Of Kids and Kilts

[Rubber Soul]

Here's just some stuff I was thinking about last night when I was unable to get to sleep, so I might as well post it.


I get a much different perspective on wearing kilts than most of you here, considering how I'm substantially younger than the majority of the crowd here, therefore I interact with younger people. Those of you kilt wearers here generally see the reactions from adults, and while I may still get reactions from adults, I also see how kids tend to react.

Any incounter I've had with an adult has been positive. Every now and then when I wear it, someone would give me a compliment about the kilt. One time I even ended up talking for about half an hour to an eldery man about it!

Now, on to reactions to kids. My two best friends (one male, one female) both reacted very positively to it. The male one even has expressed slight interest in getting one himself, but I don't know what his parents would think of spending that much money, haha. There's also a fine lassie that I'm dating who absolutely loves the kilt.

A bunch of my friends also think it's pretty cool. There's a bunch of people that want me to wear it to the little grade nine graduation thing we'll have at the end of the year... I think that'd be a big step for me, wearing the kilt to school, but it's one I'm considerating, if only I could muster enough courage. I suppose it'll depend on how formal it is.

Anyways, it's pretty pointless, I just think it's neat to point out an entirely different perspective with kilt wearing. I know I've posted some of this before, but I had an urge to summarize it up.

If you've got kids my age, younger, older, it doesn't matter, and you want them to liberate themselves from trouser tyranny, maybe show them this post, because it proves that a 14 year old can wear a kilt without a problem!

Also, if any of you wore kilts as a child/adolescent, that'd be interesting to hear about what you got out of it.

[bikercelt1]

Dylan! I keep forgetting how young you are, you are wise beyond your years! It is a treat to read your posts. You give me hope for the future, not just about kilt wearing but the future in general. Keep up the good work.

Jamie

[r. m. anderson]

On the subject of kids & kilts - Stillwater kilts has
a line of kilts just for kids. Currently on Ebay
they are listing 11 items for bid. It is a real good
idea to start the youngsters out early wearing kilts
to expand their horizons & culture not just in the
playing of field hockey but in respect for customs
of other countries.

[GMan]

Dylan,

I do have a lot of friends who have teenage sons, who really enjoy seeing me, at least kilted. One son is asking his parents if he could get one as a graduation present when he graduates this year. His dad originally balked at the price, but I gave them tons of information of the kiltmakers here. They may be getting him one sooner than he had hoped.

I also have several friends who teach high school at several private schools in town, and they have mentioned that they know of a guy who wears kilts 99.99% of the time. Many of their male students have come into the coffee shop where I hang out with their teachers just to meet me. I have told them about this forum and of those of you who are not as old as the rest of us, and they seem grateful.

You are doing such a great thing for all of kiltdom, and sometimes we fail to say thank you for what you are doing for the cause, so THANK YOU

You are far wiser than many our age.

[James]

As a schoolboy wearing the kilt in the late 40s early 50s, it was really just what one wore, and not of great interest. Not so good for climbing trees or riding a bike: in fact it was more interesting to move from a kilted prep school to a trousered public one-if there was any interest in what one wore.

This is the root of some very different thinking to that of many today: in that I see the kilt as a normal part of my wardrobe, and the choice of wearing it is no more than which shirt. For there have never been barriers to break down. On the other hand I possibly place more importance upon the entitlement to wear this or that tartan than some. Too I find it quite hard to see some of the modern garments that are called a kilt, as in fact being a kilt.

So my problem is not about being able to wear a kilt, rather in accepting some of the modern variants. Please note that I said 'my problem': for it is not my intention to be prescriptive in any way.

To enlarge upon the above, I once was witness to blazing argument when someone wanted to recite Burns at a gathering: on the grounds that Burns was nothing at all to do with a highland clan!

James

[Casey]

Dylan,

The glare of the monitor does a great job of reducing us all to a common denominator. Thanks, to you, and others, for bringing the "youthful" point of view to the forum.

Casey

[Jimmy Carbomb]

Dylan,

My nephew is in High School and was recently elected the Homecoming King. The Homecoming Queen wore a pant-suit, while my nephew showed-up in his MacNaughten kilt. The positive reactions were all over the place... including the local newspaper.

As long as the kilt is worn properly and usually with the proper accessories, it will garner better reactions. If it's got wandering pleats, is wadded-up, worn with something inappropriate, or just not worn with respect... it will get the reactions that are due.

[Tim Walker]

Would it be useful to find a different term for the new variants/ versions/derivatives/what-ever-you-want-to-call-them?

Perhaps a term from another language?

[longforgan]

Born and brought up in Scotland, I had my first kilt at age 9. Remembering back all those years, I know that my mother really cared because we were not well off and a kilt-outfit must have cost a lot of money. As I recall, the outfit was for several upcoming special events and so I did not wear the kilt on a daily basis. The kids when they would see one of their number in a kilt used to shout: "kiltie, kiltie cauld doup!" (doup= ***) It is too complicated to get into here (there is another thread on this) but in Scotland, sad to say, they have a particular problem with the kilt. Well, that's their loss until they learn better like the folks on this forum have already. My heart and encouragement go out to our new young contributor. We hear that the young are fickle and faddish but I hope that he will carry this on for life. It's a great habit to have! I wish that I had started much younger. It definitely communicates to some profound part of the female psyche on a very positive level. All I know is that I could have had many more good relationships with females if I had regularly worn the kilt when I was younger. Good luck Dylan and welcome to X-marks the spot. - Cheers- Alan

[longforgan]

Hello again, I only just come upon this site which I learned from a Scottish chatroom. It may be of interest in this thread, also in the kilt in Scotland thread. See what you think.
http://histclo.hispeed.com/style/ski...ilt/kilte.html
cheers- Alan