Mel Gibson- Breavheart |
Historians
may question whether the real William Wallace ever wore a kilt, but that
did not stop the Academy Award winning film Braveheart, starring Mel Gibson
as the Scottish hero, from becoming the greatest “kilt epic” of all time.
Indeed, movies such as both Braveheart, and Rob Roy have both popularized
and romanticized not only the kilt, but has helped to spur a world wide
rise of Celtic pride and Scottish heritage. But this in it’s self
does not tell us why men choose to wear a kilt rather than trousers.
The history of kilts traces back many centuries, and many historians
differ on their opinion on the true origins of the garment. Many
believe that the kilt originated in Ireland, and made the journey to Scotland
with the arrival of the first Scots. Stone carving from ancient Ireland
dating as early as the 11th century A.D., seem to depict figures wearing
kilts, However it is much more likely what is actually pictured is the
Irish “leine,” or tunic, which in it’s self was pleated as early as the
15th century (McClintock 1943). |
| The leine often had a skirt reaching to the
knee, but the skirt was simply the lower extension of the tunic. The first
fairly certain historical reference to the kilt was made by one Bishop
Lesley, writing in Rome in 1578 while describing the Highland Scots, and
their dress and apparel (Newsome 2003, A Brief History of Scotland, Etal).
These first kilts were called feilidh-mhor (great wrap), or belted plaid,
and from which later kilt designs were descended. |
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Kilt
or Irish tunic? The figures on these ancient Irish stone carving
depict peoples
wearing knee length "skirts." Whether or not they
are the Irish
leine or kilts is still hotly debated by many. |
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Liam Neeson
as Robert Roy MacGregor.
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Where ever, and when ever the origins, many men
have made the unusual decision to wear a kilt as daily dress, reviving
the once popular male Scottish highlander tradition. When asked why, Josh
Cormack of Illinois simply states that although he is of Scottish ancestry,
this had very little to do with his decision to start wearing a kilt on
a regular basis. “You don’t have to be Scottish to wear a kilt,” says Josh.
“The kilt is the most comfortable thing a man can wear. I don’t wear one
to work but I would if I could. I do wear one when ever possible
though.” Josh is not alone in his fondness of the kilt either.
Dozens of men have told us the same thing when asked- kilts are comfortable!
“They do not bind, |
pinch, or chaff, and they are surprisingly warm for most occasions,” States
Josh. |
| To be Scottish may once again be cool and trendy, however to wear a
kilt is still a true test of ones confidence in his man-hood, and ability
to take ridicule in style and stride. Although kilts are strictly
a male form of attire, many uninformed people may feel the wearer may be
confused about his sexual identity. “Being labeled as a transvestite,
or latent homosexual by the poorly informed and misguided are quite common”
Says Shawn Moran, a frequent kilt wearer. “I don’t wear a kilt as daily
attire but I do wear one often for local Social events. Being stared
at, or ridicule comes with the garment but it really doesn’t bother me.
Just as many if not more people will complimented you on it’s wear, or
at the very least compliment you on having the guts to wear it!” |
Vin Diesel 2003 MTV Video Movie
Awards. |
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In truth, one has but to think about modern fashions and style to realize
that the kilt in fact states just the opposite. Today trousers have
become a unisexual garment that women wear most of the time as well as
men. A mere decade ago (less in some places) women would have been both
shunned and scorned for the wear of trousers! In the United States,
a guy wearing blue jeans will find himself dressed the same as perhaps
90 percent of the females he comes in contact with on any given day. With
that said, the question arises; are women in the USA cross dressers, or
do American women simply appreciate men in women’s clothing?? In short,
It would seem it’s not the wearing of a kilt that much of society rejects,
but the act of being different.
What ever the individual's reasons for wearing one, the kilt is obviously
once again coming in to style. Indeed, it would appear that the days
that manhood is symbolized by the wearing of trousers are coming to an
end. If a man wishes to distinguish his masculinity through clothing, he
may be much better of belting on a kilt. |
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