You Don't Need to Be Scottish to Wear a Kilt

Just like you don't have to be a woman to don a skirt, you don't have to be Scottish to wear a kilt.

We made this statement on Threads and got a range of positive replies, including "Yes to this.... but when wearing one do try to wear it correctly, it is still a national dress."

View on Threads

Master Tailor Howie Nicholsby agrees, in this interview from El País:

Howie Nicholsby, the fine and mischievous tailor who wants men to wear skirts

The article is in Spanish, but most browsers let you translate to English through the right-click or options menu.

While learning to sew kilts by hand, he told himself that they should be wearable garments for everyday use, without that historical connection between clan and tartan.

His kilts can be found at 21stcenturykilts.com.

They've been worn by Vin Diesel, Lenny Kravitz, and other celebrities, who enjoy the nontraditional elements Howie includes in his kilts.

Instead of the tartan checkered fabric, he likes to weave his skirts with wool, tweed, denim and black leather, as well as using camouflage and pinstripes.

His approach to the waistline and pocket storage also veers from the kilts we're used to seeing at formal gatherings.

Comfort takes precedence over fashion. That is why [...] his skirts do not start at the waist, but from a point above the hip, to give it a more casual look, and the external, removable hanging pockets replace the classic [sporran] that went around the waist of the [kilt].