Because it has been so hot and sticky lately I have been wearing my Ancient McKay lightweight PV casual kilt most of the time, including trips to the shops locally and to the nearest city, leading organised group walks, as well as around the house and garden. I get nothing but approval - envy even - from those who remark on what I am wearing. Most, of course, don't seem to notice.

However my wife still regards this use of the kilt as "eccentric." She's fine with me wearing a kilt for Scottish dancing, even dancing in public - and I have had three sessions of that in the last week including MCing at a ceilidh. She's also fine with me wearing it for formal occasions. But she thinks that wearing a kilt for ordinary everyday things will be thought odd by our friends and neighbours. So she is not happy when I persist with my daily outings.

Several times when she has been with me on these outlings she has heard people compliment me on my choice of clothes: "The kilt is definitely the right idea for this weather!" "You look very smart!" "That looks cool!"

This morning, in deference to her feelings on the subject, I reluctantly wore shorts for our trip to the local shops. One of our oldest friends (a neighbour) greeted us with "No kilt today? Saw you earlier [in the week] and thought it was a good idea for the heat."

But even that didn't persuade my wife.

So what does it take? How do you convince someone that you are wearing the kilt for comfort not because you are trying to establish a reputation as the local oddball?