'It's a Dress!'

[James]

Ancient myself, my mother at 101 is even older-but is kept going at home with a series of carers-the latest being Polish and with a less than ideal command of English-and despite what follows an excellent carer.

She sees my kilt for the first time, 'Aah, I like your dress, you look so nice in the dress.'

I explain that it is a kilt etc!

'Oh, you call your dress a kilt'.

I try again-and again.

'You mean in this country you call your dress a kilt, it is a nice dress'.

This with variations has been going on now for two weeks, she leaves today: and I'm sure that soon all over Poland people will know that in Britain men call their dresses-kilts.'

I found the whole thing most amusing and a bit of light relief in the oft wearing business of caring for an old lady.

I hope you find it funny too: also there is a point to the story-for on occasion we have to laugh at ourselves, and not get too precious about our choice of nether garment.

James

[JayFilomena]

When I receive a comment from a sweet older person and something they said may be insulting but was a compliment, I smile and say thank you. When a younger person says it with a snicker or chip, then I play a little rougher. Glad your mother brought some sunshine to your day with her innocent comments.

[Graham]

Don't worry James, my mum's just the same, she's from Liverpool ('nuff said)

[An t-Ileach]

I think James's comprehension/conceptual/vocabulary problem was with the Polish carer rather than his mother.

[pdcorlis]

Well said James but obviously the care giver has a real problem... its not a dress - its a skirt :rolleyes:

[KiltedKnight]

I don't see what the big deal is. When I was in the service we had uniforms that were refered to as "Dress". Dress Blues, Dress Whites and when we dress, we are 'dressed' or of course we can be 'kilted'. But the word 'dress' can mean a few different things or is meaningless.

Imagine someone getting angry if someone says they look very well dressed...? Or, "He always dresses well"...? Often my wife and I 'dress' to go out to dinner. See? It means nothing or many things depending on your own attitude.

Now, that having been said I will confess one of my prejudices. I have seen these new "Pin striped" Kilts and jackets and as much as I have tried to understand the idea behind them I can only see an imitation of a woman's business skirt and jacket imitating a man's pin striped business suit, to me it just doesn't in any way look like it should be lumped in with kilts, it's just too far off track IMHO.

Chris. :confused:

[Panache]

One day I was helping out in my son's kindergarten class. The teacher had brought in an old friend who was Persian to talk to the students about what it was like growing up in from the Middle East. Later I was introduced to her and the lady immediately commplimented me on the handsome skirt I was wearing. Her command of English was excellent, she just had never been introduced to kilts before. She realized that it was an obviously masculine garment. I thanked her and said that it was Scottish and called a kilt. I then complimented her on her traditional clothing. I took no offense at the "skirt" comment. Because, let's face it gents, it is a type of skirt.

Cheers

[bubba]

In fashion a dress is a top and skirt in one piece, a skirt is just the lower part as an independent garment.

[morrison]

Papa said, "It's a fool who doesn't listen to his mother."
Mama said, "You'druther be ignorant than a fool."

If Mom says, "It's a dress," I aint gonna argue 'bout it.

It's a kilt.
Hey, what's the derivative or root language for the term kilt?
My Websters New World Dictionary 1966 ed. p413 says:
kilt (kilt), v.t. {ME. kilte; prob. < ON.}, 1. {Scot.}, to tuck or fasten (up). 2. to pleat. n. a short, pleated skirt reaching to the knees, worn by men of the Scottish Highlands.

I can only speak for myself. I aint Scot. I aint nowhere near the United Kingdom. I wear my kilt when, where, at the length, and in the colors I choose. I adhere to the general mores of my society, and embrace loosely the values and traditions of my country's culture. The laws are made to be obeyed, and when appropriate, to be tested. It is always appropriate to question authority. That's one of my freedoms.
And Mama said, "Son, you're a free man."
Papa muttered, "In a kilt!"

[Blu (Ontario)]

Ancient myself...

and younger at heart than you're letting on!

... She sees my kilt for the first time, 'Aah, I like your dress, you look so nice in the dress.

I've had the occasional encounter with foreign folks, and while i've not specifically had the "dress" remark, I've found, for the most part, they tend to be "accomodating" where the kilt is concerned.

I found the whole thing most amusing and a bit of light relief... on occasion we have to laugh at ourselves, and not get too precious about our choice of nether garment.

Couldn't agree more!