Why be ...

[Blu (Ontario)]

The skate board and rapp music types have been wearing those baggy below the knee shorts? for a few years, but I'm not sure if we're talking about the same thing.

.

[Jimmy the Celt]

I'm a conflict of interests--I don't like getting attention and being noticed. But I also hate to look like everyone else. Perhaps the kilt attracts more attention, but I used to wear threadbare Grateful Dead t-shirts (I have a 1994 summer tour shirt still!) and must have looked kind of "out there" to some people, but most never even commented. I generally don't like to attract attention to myself as I am a pretty introverted chap who usually prefers being left alone. But I'm also a musician, and was in an Celtic/Irish trad band and loved every second of it. I'm usually pretty quiet, but always end up being the life of the party--even without the loud mouth soup.

So, I can be a really quiet nerd talking about things no one else is interested in, or the unsuspecting entertainer. At any rate, I have always opposed trendiness and have done my part to avoid it at all costs. (except for one girlfriend, and that was just stupid; the things we do for women sometimes . . .)

James

[auld argonian]

I'm not sure about the clam-digger man-capris...around these parts it's the cargo-shorts-that-are-so-long-and-worn-so-low-on-the-hips-that-they-look-like-capri-pants pants. These charming garments are worn with flip-flops...which, I'm sorry, should only be worn by men on the way to and from the shower...and I'm sure that the flip-flops will still be being worn well into the increasingly chilly months of autumn. Usually a t-shirt with the name of some spurious athletic institution accompanies this ensemble...this always bowls me over because most of these guys (and these are YOUNG guys) are in pretty sad physical condition...took me many years and a whole lot of beer to get my gut (such as it is) and this lot has me beat in their early twenties.

I know that we're all supposed to be kilt-evangelists but could we skip over this crowd...they'd only find a way to wear the kilt in a slovenly way...

Best

AA

[andyfg]

Derek,

Thanks for your thoughts. It often amazes me that my students insist that they are all "individuals" and yet they wear identicle clothing! Of course, sociologically there is the need to belong, not be be different, not to be deviant. Truth is, kilt wearers are deviant . . . outside the norm. Cheers!

[Iolaus]

flip-flops...which, I'm sorry, should only be worn by men on the way to and from the shower...and I'm sure that the flip-flops will still be being worn well into the increasingly chilly months of autumn.

In SoCal, we pretty much wear them year-round. Why enclose your feet in some hot shoes when the coldest temps you see are the mid-sixties? I have a friend at school who goes barefoot all year.

[smaughazard]

Here at XMarks, most of us admit that we like marching to the beat of the proverbial "different drum", but we are also gathered for the support of others like us…

I don't mind being the only man in a kilt in a public venue, but I also enjoy being in a rabble o' kilts at the Games. Isn't much of sociology and psychology based on such contradictory aspects of human nature? :confused:

Rather than over-analyze, I tend just to enjoy the comfort!

[O'Neille]

I like being with fellow kilties when I can and also admit that I like being complimented on my kilt and assundry complementing attire. I wear suits that cost twice what any kilt costs and never once has anyone complemented me on any of them. Last weekend it seemed like everywhere I went I received a compliment from someone regarding my attire. I guess I wear suits so often that I don't feel dressed up unless I am in a Tux or a kilt outfit. Who wants to put on their work clothes to go out to a nice dinner? O'Neille

[pbpersson]

I tend to be very quiet and shy and like to blend in.

However, I have waited for decades for men to start wearing something comfortable and being 50 I didn't think I could wait that many MORE decades so here I am.

I want this change to happen, for kilts to be commonplace, so I'm walking through shopping malls to get my kilt in front of as many people as possible. Well....that and get some exercise in air conditioned comfort. Here in the desert at 10:00 at night it's still 100 degrees.

I have four malls in the city I will walk monthly and two malls closer to home I will walk on Friday nights twice a month.

Thus far the only mall where I had teenagers pointing and laughing was on the far east side of the city.....weird....

This Friday night on the way home I am doing a mall walk, then stopping at a drug store for something and then actually doing REAL grocery shopping in a kilt. That will be a first, actually trying to do an extended activity instead of just being out walking. Previously my kilted grocery shopping was grabbing one item and going through the self-checkout.

I just keep hoping that as people see me here and there more shy kilted desert guys will venture out into public.