Its been an interesting and productive morning

[Derek]

This morning I had to deliver some printing I had done on my computer to my next door neighbour. She has seen me in my kilt many times so its nothing unusual. On my return the telephone rang and it was the manager from a charity shop that were due to come and collect a stack of stuff that we no longer need. We don't run a car so they offered to collect to save us several individual trips. The guy said there would be someone along in half hour if that was ok. The wife said that would be fine. I decided I would stay in my kilt and would greet whoever it was and how ever many whatever age or sex and give them a hand to put it in their car or van. I can't deny I did'nt feel a bit nervous but I was committed to myself to go through with this. The door bell rang, I answered the door, said hello first and thanked them for coming along so swiftly. It was a chap I guess in his early sixties.
The wife joined us and we had a chat for quite a while and then put all the stuff in his car. From the word go he showed no suprise or interest in my kilt whatsoever. He thanked us once again when we had finished loading and then went on his way. At 11am the wife was expecting a lady to call to collect something she was giving her. I have met her before but not in my kilt .. again she would be in her mid/late 50's. I once again decided to remain in my kilt and greet her too when she arrived. Absolutely no reaction at all or stares etc when she did. She stayed with us about 45 mins. She is coming around again on the weekend to collect something else. The morning has yet again been more confidence boosters as to my kiltwearing on my own doorstep.
Derek

[David Woodington]

I'm glad you had some good experiences this week.You will find that your confidance will grow and soon you will be out and about.When is your next trip out?
There is a bit of good advice on a Nike commercial "Just do it" So just kilt up and go where you wish.

Talk to you soon.
Dave

[RockyR]

Here's something I noticed... If YOU don' make it a big deal (or seem timid about wearing a kilt in public), OTHERS will not usually make it a big deal.

I am out in a kilt 4 or 5 days a week... I'm used to it by now. I don't really think about what others might say. I'm only approached once a day or so and they're always compliments. Once in a while you MAY get ta shout from a car ("HEY... Nice SK!RT"), but it's nothing to worry about.

The more you wear it out, the more comfortable you will feel with it.

[Casey]

Derek,

You have described the general reaction that I have had wearing my kilt out and about. I think you will find the same thing when you have enough comfort to venture out more.

Bonne chance!

Casey

[Graham]

Well done Derek, Rocky's advice is very worthwhile, I've found it to be true.

Yesterday I visited people who had never seen me kilted in another town, I went to cafe's, had a walk down the main street and met a counsellor for my daughter, all kilted and no problems except walking past a pub I heard "nice f@#$% skirt".

Today I met with new clients for the first time. I just acted as if I was doing nothing unusual, the client turns out to have Scottish heritage and spoke of maybe getting a kilt in his tartan.

I told the chap that once he began wearing a kilt he will chuck out his trousers as I have!

(I won a new contract too)

Be bold and confident! you are a fashion pioneer, you are in the frontline of fashion comfort, you are doing what everyone else wishes they could too if they were as brave as you!

[Freelander Sporrano]

Thank-you for sharing your day Derek.

It's just like we all experience. The kilt block is in our heads not the onlookers.It's not them wearing the kilt it's us.

I will however say this. Older people have a way of not noticing it's not polite.So usually they will not blurt out the fact that you have a kilt on.You can bet they both left full of questions, and were a little cross with themselves for not satisfying their own curiosity.

All the best...David

[bubba]

Derek, my experience has mostly been that it's a nonevent. The few times anyone says anything it's almost always complimentary and only once since I took to kilts full time in March has anyone made a skirt comment.

[GMan]

Derek,

I too want to say if you do not make a big deal of wearing a kilt, it will also be a no big deal. The way you carry yourself shows a lot more than the kilt itself, plus if your work is appreciated, it too will show in your confidence, so it becomes a win win situation.

[Rigged]

I was out and about yesterday. I drove my car down to San Jose to get it painted (the previous owner had left it out in the weather for a long time and the paint was peeling off).

I was wearing a khaki workman's UK, a black polo shirt, brown belt, brown half-boots, and off-white wool hiking socks. Judging from the majority of the reactions, I must have been projecting an air of authority.

At the paint place, a truck driver came up to me and asked me to sign for a delivery.

After dropping off the car, I walked about a mile and a quarter to the train station to take the train back home. Very convenient since my town's station is at the end of my street.

During my walk across town, some guy shouted from a passing car that I looked beautiful. An older guy was scowling at me as I was crossing a street, but when he got a closer look at what I was wearing gave me a nod as he passed by. A teenaged girl walking to the train station with her mother couldn't take her eyes off me and almost walked into a pole.

At the station, a young guy crossed the tracks to ask me which train goes north. When the train showed up, I was trying to ask the operator a question. I guess she too thought I was an employee and tossed her metal window-placard down to me as she climbed down out of the train.

That evening, my wife and I went to the weekly street faire downtown. The main street is closed off to traffic. It's a really nice affair with outdoor seating in front of the restaurants, food and beer/wine vendors out in the street, a live band and dancing.

One of a couple of young guys on the corner called me a ****** just as we arrived.

Otherwise, I got very few reactions. I got a high-five from a drunk guy seated in front of one of the restaurants. While dancing, I attracted a lot of positive attention from ladies around us (I teased them by doing lots of thigh-revealing spins).

I stopped in a bar to use the restroom. A guy leaning against the wall near the restroom asked me if I was Irish and wanted to know what was up with the kilt. I tried explaining the comfort factor, but he kept implying that I must have some other motive until I told him that my stuff wouldn't fit into the crap he wears and if his stuff fits into "those things" (pointing at his ill-fitting cargo shorts) then good on him. That ended the conversation.

I left the bar and was greeting by an older woman who chatted me up and decided she liked the idea of a casual kilt. I fended off her query about what was underneath. I just told her, "Well, everyone wants to know that!"

The rest of the evening was pleasant until we were leaving. The same two guys were hanging out on the corner where we came in and I got the "******" comment again from the same guy after I passed him. Probably a closet case. I figure I'll be the subject of his private fantasies for the next few nights.

Anyway, a nice day overall.

[Hamish]

Good for you, Derek!

I can see we're going to have a great day together in London on 27th September. Have you been kilted in 'my' Capital before, or will that be another wonderful 'first' for you?

Love to Elaine.