"Do you wear a kilt every day?"

**KyleAisteach** · 13th January 16, 09:43 AM

So, yesterday was my first day of instruction for the semester. I like to wear my kilt on the first day of class, partially because I believe in showing respect for the students by looking nice, and partially because it (tacitly) tells the students that they're not in Kansas any more and they're going to need to be prepared to rethink their notions of education while in my class. So by now I'm pretty used to the usual questions about kilt wearing. But yesterday, I got a new one. One student came up to me after class and asked, "Do you wear a kilt every day?"

The short answer is, "No, especially not for an 8am class." But I found the explaining the phenomenon of kilting up taking longer than pulling on a pair of pants to be quite challenging, because rationally there's not that much of a difference. I didn't want to go into kilts being less practical than pants (they are for me, because I carry a ton of stuff in my pockets thanks to the distinct lack of office space for adjuncts), because that's really just an excuse (and a man purse would solve that problem in an instant). Thinking through it with her, I settled on, "Well, this is a really cheap kilt, and it cost me $90, so I just can't afford to not wear pants most of the time."

But now I'm curious how y'all would respond to the question of why we don't wear them every day.

**Jock Scot** · 13th January 16, 10:08 AM

No I don't. It all depends on, practicalities(the kilt is not always the best choice), the event, or, how i feel---- AND---- if I am in Scotland. Trews, or kilt is just not a decision that I fret over within the bounds of Scotland.When I am outwith Scotland it is very rare-----think of hens teeth-----for me to wear the kilt.

**Arnot** · 13th January 16, 10:09 AM

I have answered this question before. Basically, my answer was that I do unless I know I will get dirty, the kilt isn't practical, or I don't have time to make sure my kilt gear looks presentable.

**tpa** · 13th January 16, 10:32 AM

Can't really help you there now, because I do. Obviously there are some activities for which it is not suitable and many jobs for which it is either not allowed or not practical. My last one involved climbing into (some very tight) roof spaces and messing around with insulation among other things. There were just too many opportunities for a kilt to catch on something not to mention having to get all the insulation wool out of the pleats;

and wearing a kilt with knee protectors on is not the prettiest sight.

**terry m** · 13th January 16, 12:16 PM

I have only got my first kilt for Christmas but it's a definite no for wearing every single day. Practicalities aside and as much as I love my kilt I don't think I would want to. I think my wife would find it a bit boring too, as much as I would if she were to wear the same type of skirt or dress every day (although she is a nurse and has to wear uniform for work) but I like to vary my dress style depending on what I am doing and the mood I feel.
Also I think I would not want to lose the feeling of wearing something special and meaningful when I wear the kilt.

**tpa** · 14th January 16, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by terry m

I think my wife would find it a bit boring too, as much as I would if she were to wear the same type of skirt or dress every day. Also I think I would not want to lose the feeling of wearing something special and meaningful when I wear the kilt.

Nothing wrong with wearing something special and meaningful every day.

If you go with trousers (pants across the pond) there is not a huge variety of ways they can look either, unless you wear them half way down your backside!

**Liam** · 14th January 16, 07:00 PM

Since my retirement almost 1.5 years ago, I have worn a kilt most of the time. There are certain occasions such as going to the gym for my cardiac rehab. exercise program, going to the rink to play hockey, riding a bicycle that I choose other more appropriate attire.
Other wise it is mainly kilted.

**Tarheel** · 13th January 16, 04:50 PM

I dress up with my Confederate Mem. (tank) with jacket, tie, vest, etc. My utility Army Tartan, is for when I want to and can wear a kilt that I can muss up a bit. Usually, I am in work conditions where I don't want to ruin my coveted kilts. But, I would prefer a kilt always now that I have compared the ease and comfort kilts provide. When I get the family tartan, (as a Calquhoun sept) I may attend more events where I can wear that kilt.

**KyleAisteach** · 13th January 16, 06:16 PM

I guess the flipside of this discussion is the one time my husband and I were out in public with him in his Utilikilt. A small child pointed at him and said, "Mommy, that man is wearing a kilt, and he's not doing housework."

So the definition of "appropriate time for a kilt" obviously varies from user to user.

**Steve Ashton** · 13th January 16, 06:24 PM

Yep, I wear a kilt every day, all day long.

I guess I'm the strange one as I go home and to relax and put on sweat pants.

I do own two pair of jeans and use them if I am up a ladder, or painting, or working in my basement around spinning machinery.

Other than that I am in a kilt. Most often I am dressed just as in many of the photos you see of me. A pair of wing tip shoes, hose- garters but no flashes, day wear Carry-All sporran on a leather clipped strap, 2 3/8" Contemporary belt, normal shirt - usually with button down collar, no jacket, no tie.