Non-traditional I would say but outside of Japan I don't think it matters much. At Okinawa Aikikai, males were expected to wear hakama when they were shodan and females when they were 4th kyu (I think). I don't really care to wear my hakama here in America. I just find it a bother. Everybody tying it in neat little bows and folding it ever so carefully. Haven't worn mine for some time now and it doesn't seem to have had much impact on my aikido. Hakama's are cool though.