Why don't people wear their kilts more?

[Jock Scot]

........ it has to be remembered that many highlanders, myself included, have gravitated to other areas of Scotland, including the reviled Lowlands, for economic reasons.

As I had to and still do on occasion and for me it was down to the South West of England, but the kilt stays in the Highlands.

[Arnot]

Yes, Jock, and the best way to avoid those “man in a skirt” comments that seem so prevalent down there.

I live in Lancashire and wear my kilts all the time. I don't get comments like this at all. Maybe not far enough south?

[Jock Scot]

Yes, Jock, and the best way to avoid those “man in a skirt” comments that seem so prevalent down there.

Actually I wear the kilt so rarely in England, that I think I can say that I have never been accused of that in England. In fact, I can only remember absolute courtesy and respect, from those South of the border. On the other hand on the occasion of me wearing the kilt in the Lowlands of Scotland, not a common event but not rare, I have had such comments and worse fired at me. Not particularly pleasant, but when you have been around a bit you learn a few methods (silence being the most effective) to deal with such events.

[Father Bill]

Actually I wear the kilt so rarely in England, that I think I can say that I have never been accused of that in England. On the other hand on the occasion of me wearing the kilt in the Lowlands of Scotland, not a common event but not rare, I have had such comments and worse fired at me. Not particularly pleasant, but when you have been around a bit you learn a few methods (silence being the most effective) to deal with such events.

A wonderful Scottish friend of mine taught me to not quite remain silent. He does utter one syllable.

After slowly looking the offending party up and down, he grimaces in apparent pain and slowly and quietly says, "Leave." Much more effective in my mind then foul epithets and perhaps a bit more fun in some situations than utter silence.

[Jock Scot]

A wonderful Scottish friend of mine taught me to not quite remain silent. He does utter one syllable.

After slowly looking the offending party up and down, he grimaces in apparent pain and slowly and quietly says, "Leave." Much more effective in my mind then foul epithets and perhaps a bit more fun in some situations than utter silence.

That's my phase 2 approach.

[Steve Ashton]

I would opine that the problem is not about kilt wearing itself but with the wording of the OP's title.

We would perhaps respond to this thread differently if the title were worded "Why don't people wear their kilt more , like me?" or "like Hamish" or "like" anyone else you care to compare to.

To me, if a guy has a kilt, and he wears it - even once a year to his local highland games - he is then wearing it at the exact frequency that is best for him.

[DyerStraits]

I would opine that the problem is not about kilt wearing itself but with the wording of the OP's title.

We would perhaps respond to this thread differently if the title were worded "Why don't people wear their kilt more , like me?" or "like Hamish" or "like" anyone else you care to compare to.

To me, if a guy has a kilt, and he wears it - even once a year to his local highland games - he is then wearing it at the exact frequency that is best for him.

Exactly Right, Steve! That's what I mean when I say you learn to pick your spots. Between that and the fact that, thanks to technology, transportation, immigration, etc., the world really IS getting smaller and more multi-culturally sensitive, aware and appreciative--even in places where it historically has not been so much--everyone's comfort level with their choice of attire, etc.--and that of everyone else's--undoubtedly will increase. Remember my mantra: Wear It Properly, Wear It With Pride, Wear It Like You Mean It.

[Steve Ashton]

I think you missed my point completely.

It is not you, comparing your reasons to someone else.
It is understanding that for whatever reasons you choose, those reasons are yours and yours alone.

Someone else may have totally different reasons and may think about the kilt totally differently from you. You cannot apply your reasoning to someone else.

Its not about spot, its not about any of the other things you mention.
I have one friend who wears his kilt only to an annual Burns dinner. He does not wear it to our local highland games or any other time. He just does not want to. Those are his choice and are different from my choices.

I am also not sure I agree that what you said will necessarily increase kilt wearing. I see kilts, since the furor over the Utility kilt, as coming around to about where it was in the 60's & 70's. I am seeing the kilt as going back to showing heritage and ancestry, for a special occasion, as the more common reason today. I am seeing fewer solid colored kilts on the street today. I am seeing fewer of the lower end Tartan kilts worn for casual days out. And yet my custom orders for Tartan kilts and my rentals are way up for weddings and proms.

The change seems to be that fewer and fewer are thinking about the kilt as some sort of proscribed uniform. Yes, the Scots who come to Victoria for a wedding, still expect to get the same ruche tie, white hose and fuzzy sporran they would find in Scottish hire shops. But elsewhere in the world I see a trend towards a less rigid way of looking at kilt wearing. A way of dressing well, looking good for a special occasion, without looking like you just stepped out of a catalog from the 1920's.

So I think it is less the reason you choose to wear a kilt, and more about the way that you choose to wear it, when you do, that is changing.

[kilted scholar]

I live in Lancashire and wear my kilts all the time. I don't get comments like this at all. Maybe not far enough south?

Same here. In hundreds of times - further south - I cannot recall a single instance of what has been described. Besides, in these days when people of all nationalities are rubbing shoulders throughout most of the country it would surprise me greatly if this were so. No doubt there are some pockets here and there where such things may happen but I have not encountered them and maybe do not frequent them.

[DyerStraits]

I think you missed my point completely.

It is not you, comparing your reasons to someone else.
It is understanding that for whatever reasons you choose, those reasons are yours and yours alone.

Someone else may have totally different reasons and may think about the kilt totally differently from you. You cannot apply your reasoning to someone else.

Its not about spot, its not about any of the other things you mention.
I have one friend who wears his kilt only to an annual Burns dinner. He does not wear it to our local highland games or any other time. He just does not want to. Those are his choice and are different from my choices.

I am also not sure I agree that what you said will necessarily increase kilt wearing. I see kilts, since the furor over the Utility kilt, as coming around to about where it was in the 60's & 70's. I am seeing the kilt as going back to showing heritage and ancestry, for a special occasion, as the more common reason today. I am seeing fewer solid colored kilts on the street today. I am seeing fewer of the lower end Tartan kilts worn for casual days out. And yet my custom orders for Tartan kilts and my rentals are way up for weddings and proms.

The change seems to be that fewer and fewer are thinking about the kilt as some sort of proscribed uniform. Yes, the Scots who come to Victoria for a wedding, still expect to get the same ruche tie, white hose and fuzzy sporran they would find in Scottish hire shops. But elsewhere in the world I see a trend towards a less rigid way of looking at kilt wearing. A way of dressing well, looking good for a special occasion, without looking like you just stepped out of a catalog from the 1920's.

So I think it is less the reason you choose to wear a kilt, and more about the way that you choose to wear it, when you do, that is changing.

I understood your point perfectly, Steve, and I still completely agree with it and essentially everything else you've said. We're basically expressing the same opinions in slightly different ways.