in the East, man?

Back on topic... Just got the husband into a kilt and I love love love it.  Still working on getting him into a UK for more day to day wear. 
UK's, not just a kilt for the faire!

Maybe stop washing or misplace all of his pants.  Keep the UK ready to wear.    Compliments are always helpful.

[Randal]

Quoted from the Utilikilts website FAQ:

It is often suggested that Utilikilts* are not "real kilts." This is 100% TRUE!

"Real Kilts" are defined as: "A knee-length skirt with deep pleats, usually of a tartan wool, worn as part of the dress for men in the Scottish Highlands."

Utilikilts*, on the other hand, are manskirts (as are Scottish traditional kilts, and, for that matter, any M.U.G (Men's Unbifurcated Garment).

That being said, Utilikilts* are not Real Kilts, as in "I don't need a Utilikilt*, I have a real kilt at home"

And so the conversation begins; "Then why aren't you wearing your real kilt on a gorgeous day like today?"

We hear all the standard excuses:

"Well, it's wool, so it gets hot"
"Well, it's wool, so it gets itchy"
"Well, I spent a thousand dollars on it, so I only wear it for special occasions"
"Well, it has to be dry-cleaned, so I only wear it for special occasions"
"Well, it doesn't have any pockets, so I can't carry my stuff"
"Well, I didn't want to wear my hose with flashes and my shiny shoes today"
"Well, I rode my motorcycle today, and plaid doesn't really go with my leather boots"
"Well, I only wear it when I play the bagpipes..." *shudder*
"Well I didn't know what kinda trouble I was gonna get myself into tonight so I thought it would be better to ....blah blah blah."

...And not don the kilt? Well the trouble you'll get is a helluva lot less than had you worn the kilt! And here you are crying me a river? You should be two sheets to the wind, pub bound, and already up to your neck in trouble!

That's not a Kilt!
Heresy!
Sacrilege!
And so I want one!!!

Okay, enough said.

Listen, here at The Utilikilts Company, we have nothing against "Real Kilts," we just think they're impractical. If you want to spend that kind of money on a skirt that you only wear 3 times a year, be our guest. But we think Freedom should be more convenient, cheaper, and more comfortable than that.

AND ONE MORE THING: "NICE SKIRT!"

When people see you in your Utilikilt* and scream out "NICE SKIRT", don't try to lambaste them into calling it a kilt. (And, not to point fingers, but it's usually the Scots who force the "it's not a skirt, it's a kilt" onto every possible conversation.)

Sheesh, if somebody says "nice skirt", don't be an ungrateful arse! Thank them very much and then turn them onto our website. This is usually best accomplished in the privacy and ambiance of a proper pub: "Guinness Talk" we call it. The instigator is usually anxious to buy you a round, and this also gives him the chance to see the Utilikilt* in action. After two rounds (you ARE going to spring for the second round, right?), he'll have seen enough women making eyes at you, or, even better, trying the proverbial "kilt check", to understand that this skirt is not without it's benefits. If he didn't already think you were a god for wearing the thing in the first place, he now knows you're a god because, well, there's a slim chance in hell that you're not getting laid tonight.

Randal

[silverstah]

My husband at faire, in a Utilikilt/shirt/doublet:



My husband at faire in the sane shirt/doublet with a traditional 'great' kilt:

back:


front:


I can't find the full length photo of him in the great kilt at this exact second... but you get the idea.  The Utilikilt is, most definitely, a kilt - and can be worn at faire just fine.    Himself wears the same shirt and doublet with either the Utilikilt or the great kilt, and both looks fit in beautifully.

[groomporter]

I admit, depending on who I'm talking to I refer to Utilikilts and the similar garments as "modern pseudo-kilts" or "neo-kilts" or "non-traditional kilts" to separate them from the more traditional gament.

Of course, I've also had someone refer to the fabric my trews, http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b160/Groomporter/Misc/naseby1995j.jpg which are made from a generic tartan, as mere "checkered cloth" as opposed to "tartan" since it's not a pattern actually associated with a clan. People can get snooty about a lot of details.

But I believe the definition of tartan is really about how the pattern is woven, not whether it has a name. I read recently that when Scotland really started exporting tartan cloth in volume during the 1700's it was actually identified by number, not any name.

[The Amadan]

I have Amerikilts, Utilikilts, Stillwater kilts, and 2 hand-pleated phillabeags, and 2 great kilts.

Without going into long-winded history, the standard argument is: The only true Scottish kilts are phillabeags and great kilts (or belted plaid).
The others, including those that you see on, say, a pipe band, are actually more British inventions.
Not all ancient kilts were tartan plaid... whatever the local weaver supplied, is what you got.
And few of the tartans from that era were in any vivid colors, as you see today.
Mostly muted earthy tones prevailed.


But for me, I wear what looks & feels right, and consider them all kilts.