First week of kilt wearing

[pugcasso]

I got my first kilt a week ago (on Oct 13, 2011) and I've not worn any of my "two-legged kilts" (er, pants) since. I don't wear it inside my place (working at my paintings) but any time I've gone out anywhere, I've worn the kilt.

Already I've had two people ask to take my photo haha ... one was in the Saturday market where I was with my paintings and the other was yesterday when I was walking home through the Public Gardens ( a large area near downtown with nice arrangements of various plants and flowers and species of trees) and a group of tourists from the US asked to take my photo (two of them snapped pics).

I also got one woman say "nice kilt" (not sarcastically). She might have been from India and was used to seeing more men walking around in long 'skirted' or loose wrap-like clothes).

I also wore it walking through Point Pleasant Park, on the paths and then off the paths through the trees (getting a bit stuck at dead-ends of marshy or thorny places at times) ... also along the entire rocky beach area.


There's something about wearing a kilt that's really awesome... the weight of it, the look, the more 'archaic' feeling of it compared to boring modern clothing ... all of the above I guess.


Anyway, that's my account of my first week walking around everywhere kilted.

[Cowher]

That's what hooked me on kilts. Im glad you are having a good time and are enjoying your kilt/s. Wear them well, wear them proud, wear them with respect.

Cheers!

[MikeS]

I haven't been wearing a kilt very long either and have had pretty much the same experience. I'm wearing a kilt almost exclusively when I go out, and always get a positive comment from someone. I've talked to a lot of strangers that I normally wouldn't get a second glance from. Seems very natural to wear a kilt, and certainly fun.

[cruiser348]

Always good to hear that someone new to kilts can have that much of a positive experience with their first week kilted. I know with most the fear is that they will get too many negative reactions to take the plunge as deeply as you did. I applaud your dedication and wish you many more happy kilted experiences.

[pugcasso]

It might help that I live in Nova Scotia haha... I've never seen anyone just walking around the streets of Halifax wearing a kilt though (except that one time last week running into Newfoundlander haha) but there's enough kilts seen in touristy places or weddings at the Public Gardens to make it at least not too odd - they probably think I'm going to or from some event haha.

Oh I forgot, tonight walking home, this group came out of a restaurant ( I think they were all over 50 years of age) and the woman said 'oh look a guy in a kilt ' when I almost reached them so I stopped and we chatted a bit.

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I imagine some people here might have it more difficult in some locations where people might gawk and think you're wearing women's clothes.

[MikeS]

It might help that I live in Nova Scotia haha... I've never seen anyone just walking around the streets of Halifax wearing a kilt though (except that one time last week running into Newfoundlander haha) but there's enough kilts seen in touristy places or weddings at the Public Gardens to make it at least not too odd - they probably think I'm going to or from some event haha.

In 40 years i've never seen anyone in Toledo Ohio wearing a kilt (except kilt night at a local Irish pub, even then only 4 of us.)

Oh I forgot, tonight walking home, this group came out of a restaurant ( I think they were all over 50 years of age) and the woman said 'oh look a guy in a kilt ' when I almost reached them so I stopped and we chatted a bit.

I was at a rest stop on the Ohio Turnpike near Cleveland today and a middlle eastern man with a very heavy accent seemed to assume that I was from somewhere in Europe. I had to dissapoint him by telling him I lived only 150 miles away.

I imagine some people here might have it more difficult in some locations where people might gawk and think you're wearing women's clothes.

I've heard teenagers giggle and little kids say something to a parent about the man in the dress but I chalk that up to ignorance and let it go. I get far more positive comments than negative ones. I learned a long time ago not to worry about what other people think. Its commonly called peer pressure.

[Mike in Dayton]

I have met a lot of interesting people and made new friends all because of the kilt. Received special attention from the young waitresses at restaurants I frequent. Not bad for a 50 something guy having 20 something lassie request I ask for them when I come into the restaurant. Sure, there have been a few giggles and rolled eyes from time-to-time from those I pass on the street. They are a minority and as MikeS commented I chalk that up to ignorance. I now wear a kilt about 50% of the time. I have been wearing the kilt on a regular basis now for at least four years. You don't need a reason to wear the kilt other than you just want to. You will find they are addictive and as one potato chip commercial said "you can't have just one". I am now have fourteen or so kilts and all the other stuff that goes with them. The education of Celtic tradition, the kilt, tartans, and clans, continues to grow.

The last four years have been a fantastic ride!

Mike

[kc8ufv]

In 40 years i've never seen anyone in Toledo Ohio wearing a kilt (except kilt night at a local Irish pub, even then only 4 of us.)

I've heard teenagers giggle and little kids say something to a parent about the man in the dress but I chalk that up to ignorance and let it go. I get far more positive comments than negative ones. I learned a long time ago not to worry about what other people think. Its commonly called peer pressure.

Considering you are on the streets every day for your job, I'd say you probably are in the best position to determine what is common around this town.

[MikeS]

Considering you are on the streets every day for your job, I'd say you probably are in the best position to determine what is common around this town.

You can learn quite a bit about a neighborhood by walking it everyday! My best example of that was an incident several years ago when I was delivering mail in Ottawa Hills and seen a young man in a matching baby blue FUBU sweatshirt and pants walking down the street. This was so out of place for that area I actually stopped to watch where he was going. Eventually I continued on and ended up seeing him again about 10 minutes later... In the back seat of an Ottawa Hills police car as it drove by me.

I've seen a lot in 13 years, drug deals going down, police raiding a house, naked people, solicited by prostitutes, crossdressers, but NEVER, EVER have I seen anyone wearing a kilt.

[Spartan Tartan]

Thanks for sharing. It is nice to hear positive stories of kilt wearing. Congratulations on your new kilt! Keep wearing it, it only gets better