Hello from South Florida

**geljal** · 6th March 19, 07:18 AM

Hi everyone. I'm glad I found this forum. I've been kind of snooping around it for the past week and found a lot of good info here.

I grew up, and spend my summers (snowbird), in an area of upstate NY that has a strong Irish influence so it wasn't uncommon for me to see kilts being worn at the various festivals and concerts but I never actually took the plunge and tried one though I had often given the idea some thought.

A couple weeks ago a friend of mine wanted to go to the local Renaissance festival. I'd never been and so was happy for the invite. While there I couldn't believe how many men we saw wearing kilts. My friend decided he had to have one and of course there were kilt vendors readily available so shortly thereafter he was kilted as well. I was still hesitant but afterwards regretted my indecision.

The following weekend was the Scottish games and I was determines to go kilted. So I found an online seller with good ratings and ordered, after measuring my waist about 20 times, a somewhat plain olive green light weight summer utility kilt. It came on time and I nervously awaited the coming Saturday. When it came, I donned my kilt, girded my loins, and stepped outside somewhat self-conscious. Our neighbor, of Latin heritage, a good friend, was just pulling out of her driveway and saw me standing there. She stopped looked at me and asked "why are you wearing a skirt?". In for a penny, in for a pound, I stood up as straight stuck out my chest and said "it isn't a skirt, it's a kilt and it's what real men wear, at least when they are going to Scottish games!" She told me I looked good and drove off, that helped my confidence.

We get to the games and of course there are more people kilted than not. My wife looks around, sees this, and says now she wants a kilt too! There was, again of course, a vendor there who happened to have women's kilts on sale, a break for me. She finds one she likes and now we are both kilted. That made me happy. It was a good day. I posted a picture on Facebook of the three of us, my friend, my wife and me, (I'm the one on the right). I was amazed at how many of our friends gave overwhelmingly positive comments on how we looked, very very encouraging. Plus I have to say a kilt has to be one of the more comfortable garments I have ever worn, particularly down here in the heat and humidity. It was overall a positive experience, there is something about walking around in a kilt, it just feels good, prideful maybe even. I actually ordered another kilt, a tartan one, that comes today. Whoohooo!

So, and I'm sorry to be so verbose (my Irish ancestors left me the gift of gab), like so many others I now wonder why the kilt isn't more readily accepted as daily wear, particularly in climates such as we have down here. Everyone says they're comfortable and look good, what is holding it back? I would love to wear mine on a daily basis but there is something that is stopping me and I'm not sure what it is. I have seen men, infrequently wearing them and never thought it bad but I can't seem to take that step.

Anyway, that is my kilt wearing story. I look forward to being a member of the forum.

**Father Bill** · 6th March 19, 08:00 AM

Welcome to the "Great Rabble"!

**Kiltedjohn** · 6th March 19, 11:17 AM

Welcome from a Scotsman living in the English midlands. Hope you find plenty of opportunities for kilt-wearing!

**Tarheel** · 6th March 19, 04:18 PM

Well met and welcome new friend. It reads (from your post) that the kilt bug has injected you with the common sense brought about by wearing the garment. There is no cure for the malady, just an urge to continue the addiction and seek solace among others afflicted. Welcome to joyful Rabble of kilted men and women.

**ThistleDown** · 6th March 19, 09:13 PM

Welcome, from Inverness-shire and British Columbia.

**Karl R** · 6th March 19, 10:19 PM

Originally Posted by geljal

like so many others I now wonder why the kilt isn't more readily accepted as daily wear, particularly in climates such as we have down here.

As someone who lives in a comparable climate (we're warmer than you in the summer, though colder in the winter), I'll point out my own observations regarding the kilt in this climate. The extra airflow helps if you're standing up, but not when you're sitting down. When seated, the more breathable materials of other garments (cotton or linen) will win over the materials that comprise kilts (wool, PV, or acrylic).

Originally Posted by geljal

Everyone says they're comfortable and look good, what is holding it back?

As people have pointed out (including in a thread that I recently started), you have to be willing to stand out from the crowd.

The odds are, when I wear a kilt, for the people I encounter, I'm the only person they've seen that month wearing a kilt (even if they've seen me wear it more than once). The last time I saw anyone (else) wearing a kilt was just over three months ago.

Originally Posted by geljal

I would love to wear mine on a daily basis but there is something that is stopping me and I'm not sure what it is. I have seen men, infrequently wearing them and never thought it bad but I can't seem to take that step.

It just requires a certain amount of "I don't give a **** about what others think of me."

Once you can adopt that attitude, wearing a kilt is easy.

Every couple of years I make it out to the West Palm / Jupiter area. Maybe we'll run across each other then. (And maybe one or both of us will be kilted.)