Ask A Woman: He’s wearing a kilt. But how can he do so casually?
If you’ve got a question that needs the female treatment, chances are you’re not the only one who wants to ask it. Beth is our source for the answers. From opinions on men’s style to decoding the sometimes mysterious ways of women, she’ll take on a different question every Thursday. And don’t worry, your identity will be protected too. Click here to get to know Beth, then get in touch with her by sending your question to: askawoman@dappered.com
Beth,
I’ve been reading the articles on Dappered for several weeks now and I’ve even picked up a few ideas about things I may go out and look for. But there’s one thing about my usual choice of clothing that defies a lot of the advice I’ve read.
I wear kilts.
Now, I’m perfectly willing to grant that kilts are a very unusual fashion choice, and it may be completely impossible, in your opinion, to look “dapper” while wearing one. Be that as it may, I wear kilts, I like wearing kilts, and I am going to go on wearing kilts.
The advice I’m looking for here is not necessarily how to “dress up” a kilt. I can do that fairly well, I think. In fact that’s one of the easiest things to do, because they have become fairly formal sorts of garments, at least when you’re talking about the traditional, Scottish kilt (eight years of wool tartan). What I’m really looking more for are ideas about a casual, but nice, kilt look. What kind of shirts do I wear? What kind of footwear? Socks?
I should note that most of the kilts I wear, on a daily basis, are Utilikilts. I own six of them, wear them nearly every day for 75% of the year. I’m pretty serious about my Utilikilts, but that doesn’t mean that I always want to dress in the “accepted” style (e.g. funky tops, combat boots, etc.).
So what kind of advice can you provide?
– Aaron
Dear Aaron,
I’ve been avoiding your email for months. Every week, I see it peeking at me from my amassed collection, and I think, here’s a guy with the guts to wear what he likes, social sanctions be damned, and he needs my counsel, and I put him off time and time again. I open your email, re-read your message, and then slowly back away from the computer screen. Then I get up and eat a cookie, check Facebook, coo at my dog, watch my neighbor apply grease to his fence so the squirrels fall off it…and finally sit back down and pick a different email. Here’s why: I have ZERO expertise in what you’re asking me about. I don’t know anyone who ever wears kilts, so I hardly know where to start. I didn’t even realize you could dress up or dress down kilts. It’s a kilt for God’s sake! The only thing I can really contribute here is that fact that I know about other types of men’s clothing, and you’re writing in for a woman’s opinion, and I am, in fact, a woman…so bear with me.
I’ll apply what I know about normal clothing to this scenario, and perhaps all the pieces will come together. If they don’t, boo-hoo, I’ll never be employed by the kilt industry. To dress down a kilt, I’d think you’d want to stay away from shirts that have a lot of bells and whistles–pockets, buttons, snaps, zippers, epaulets, etc. So plain tees like this crew neck, and this v-neck would work. A polo shirt would also fit the bill. The kilts you link to see to have higher waists than the typical pair of men’s pants, so I’d definitely recommend tucking in the shirts so that it looks nice and neat.
A rugby shirt might also be a good play.
During the colder months, again, pick simpler sweaters, like this cashmere-blend v-neck. This sweater does have some of those details I advised staying away from, but somehow it looks very laid-back here. For a little texture, try this cableknit sweater. When wearing bulkier items like sweaters, don’t tuck in, of course–it will just add thickness to your mid-section.
Kilt worthy? The Original Utilikilt, Custom-Fit Polo by RL, V-Neck by J. Crew, Cable Crew by Bonobos
Footwear. Footwear with a kilt. I’m going to reference Joe’s post, “2012 = The Year of the Loafer” for this one. Laceless shoes, I bet, would look good with a kilt. This would also be a sharp departure from the combat boots you referenced, which are all laces. I especially like these two pairs. You might also try Boat Shoes
Aaron, hope this helped. You definitely gave me a run for my money. Next week, I get back to the easy questions from the rest of you suckers.
-Beth
Got a question for Beth? Send them to: askawoman@dappered.com
There’s always also the Polynesian option which I favour when in the tropics and a long way from home.
The lava-lava (Samoan) usually brightly coloured with hibiscus flowers, and white singlet or T-shirt and bare feet or flip-flops – certainly the ultimate in casual kilt-like clothing, but as i said – only for tropical climes, and by agreement within our family, not within 1,000 km (approx 620 miles) of home!
The Utilikilt….lmao.
I’m not a fan of anything other than traditional kilts. Generally, folks dress down the traditional kilts with polo shirts and t-shirts (you’ll see this a lot at highland games).
I think Beth did a great job with this…..
Definitely need to add a NSFW note about the “More photos” link on the Utilikilt website…
Obviously, I shouldn’t click.
But it’s like a car wreck; I…just…can’t…look…away…
She just wanted to match Joe’s “slim cargo pants” post today.
You can always try from your phone if you just HAVE to do it.
Nae to get werkin on me ole irish accent.
If you’re going to wear a utilikilt, you should really just embrace it wholeheartedly and wear a black t-shirt with a glow in the dark dragon, maybe blowing firefalls on the grim reaper. Maybe.
And of course by firefalls, I mean fireballs
Aaron,
As a fellow Utilikiltarian, I wear my Mocker and denim Workman to work at a think tank in DC, so my normal look might be dressier than what you’re looking for, but I think it’s possible to go a little more put-together than a t-shirt or polo without being “dressed-up.” Knit ties and button-down collars are comfortable and solidly casual, but appropriate for nicer places and generally sharper than a t-shirt. I would stay far away from anything tartan in the rest of your outfit, though–no plaid shirts. Chambray is also a good casual fabric for button-down or work shirts. Beth kinda hit it already, but rugby shirts are good for slightly colder times of year.
I have to disagree with most of the footwear recommendations, though: Unless you’re on a beach, a UK with boat shoes or loafers is gonna look odd. High-top Chucks are the most casual I ever go for footwear, and even that rarely. I think in general you’ll be better off with boots, but it’s still possible to avoid the Doc Martens look–just pick something with a lower top, like the Wolverine 1000 Mile Boot or the Alden Indy boot. Stay away from black, unless all of your kilts are black. In boots you’re going to need socks, too–I think those are a fun place to play with color, so pick up some blue/grey/green/red/whatever hiking socks, and let a little show over the top of your boot. If you’re going the Chucks route, I like argyll socks–puts a little Scottish throwback in the look without being obnoxious about it.
Hope this helps! Good luck.
First off, I am not the Aaron who asked this question. Let’s make that clear from the start.
I hate kilts. I have fantastic legs, and I hate kilts. I am even Scottish, Animo non Astutia, and I hate kilts.
If cargo pockets are too 1998, kilts are too 1305.
That was pretty much my reaction. It was hard to take anything seriously after I read “utilikilt”. Utili…kilt…
That being said, Aaron deserves some respect for having the chutzpah to wear what he enjoys. Good for you, bud!
Totally agree with your observation about Aaron’s chutzpah. Kilts are the ultimate go-to-hell pelvis covering. Kudos to him. There’s a guy in our neighborhood who wears a utilikilt. He’s a contractor type. Has his own business. And he is not someone I would tangle with. Ever.
This was a hoot, mon.
Just browsed through the Utilikilt photos. They confirm my sneaking suspicion that the only way you can get away with wearing a Utilikilt is by being a ripped, shirtless construction worker who looks like he could beat the shit out of anyone who made fun of him for his kilt. On everyone else it just looks like a weird combination of sad and pretentious.
Does he have a doormat that says “Ring doorbell for free ass kicking”?
So true.
Another option for no-show socks in black or white are Journeys footies
http://www.journeys.com/product4.aspx?id=80075
They are fairly low profile for boat shoes
I think you mean Scottish accent. Irish people don’t wear kilts.
I saw a man wearing a black button-front shirt, a black kilt, black shoes (styled like dress shoes), and white knee socks. All I could see of him was his socks. It looked like a pair of disembodied calves floating down the hall. Something to keep in mind when picking outfit and sock combinations.
Goodness. I waited until I got home to check the website. The whole photo sections is absolutely begging to become am internet meme.
I’m actually kind of shocked no one mentioned wearing some brogues (my apologies if I just missed it). It seems to me that a sturdy pair of brogues would go perfectly with a Utilikilt. They were originally worn as country wear in Scotland and Ireland and had perforations to drain water (pretty boggy out there in the country). These days, you can dress them up or still wear them casually and they’re sturdy enough to play well with the kilt, but not big and clunky like full on boots.
I like to wear the authentic Lederhose shorts in the summer and I think these same tips would apply. Kudos to Beth for taking on this topic!
No, the Irish did wear kilts traditionally. Kilts are more identified with Scotland now, especially tartan kilts, but both are correct historically.
Kudos to Aaron on embracing the kilt. I wear a kilt casually every once and again and typically wear dark green hose (the knee socks) with a pair of suede bucks. Once in a while I’ll wear my single monks, but they look a bit costumey with the buckle…
To dress it down, I usually wear a polo or a button down with a blazer or a vest. T-shirts will work too, in my opinion, but only if you’re reaching for ultra-casual (skirt + t-shirt = way more casual than jeans + t-shirt, I think).
Nope. Irish people did not wear them traditionally. They wore a Léine which was kinda like a tunic. Kilts were brought into Ireland during the late 19th/early 20th century as a kind of fake celtic revival costume.
There is never any excuse for wearing a utilikilt.
Last summer, while backpacking, I ran into some backpackers that were wearing kilts…maybe they were the utilikilts. Looked pretty ridiculous, but backpacking isn’t really about fashion.
http://images.memegenerator.net/instances/500x/13981039.jpg
First off, as someone of Scottish heritage, I always appreicate a man in a kilt. I bought a utilikilt about 5 years ago, and have never worn it in public. I think the problem is that it just doesn’t feel like a real kilt and I feel wierd no matter what else I wear with it. I think the traditional wool tartan kilt would be more useful, as it’s more acceptable in formal/semi-formal occasions. But a real wool kilt starts at around $700.
If I had a real kilt, I would wear it in semi-formal/formal situations perhaps with an oxford button down, a solid color wool tie, and some longwings with a double sole, knee high socks in a complimentary color or white and maybe a blazer or sportcoat. I agree that you should wear boots or knee-high socks. I think bare leg all the way down to the ankle would just look off. Also, a lot of guys wore penny loafers with their kilts at the highland games I attend regularly, but always with the traditional knee-high socks.Being 5’6″ 130lbs kind of makes it hard for me to pull off the utilikilt as well. But more power to you if you like it, then do it!
To kilt or no; this was a fun read. Thank you Ms. Beth, & the Dappered community.
You can’t wear a Utilikilt without being “that guy”. Granted, some women dig them. Generally women who hang out at renaissance faires, but maybe that works for you. If you have some connection to Scotland, and it’s a formal occasion or highland games, then go ahead and rock the tartan kilt, by all means. Otherwise, they’re way too much of a statement garment.
A utilikilt is not a fucking kilt… It’s favoured by gay guys. Before you go hurling abuse at me, I know many gay guys and they agree that it is not something straight guys wear. A kilt should not have pockets.
Oh and also, brown belt, boots and sporran are for casual day wear, black is for evening/semi-formal and formal. This is all easy to find. Match the kilt hose and shirt to the main colour of the kilt and the garter flashes to the main stripe on the kilt. Use a leather strap instead of a chain for daywear. If you’re wearing it during the day, combat boots or hiking style boots/walking boots are fine and you can wear the kilt hose down rather than pulled up and lose the garter flashes. Wear it with a plain coloured t-shirt that doesn’t look ‘off’ instead of a shirt if you’re wanting real casual. There are three types of sporrans: daywear/casual wear, evening wear/sem-dress and full dress sporrans. In order they are plain leather, mainly leather with some hair/fur (plain leather with studs can pass for evening but not recommended) and then full hair/fur. If you were going to a casual gig or a friend’s but it was in the evening, just switch the brown items for black but keeping the plain leather style sporran (in black though).
I don’t see how the sexual preference of the wearer determines the category of clothing. Gay men wear kilts, business suits, jeans, and that doesn’t suddently mean the clothes are no longer kilts, business suits and jeans. Also, I would bet that the “many gay guys” that you know have been messing with you. I’ve known several straight men who, against all reasonable judgement, wear utilikilts.
well let Me say with a bit a Scot and Irish In Me blood, while I do not wear Utilikilt I DO wear Amerikilt. The point is I wear Kilts often during work and away from work. My experience with most who slam the kilt wearer is usually one of the following: 1 either they are jealous because they can’t wear a kilt or 2, they don’t have the blarney stones to do so…lighten up guys, Its our choice of clothing and doesn’t reflect on you in any way..but I will tell you this..If a Man can go kilt and look right doing so, the Ladies love it… Regardless I find them comfortable and if you look around you will find they are becoming more popular each passing day.
I usually wear my Merrell light hiking shoes and a t-shirt when I’m out and about in my Utilikilt. If I go out to a pub or someplace a little less casual, I wear a pair of Doc Martin shoes and a polo/rugby shirt.