The Question!

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Okay, Saturday was my second time wearing the kilt in public, and really the first all day, multiple location wearing. We took a train to the city in the morning, walked to the Celtic Festival, enjoyed the festival, then walked Navy Pier, and then took a train back home.

Like others, I have read many (maybe all) of the posts here and on other sites regarding "The Question". I had memorized my own personal favorites and thought I was well armed to answer it. However, a situation arose where the concept of going regimental came up in conversation and I found myself at a loss for how to respond and I wanted to see what other would have done.

Here is what happened, we were walking to Navy Pier from the Celtic festival and decided to stop at a restaurant with outdoor tables to get a have a drink and get a small bite to eat. After we had sat down and ordered, another couple sat down behind us and started talking. At some point the gentleman noticed the kilt and asked if we had been at the Celtic festival and if it was fun. We said we had and it was. He then inquired if a kilt was required for attendance and I assured him it was not. I thought that was the end of the conversation, as he seemed to be getting ready to turn back to his girlfriend/wife/SO. Then he paused and declared "I would not mind wearing a kilt because I hear you don't have to wear underwear with it and I would like that. Is that true or is it just a rumor?"

Well, I did not really know how to respond. I could have explained "going regimental", and gone into the reasons, and some arguments, for choosing that approach, but in my mind I could see him following up with "The question" and all of a sudden I realized I REALLY did not want to get to that point, because while I had explained to my Mom, who was visiting for the weekend, that I was going to wear a kilt to the festival, I had not seen a need to bring up the topic of regimental or not, and really was not prepared to answer "the question" from her or with her around, regardless of how many witty answers I had memorized!

My wife, who does know about regimental, obviously was having some of the same thoughts, so while I was sitting there quietly trying to decide how to respond, she jumped in and replied with something completely irrelavant, something about the type of clothing a woman would have worn in past times. This gentleman apparently decided that we had either misunderstood him or were crazy, said thanks for our answer and turned back to the group he was with.

My question for the group is how you would have responded in this situation?

RJI

[davedove]

You could have just told him that it is personal choice, just like with any other article of clothing a person might wear. After all, there is no requirement to wear underwear with jeans, or any other pants. Then, if he did indeed ask the question, you could fall back on any of the many answers from here on the board.

[GMan]

Pretty much what Dave stated, I would have replied, that one does not have to wear underwear anytime as that is a presonal preference. With your wife saying what she did probably threw him for a loop.

Sometimes keeping them guessing, by not saying anything, is one great way to respond.

[Alan H]

Yeah.. What Dave said. I've done that myself, more than once.

[flyv65]

I would have told him "yes, it's true: you're not required by law to wear underwear with a kilt. The decision is left entirely up to the wearer". My wife, on the other hand, probably would have said that "in order to wear underwear with his kilt, he would first have to *buy* underwear". My wife's a sport, she is. :-D

Bryan...feeling sporty...

[Archangel]

In that setting, my response has been a medium loud, so others can hear, but with polite shock, "I would never ask you that question?". It's never gone further, don't really have a script for that.

[chasem]

I could see him getting at the question personally, but it seems he was just curious as to what the general rule was (granted we all know there isn't one here.)

As others stated, I would probably go with "it's personal preference" or something of that sort. Answer the question, but not indicate your preference.

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Thanks all!

In reviewing what happened, I think that you are correct that a simple explanation that it was preference probably would have sufficed and my own personal preference may not have come up. Probably my own trepidation was more over going into the whole concept with my mother at the table. She had no problems with the kilt per se, in fact I was kilted the whole weekend while she was here, but not sure about her reaction to the idea of regimental. I could certainly respond to her that she had never asked what, or if, I was wearing under my pants, that doesn't seem like the honest response to family. I will have to think about it more. Realistically, I should be more comfortable talking with my family about everything related to the wearing of the kilt. Maybe this was just too soon in my kilt wearing experience for me to handle it with my mother. I will also have to think through if my trepidation would have been less or non-existent with other relatives, male or female, or being out with friends.

Interesting thing this kilt wearing, makes you think about and reflect on many things, both before donning it in public, and also afterward!

RJI

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

I would have told him "yes, it's true: you're not required by law to wear underwear with a kilt. The decision is left entirely up to the wearer". My wife, on the other hand, probably would have said that "in order to wear underwear with his kilt, he would first have to *buy* underwear"...

Amazing! Bryan were you there? What is truly unbelievable is that his girlfriend/wife/SO said something almost exactly the same after he asked the question! She said something about it not mattering to him because he didn't own any underwear anyway!

I'l have to coach my wife on that answer next time. She would have no problems with that answer and would enjoy the jabe at me in public.

RJI

[Jewddha]

To adults, a pleasant "there is no right or wrong way..." speech seems to do it, and usually works for most youth also, but when someone ahs the lack of tact to ask in the middle of class (male usually, and in accompaniement with various jabs at myself), I find that an "A lady never asks, and a gentleman never tells" does the trick just fine ;)