How did you ....

[Rob Wright]

Roughly this is the breakdown of the attitudes towards kilts in my area. Being considered to be the best cook in the area I see most of the people at some point so the percentages are fairly accurate. 10% think they're great, 50% don't even think about it, 30% scratch their heads and try to wrap their brains around the concept that kilts are for men or can be worn for everyday wear, and 10% think i'm a crossdressing homosexual.

The big breakout for me was when i purchased a Victory kilt from USAKilts and people all of a sudden started to see me in a kilt everyday, not just on weekends. I get lots of stares and double takes from tourists, but I don't care what they think.

Rob

[Doc Hudson]

My Pittsburgh Kilt arrived on Saturday, June 11, 2005. That night I wore it out to a nice restaurant to celebrate my birthday. Other than work, I've worn it everytime I left the house except one.

I suppose you could say it was a sink or swim method since I jumped in with both feet and have not looked back.

[Blu (Ontario)]

... How did those of you that are accepted by family, friends and colleagues etc break them in to the idea of you wearing a kilt? Was it a gradual thing or did you simply just do it?...

Gradual. I simply started to wear it out more often... not without some resistance mind you. It's been 5 years now and resistance has dropped virtually to zero. It took roughly roughly 3 years before I tired of the debates and laid down the law with respect to where, when, and how often. Unlike some of the membersip, I remain pretty much the proverbial 'weekend Wallace' and do not wear kilts full time. For me, that's not particularly important. I will admit that if circumstances were different, I might be inclined to wear them more often... esp. in the summer. Although the final decision remains mine alone, I do remain respectful of family sensibilities.

[davedove]

I'm still in the occasionally wearing stage. I first wore a kilt to the office on National Tartan Day, which generated a lot of "What are you wearing questions?" but no rejections. I then wore one with some friends to an amusement park and got a few "Oh my God! He's wearing a skirt!" comments, but most of my friends were just "Cool, he's wearing a kilt."

Now, I wear it from time to time and get all the "What's the occasion?" questions. When I tell them I just felt like wearing it, I get some confused looks, but mostly acceptance. Generally, the women just tell me how much they like it.

[Alan H]

I saw kilts at various Celtic music events that I go to pretty regularly and thought they looked good. "I can do that" sez I. So one day I was snooping around on the web and came across this website called X Marks. I read stories about other guys wearing kilts, and a couple of weeks later I shelled out the $$ for a Stillwater Black Watch. It arrived soon after to a chorus of "boo's" from my wife. I wore it anyway. Those boo's evolved into a one of my rare "You will not tel me what to do." sessions with my wife. I figure that I have the right to decide what I'm going to wear, and after I went head-to-head with her, she realized I was right, and stopped dropping her little comments. A fw weeks ago we went to the symphony and some guy dropped a few comments on me about having a "real Scottish connection" and she lit into him plenty good, right there. Pretty funny.

It's been seven months now, I own three kilts, will soon own three more, one of which I'm making myself. I think that might be enough! Then again, an 8 yard tank in the California tartan is mighty tempting!

I wear kilts to work and around town 2-3 days a week, pretty much whenever I feel like it. I don't wear them all the time, and that suits me just fine. If I know I'm going to be crawling around under someone'sdesk at work, for example (I'm the computer support guy) I don't wear a kilt. I don't wear a kilt while sailing, either.

This weekend I did a sailing race 25 miles down the coast with my association. I happened to finish in 3rd plce in my division so I got a little award. When I went up to get it, there was a chorus of.."What, no kilt?"

Pretty funny.

[Riverkilt]

I live in a small town in the high desert canyonlands of the Colorado Plateau. People here are a mix of Navajo, LDS, Redneck, tourists, Polygamists, and retirees.

When my first kilt arrived I strapped it on and went forth...I just don't care what others think of my choice of clothing. That's my decision made for my reasons.

As someone's signature points out, my friends are my family of choice. Most could care less. Most I got was some expected teasing...but that's THEIR stuff, not mine. I have learned a LOT about the people in my life from how they CHOOSE to treat me whether I'm kilted or panted.

And God help me, I do enjoy the rush of walking into a restaurant or other public gathering kilted. Seeing folks give "the look." Its a kick to consciously put a little extra sway into the kilt

Ron

[Geoduck]

I've owned a kilt now for nearly a year (I believe, actually, that Saturday will be the aniversary of my first kilt! A green origninal UK) My folks were a little put off by it at first, and I wore it sporatically (family gatherings, my rehersal dinner, etc) until we went to the UK on our honeymoon and ended up ordering my first tartan.

After the tartan arrived, I couldn't wait until I had oportunity to wear it. It made its first public appearance at my brother's rehersal dinner, unfortunately I had to wear a tux at the wedding, so no kilt. After wearing the tartan on Christmas Eve I picked up my second UK, and in late January I found this site. I think that's when I stopped caring about impressions of others and really began wearing it full time.

Being in Seattle, it is pretty easy to gain acceptance for any strange choice in wardrobe, so maybe it's easier for me. My wife's family loves the kilt and her cousin's husband is thinking that he might want one. He's a large Samoan and he loves his traditional garments and has kicked his share of asses for disparaging comments. I've already brought a Cuban around to the kilt, so we'll see if the Samoan population in Seattle will take to it, we'll see.

I just simply don't wear pants anymore. My collection includes 7 UK's 2 HR tartans and a SWK Heavy with a Bear kilt on order, so I'm not sure how much more I need, but I'm sure there will be plenty more to come. Cheers,