How does what "they" think affect what you wear?

[Pyper]

That's an interesting question.

I kind of think that around here people probably don't have many pre-conceived notions. When I'm wearing my kilt and I go into the store, or get gas or something, people generally don't seem to have any reaction one way or another.

But I guess if you see a guy in a kilt, you can't help but notice that he's wearing something out of the ordinary. That act, in and of itself, tells you something. Kind of like wearing a bowler hat.

[Alan H]

That's an interesting question.

I kind of think that around here people probably don't have many pre-conceived notions. When I'm wearing my kilt and I go into the store, or get gas or something, people generally don't seem to have any reaction one way or another.

But I guess if you see a guy in a kilt, you can't help but notice that he's wearing something out of the ordinary. That act, in and of itself, tells you something. Kind of like wearing a bowler hat.

Just my own opinion, but....well said, and concise.

Oh to be able to write my thoughts more like you do. sheesh.

[Inchessi]

Some one on this board recommended "So You're Going To Wear The Kilt" J. Charles Thompson.

Lots of outstanding information. The part that stuck out in my head, if I may paraphrase. When you first wear the kilt publicly, you will hear a lot of comments. Now that you are paying attention, listen when you are not wearing the kilt, it's about the same. Always keeping that in mind, I haven't heard very much.

I am certain that I am the only person in 15 miles that wears a kilt. I reside in a small town, no one has said anything to me, and I never cared to ask.

Being malicious in nature, I have had some fun. A group of pipers in a parking lot were putting stuff in their cars. I yelled to them, "Nice Skirts!" One man less than politely invited me over to restate the comment. I drove my truck over, got out wearing my "Black Watch" and had a good laugh. An hour later, we drove our separate ways, and I had a few leads to some fishing spots.

[piperdown]

Being malicious in nature, I have had some fun. A group of pipers in a parking lot were putting stuff in their cars. I yelled to them, "Nice Skirts!" One man less than politely invited me over to restate the comment. I drove my truck over, got out wearing my "Black Watch" and had a good laugh. An hour later, we drove our separate ways, and I had a few leads to some fishing spots.

I'd love to have seen the look on the pipers face when he saw your kilt!!
Probably was frantically trying to figuring out how he was going to back up his words in his. Great fun indeed.

[Coastie]

Well I have a much smaller sample size than most of you but I have been wearing my kilts (now happily plural at two with a third on the way) more frequently. By far the most common question I get is do I play the bagpipes. Next is where am I going.

As for what people think of it, there really is a difference between most ladies response and men's. Most gals are interested and appreciative. They actively go out of their way to have a reason to talk to me so they can ask me about the kilt as they are rare as hen's teeth around here. Most guys just seem baffled with a bit of amusement mixed of the fellow is older.

For example I was waiting in line to get new vehicle plates at the DMV when a younger gal opened a window and gestured me over. She opened the window just so she could talk to me and ask about my kilt. When I asked for a Coast Guard license plate (over 600 miles to the coast from here) with a Iraqi War label she was even more amused: "Well you are easily the most interesting person I have met in a long time."

Kids amuse me the most. A friend's 4-year-old girl was just baffled I was wearing a dress... "But you're a guy!" Her mom and I had fun explaining the difference between a kilt and a dress.

[kc8ufv]

Kids amuse me the most. A friend's 4-year-old girl was just baffled I was wearing a dress... "But you're a guy!" Her mom and I had fun explaining the difference between a kilt and a dress.

Kids say the darndest things. This past weekend, I went to the Saline Celtic Festival. I'd approximate about 1/3 of the guys there were in a kilt (mostly tartan) I was in my UK original, and this approx 5yo girl walks up to me and asks why I'm wearing a skirt. I explained I was wearing a kilt, as were many other guys there. She quickly ran back, and I heard her mom explain the same, and that kilts are clothing guys wear.

[R.S.L. Kiltwearer]

I live in a area in SLC, UT that has a lot of Polynesians wearing there lava lava and or there sarong. so you would think it would not shock people to see a man in a kilt.... but it does.
i mostly get the ignorant comments from upperclass white high school or JR high boy's, who will always turn tail and run when you turn back to them
and every now and then one of the Polynesian kids will make comment about it being a skirt. that one just baffle's me

[Bill]

Hello All!

This has been quite an interesting thread and I've enjoyed the various comments.

I'm a long time kiltie and since my retirement I am kilted more often than not.

My wife and I have helped take care of a young lad since he was born eight years ago at the end of this month. Our "nephew's" mom and Dad have been apart since shortly after he came into this world and he shunts back and forth between the two. Now his dad is a bona fide redneck in the worst sense of the term and has told the boy that "all I needed was a bra" and refers to the kilts I wear as those silly skirts. "Dad" calls anything outside what he concieves as manly as something only a "fag" (my apologies it's his term not mine) categorizing even soccer players as such.

Normaly this stuff I ignore taking into consideration the source of the slur but it bothers me mightly that he is trying to teach the boy the bigotry and intolerance he ascribes to. I try to be a good model for our "nephew" but I'm drawing blood biting my tongue over this. My kilted bretheren I'm open to suggestions on this one.

In our town of about 20,000 I've only had mild occasional jibes and tons of compliments when I wear the kilt, and the little old ladies at Church love it and so do the young ones! LOL! My wife recently told a neighbor up the street "we've been married 37 years and he all man!" The neighbor's boyfriend commented "I think it's cool!" which earned him the "look". I'm still laughing at that one. I see I've forgotten to interject the nieghbor's crack about my kilt wearing. It was "I wouldn't let a man of mine go about looking like that. Why do you let him it's so wierd!."

Well I'll hush up now and go back to listening for awile.

Slainte' M'Hath
Bill
"Trousers are a western absurbity." Arthur C. Clark SF author and scientist

[chrisupyonder]

As I live in Scotland it is only out of the ordinary to wear a kilt during the day, shopping etc. Most gents and boys own a kilt and only wear it to special events but many wear a kilt to go to the pub or a meal out in the evening. I usually wear my kilt all day weekends and in the last few months most of the time during the week as well, including shopping. No one takes much notice except tourists.
What does annoy me with the media is the way the kilt is portrayed as some sort of costume or as a joke. I would like to see more kilts on TV etc. but in a way that Duncan in Monarch of the glen is portrayed as his normal daily wear and no one really takes any notice of his kilt.
To me it is just another piece of male attire which is very quickly becoming my only attire.
There is a Scottish soap called River City which has been running only on Scottish TV for many years. I don't watch any soaps but catch it now and again, but I have never seen a kilt in the show (there may have been but I missed it). It would be nice to see the odd kilt or two being worn correctly and not as something so unusual.

Just my 2 pence worth.

Chris

[rondo]

That's an interesting question...you can't help but notice that he's wearing something out of the ordinary. That act, in and of itself, tells you something. Kind of like wearing a bowler hat.

Well...i've been known to wear both...sometimes at the same time. lol

Around here, I get asked if I am going to the Renassaince Festival, especially if its summer. And no, I couldn't care less what anyone else thinks. That being said I do try my best to present a sharp appearance. Oh, and nope, I haven't asked what people think...as I'm generaly not interested in what most of them think, but I do reamain polite when they approach me.

Rondo