My wife is not on board with the whole kilt thing.

[The_Black_Knight]

One glance at a Highland Games will cure her of any unhappiness she has towards Kilts. My goodness, I have seen some pretty crazy kilts, tell her she should be happy your not wearing a pink camo kilt or a rubber chicken. =)

[Makeitstop]

The way I see it, this comes down to respect, and reason.

On the one hand, your wife should respect your desire to wear the kilt, whether she likes it or not. On the other hand, you need to respect your wife's apparent discomfort with kilts. A total prohibition on kilt wearing is unreasonable. But at the same time, you can't just expect her to just give in and be miserable to accommodate you.

Odds are, her objections are based on irrational attitudes which have little to do with any argument she can make against the kilt. You will most likely have to get her used to the kilt and wear her down rather than prove that it's really a manly thing or demonstrate the flaws in her arguments.

Therefore, if possible, I suggest you focus not on the kilt, but on your relationship. Tell her that this is something you have wanted to do for a long time, and that want her to be supportive, while at the same time acknowledging her discomfort. Try to compromise, and if she is being stubborn or irrational, call her on it.

If you can get her to go along with it, even if it's just hanging out with some friends in private, she'll probably get desensitized to the kilt over time.

And yes, Rob Roy is probably the best example of manly man in a kilt contrasted with the far less masculine pants on men who look more like cross dressers. And it's also just a really good movie. It probably won't solve anything, but it couldn't hurt.


Now, if she absolutely won't budge, you may have to make a tough decision. You could give up on wearing the kilt, as clearly it isn't as important as your marriage, but it really shouldn't have to come to that.

You could put your foot down and insist that you will wear what you damn well choose and that's final (not necessarily in those exact words) but depending on your wife's personality and your situation, that may cause more trouble.

You could decide to wear it and if she doesn't want to be a part of it, let her stay home, but to me, that seems like it might just be delaying the conflict and possibly allowing time for negative emotions to fester.


I wish there was an easy answer, but if relationships were easy, you wouldn't have to ask in the first place would you? Ultimately though, I think the important thing is for you to focus first on being a good husband, being understanding of her objections (crazy as they may be) and sensitive to her needs. If you make that a priority, then it will be a lot harder for her to say no when you make a reasonable request and expect her to show you the same love, patience and respect you show her.


If none of that works, get a note from your doctor saying you can no longer wear pants of any kind.

[Charlie Mc.]

Although, they told me,

"There's no way you could come to Texas dressed like that though. You'd get your butt kicked!"

Speaking as someone from San Antonio, Texas that is, as you say, Baloney. I have spent a fair bit of time kilted in San Antonio. Mostly Utilikilts, but on a couple of occasions wore my great kilt, along with a bunch of my friends. We got an overwhelmingly positive response every time we went out kilted. I honestly cannot think of a negative comment, much less a threat to kick my butt. I am used to people not from Texas having silly stereotypes about it. It is kind of sad to say a couple of Texans encouraging those stereotypes.

[CDNSushi]

I honestly cannot think of a negative comment, much less a threat to kick my butt. I am used to people not from Texas having silly stereotypes about it. It is kind of sad to say a couple of Texans encouraging those stereotypes.

Yeah, too true about the stereotypes. In their defense (and I'm not sure if it's a legitimate one) however, they haven't lived there (in Texas) for almost 16 years so I'm pretty sure the Texas they remember has likely changed somewhat too...

[An t-Ileach]

...Problem is my dewey eyed bride will not entertain the notion that anything but trousers should be worn by men. Anything resembling a skirt is reserved for women. No amount of education by my part has yet to change her mind.

Since reading your post, I've been keeping my eyes peeled as to what is worn by the ladies around me. I can honestly say that all of my wife and two daughters are wearing trousers today. And a goodly proportion (actually probably the majority) of the ladies around Chiswick in west London where I usually go shopping are wearing jeans and trousers of one sort or another today. Skirts or kilts seem to be very scarce; well, there's me and my mate Ben... and about a couple of dozen ladies in skirts at a quick count. I don't know how all that would factor into your lady's ideas of appropriate dress.

[Highlander31]

My wife is very supportive of my wearing kilts, in fact she would prefer I go kilted more often than I do. However, I have met women who do not approve of men in kilts. The reasoning seems to be split between unfamiliarity and cultural. It may be that your wife just needs some time to get used to the kilt.

[Master K9]

I'm not worried about wearing a kilt and being in Texas. Where I live most of the folks are not from Texas anyway....and real Texans are rugged individualists and wouldn't care. I've already thought of the Highland Games angle and the Texas Rennasance Festival is coming up shortly...as well as Halloween.

My daughter is away ro college and can provide very little support in this matter.

Here's what I think I'm gonna do; Just start wearing it....how's that?

[GreenDragon]

Mine won't go anywhere with me if i plan on wearing my kilt. But the kicker is: she BOUGHT ME ONE OF MY KILTS!!!

go figure.

[Highlander31]

Here's what I think I'm gonna do; Just start wearing it....how's that?

Sounds like a plan.

[Tommie]

I noticed you said your kilt is an SWK Thrifty.
Don't take this wrong,theres nothing wrong with a thrifty-I have one-,but I would not wear it out anywhere.
My wife does not care for it,and to be honest,im not crazy about it either,but I do wear it around the house now an then.

Have you considered purchasing a bit nicer SWK standard or maybe one of Rocky's at USA kilts?.Not too expensive if you don't want to spend a lot,and I would allmost bet your wife might have second thoughts seeing you in either one.

My first two kilts were Amerikilts,and my wife was not to happy about going out with me wearing either one,but she has no problem at all when I wear an SWK Tartan.
I love the Amerikilts for comfort,but usally only wear them out if its only running to the grocery,a family cookout,maybe the park,Etc.,but never anywhere it calls for something a bit dresser.

I wish you luck and hope your wife gives in a bit on what you choose to wear.