Comments in Chicago

**FreeDon!** · 4th July 08, 09:58 AM

I just returned from a vacation trip to Chicago (visiting relatives), and my wife and I spent some time downtown, around the lakefront. While leaving Navy Pier, a man sitting at a bench with his family jumped up and ran toward us holding a camera. My first thought was that he wanted to ask if we would take a picture of his entire family. Next, I thought he wanted to take a picture of the kilt. Finally, my wife and I realized that he was saying "A cowboy in a kilt! I've never seen a cowboy in a kilt!" (I was wearing my sun hat with the sides up). He took a picture, his wife took a picture, and I think we made the whole family's day. It was clear that this was a rare trip for them to the big city, and they weren't used to seeing much of anything besides jeans (based on dress and accent, I surmised that they were from a very rural area).

After a bit more walking around, an African-American boy (15ish?) approached us on Michigan Ave., selling candy bars for his basketball team. We declined, and as we walked away we heard "hey, what style is that?" I asked him to repeat, as I wasn't sure what he said. I honestly didn't know what to answer, though. I think I said something about a "contemporary kilt", but I really didn't have a good answer for him. He was honestly inquisitive, though. I still don't have a good answer besides "it's my style", but I don't think that would have satisfied him.

All in all, a great day kilted (what day isn't, though)!

Don

**Retro Red** · 4th July 08, 12:35 PM

Thanks for the report, Don.

Glad to hear that you had a great day kilted in Chicago, because I'll be going to Chicago in a week & this will be my first time kilted there. My wife is from Chicago & her family is still there & we're flying in for a week for her birthday.

My wife is NOT particularly enthused about me wearing my kilts in Chicago - 1) because her Mom has mentioned she'd be embarassed being seen in public with me in a kilt from all the attention & 2) my wife thinks there'll be a lot of negative attitudes or comments from people in general. I've mentioned that there's a number of X-Marksmen in the Chicagoland area, but she's convinced I'll cause a lot of fuss wearing a kilt in the Windy City.

I've made the concession of agreeing to wear p

s when I go out any place with her 88-year old mum, but when I'm going somewhere without my mother-in-law, I'll be kilted, as usual.

So, your post is very timely. It confirms my opinion that wearing kilts in Chicago won't be a problem or any big deal.

Thanks!

.

**Standard** · 4th July 08, 01:03 PM

Sounds like a good day FreeDon. Retrored I've received nothing but positive comments and compliments while kilted in Chicago.

**FreeDon!** · 4th July 08, 01:22 PM

Red,

I received nothing but positive comments while in Chicago. I wore a caramel UK workmen's and a tan UK survival on three trips downtown. I'm sure there were snide comments (I heard one guy quietly say "maybe it's a skort" to his friend as I walked by), but none to my face.

On the contrary, numerous positive comments were made to me. On my first day downtown, my wife and I were walking along Navy Pier (shops, restaurants, boat trips on the lake, etc. - very touristy area) - a large (muscular) African American man who was walking with his wife/girlfriend called out to me "man, I like that!" with a big thumbs up and a wave. Up on the observation deck of the Sears Tower, I heard a girl whispering to her companion "I think that's one of those Utilikilts like I saw on TV..." Her companion then told her to ask me - I waited about 3 seconds and she appeared on my left "Excuse me, is that a Utilikilt? Where did you get it?" After I explained that it was indeed a UK and it was from Seattle, she told me about the TV show that covered Steven Villegas's story etc. As she walked away I heard her say "I can't believe I saw a Utilikilt - I have to tell everyone..."

Most people didn't pay much attention that I could tell, anyway. I think they've seen it all, so a kilt doesn't faze them much.

By the way, my UK workmen's made it through the metal detector at the entrance to the Sears Tower - I was surprised at this, given the number of snaps and the key hook.

One final note - my mother was concerned that my grandmother (94 and quite opinionated) would not like the kilt. She saw me, said "that's an interesting thing you're wearing" and liked the fact that it was very similar in color to an Irish saffron. No negative comments at all. My uncles made lots of negative comments, just joking around, but then one of them revealed later that he'd been considering purchasing one too.

Ah, one more final note. Wore the kilt to a couple of south side Irish pubs - no one even batted an eye.

I couldn't have imagined a better Chicago kilted experience.

Don

**Brewboy** · 4th July 08, 02:16 PM

I'm kilted in Chicago almost every day. I must say the reaction is mostly inquisitive. Living in Chicago, most people know what a kilt is, they just want to know if there's some special event you're wearing it for.

Last night I ran into a couple of English girls who were thrilled to see a kilted man, and complemented me on my sporran as well. I also got stopped by a girl who asked where my bagpipes were. I told her they were under the kilt and asked if she wanted to give them a blow. Her boyfriend burst out laughing, and she got an I've-been-out-smart-assed smile on her face.

Even when people here are trying to be cute about the kilt, it is almost always good natured.

**TheKiltedCoder** · 5th July 08, 09:59 PM

I'm from the suburbs, and am frequently out and about in my kilts. The only place I haven't gone kilted yet is to work. I'm frequently in the Fox Valley Mall in Naperville (my toddler daughter has a SERIOUS addiction to the carousel in the food court there), and we tend to frequent quite a few of the stores along there and in the Bolingbrook area.

I've never heard any derogatory comments, and my wife says that most of the looks I get are similar to what I'd get wearing a tux and tails: out of the ordinary, but, once they figure out what's going on, nobody bats an eye.

**FreeDon!** · 6th July 08, 09:52 AM

Yep, I was pleasantly surprised. I had expected some negative reactions, but there were none to be found.

Don

**MuffinMan** · 6th July 08, 08:27 PM

Hey Red, I will be visiting the windy city in 8 days and will be doing the tourist thing, if you see me lets do the super secret handshake.

MM

**Thebigeman77** · 6th July 08, 08:52 PM

I too live in the suburbs and recently I've been out and about kilted very often. Just today I went to a local Ace hardware store to have my friend show me some knives I might use to make sgian dubhs. I saw a few people I knew who weren't phased but one guy in there couldn't stop staring. It seems like many people don't pay much attention to it around here, but I'm sure the city is another matter. I really haven't had many comments yet though; maybe I'll make a post about the past couple months' kilted exploits.

**rollerboy_1979** · 7th July 08, 09:51 PM

I was born and raised on the Southwest side of Chicago, and now live in the Palm Springs, CA. area (I don't do snow anymore!). I took to wearing the kilt while here, so I haven't had an opportunity to wear it in Chicago, but I can tell you that you will not have any problems there, aside from the usual occasional curious glances. Chicago is a world-class, international city, so the locals have seen it all. Go there, wear it with pride, and you'll be glad you did (just don't go in the Winter..........brrrrrrrrrr!).

Cheers!

RB