To ask Scots if this would offend them ...

[UsedtobeFeckless]

Basically DS, who has a Scottish great grandmother but is 7/8ths non-scot, wants to wear a blackwatch tartan kilt to a formal event. He's googled which tartans it's ok to wear if you're not entitled to a clan one but DP is a bit worried it might look like cultural appropriation ... Any thoughts would be welcome!

Another one who wouldn't be offended. My exH who has no Scottish connections at all wore a kilt to my DB's wedding.
He was the best man and I don't have a clue what tartan it was. (It was hired for the occasion!!).

I know a few men who cut about in kilts in day to day life. It makes me laugh!

Ddog showing his love of black watch tartan 😂

I wouldn't mind at all. In fact I love seeing people wearing a kilt whether they are Scottish or not !

He is certainly very free to use my family tartan if he wants written permission

Not offended at all. I don't think Scots really do cultural appropriation (although calling your dd Mackenzie does make my teeth itch) Anyway general kilt, knock yourself out.

Not offended but would think it odd. I would read it as another English person that wants to be Scottish.

Never met a fellow Scot this offends. My DH is English and has often been encouraged to wear a kilt. He is too lanky to carry it off though.

At Highland Games the competitors are International and they all compete in kilts.

Cultural appropriation is not a thing as we are all about Civic Nationalism. Everyone living in Scotland gets a vote when we have an Indyref.

My dad was Scottish and our middle name is macrae (clan name). My gran hated the macrae tartan so she always made me kilts (with a sewn in vest) from the Stewart tartan. Don't know if it was frowned upon but I doubt anyone would have said anything to her she was fierce

A fundamental characteristic of being truly scottish is not giving a fuck for other people trying to foist their rules and opinions on you.

Couldn't have put it better myself. We won't mind OP. Good on him.

Hi everyone,

Everyone’s enthusiasm about the wearing of kilts are fantastic!!

May I first say, when wearing kilts - don’t worry about the rules/etiquette. If the colours suit the wearer then go for it.

If you need to know the etiquette then first bear in mind that Walter Scott romanticised the “clan colours” beforewhich clans would colour the tartans with the flowers, bracken and heathers from where they generally lived so would be more earthy.

That said, colours that relate to particular regiments would ideally be avoided by anyone who has no link to them, (such as the black watch,) out of respect for the soldiers in those regiments. But it is a beautiful tartan, so why the hell not!!

The one series of tartans that are “allowed” to be used by anyone are the Royal Stewart Tartans, as those belong to the Queen. (Also known as Shortbread Red....)

I personally use Ancient Gunn, (Blue and Green,) have worn a beautiful Charcoal tartan for my wedding to my amazing wife,) and own a black utility kilt for the hell of it, so - tell him it’s cool, brave, and sexy to wear whatever he wants, however he wants, whenever he wants.

B

Btw - The Black Watch are an amazing and feared regiment. If he wears it, then he should do so with pride, honour and respect of amazing strong people (like my Granddad,) who are truly skilled warriors. Knowing this would put an extra stride in his step while wearing it :)

I'm Scottish and couldn't give a shiny shite!
But I think all this offence at cultural appropriation is bollocks.

Scot here and not offended at all, enjoy wearing your kilt 😁

Why would we be offended? Kilts are awesome!

I just realised my picture of ddog didnt upload last night 🙈

It's perfectly normal for non Scottish people to wear kilts if they want. It's well received ordinarily.

Meh I really couldn’t give a shit

This nonsense about 'cultural appropriation' needs to be stamped on and ignored for such a mild thing, he's hardly blacking-up to play a Black and White minstral. It really means that no, say, Lancastrian, can play a Geordie if it's carried to its own ridiculous conclusion.
Years ago little girls wearing a kilt was a very common sight, whatever their origins.

Wasn't the kilt invented by a Sassenach anyway? Something to do with Scottish workers getting their plaids caught in mill machinery and the owner of the mill invented the kilt to stop the mangling of workers (or more likely the mangling of expensive machinery!).
I'm not sure how true the story is, but an article about it was part of my Higher English reading comprehension exam, so I'd say it has a fighting chance of being roughly true.

I wouldn't be offended in the slightest. Please do make sure that it's properly fitted though, there's nothing worse looking than a badly fitted kilt - and Scottish folk will notice!

Wasn't the kilt invented by a Sassenach anyway?

Not the great kilt. I think that perhaps the small kilt was, which is an adaptation of the bottom part of the great kilt.

Yes, that's what I meant. Where I live the usual term is "plaid" for the great kilt and just "kilt" for the small kilt.