What are YOU wearing? or Show me your and I'll show you mine!

[Graham]

I have a couple of USAK casuals I wear around the house and for work, plus a Bear casual. These are perfect for, well, everything, working in the garden, sitting around the computer etc.

Out to town I like a heavier kilt, 8 yarder, usually USAK semi trad.

Out at night, 8 yard wool in winter, 8 yard PV other times.

Since church is a home fellowship thing, I can be more casual there.

It's nice to slowly build a wardrobe that will allow you to dress for any occasion. It's a lot of dosh, but little by little, considering carefully the Hamish rule of colour matching ;-)

Life is truly wonderful kilted.

[furrycelt]

Well, I really wish I could go kilted all the time. I am very jealous of those of you who do. I certainly can't at work (strict business dress code... for a call center where no one sees us). I shy away from wearing my other kilts out and about because practical reasons. I have a nice formal expensive kilt, that I want to keep clean and protected. My other kilts are historical repro's so they just don't do for everyday wear.

This is why I am shopping for a casual kilt. I am pretty much set on the UK Survival. I am just trying to come up with the cash.

And I envy you guys you have wives or girlfriends that defend you, even when they don't like the kilts very much. My girlfriend...it's going to be a long haul, guys.

I hear ya. I asked my wife to sit with me at the computer as I shopped around and looked at all the post-modern kilts available. I was quite surprised that she showed interest and helped me make a decision. Later on in conversation I told her that not only do I want this Survival UK for camping and hiking, but that I would wear it on weekends out and about town. She recoiled at the idea and hinted that she would not want to be around me if I did that. She said she would be afraid of the attention. **SIGH**

As far as what I am wearing *right now*, well I am work therefore in "business casual". But I hate pants, so if I am at home, you can bet I aint wearin' 'em.

[flyv65]

I hear ya. I asked my wife to sit with me at the computer as I shopped around and looked at all the post-modern kilts available. I was quite surprised that she showed interest and helped me make a decision. Later on in conversation I told her that not only do I want this Survival UK for camping and hiking, but that I would wear it on weekends out and about town. She recoiled at the idea and hinted that she would not want to be around me if I did that. She said she would be afraid of the attention. **SIGH**

Tracy and I spent this past weekend in Durango (the 'rents usually give us two or three days at a nice B&B for Christmas, and last year it was the Apple Orchard Inn [2thumbsup!]). We spent almost the entire day on Main Street, doing some seasonal shopping and generally enjoying the snow flurries, and cinders from the narrow gauge railroad. At dinner that night (Steamworks Brewpub) I mentioned that the ladies seemed to pick up on the kilt and chat about it alot more than the guys (maybe 8 or 9 women to 3 guys). Tracy assured me that, while the gals would come up and talk to me much more than the men, *everybody*, she said, noticed. I asked her if she was okay with the attention the kilt draws when we go someplace new, and she said that she enjoyed watching the reactions. She also pointed out that two of the gals weren't really interested in the history of the kilt so much as me; I didn't realize this, and she found my innocence "charming".

Bryan...I'm pretty lucky...

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Well, I really wish I could go kilted all the time. I am very jealous of those of you who do. I certainly can't at work (strict business dress code... for a call center where no one sees us)...

Ian, check out the couple of threads that detail kilts at work. You CAN accomplish being kilted at work, especially in a large corporation that claims to support cultural diversity! Do you have any Indian gentleman or women working with you or at your location? The men wearing any turbans? The women wearing traditional wraps/dresses? Then why should you be denied celebrating your heritage? And if that does not provide a platform and argument for you (and since IBM was my account, I know that it most definitely does!), then you can always review the dress code and when it specifies that women can wear skirts, you can validly claim gender discrimination if they forbid you wearing a kilt. Having just gone through this at my work, having dealt specifically with IBM as a vendor, and being a manager who has to work closely with HR on these kind of issues, I can say that your perceived fears are pretty much unfounded. There is very little that HR can do as long as there are no safety reasons for not wearing a kilt (which would also have to apply to a skirt). You could be asked to go home and change into pants. If you are, you can either accept that, ask for specific reasons and ask for them to be documented before you consent to change, or refuse and ask for clarification of the "policy" you are violating that prohibits you wearing a kilt. Additionally, if you are still hesistant (and I have been there!) wear it as part of a recognized Celtic/Scottish/Irish/Welsh holiday. For example, tomorrow is St. Andrews Day. A perfect reason to wear a kilt to celebrate your heritage. I somewhat used this approach (see my thread on Kilts in the Office) by wearing the kilt first at a "casual" day. I did let HR know my intentions first, and when they expressed their support for wearing a kilt on a "cultural" holiday or event, I clearly stated my intent to wear one every day. Worded a little differently, but that was clearly my message. The upshot? Total capitulation as there is no real reason (unless you work with heavy machinery) to forbid the wearing of the kilt. The barriers are your own fears and self confidence, and I don't mean that in a derogatory way. It takes huge cojones to fight city hall (HR) and even bigger ones to face the possible scorn and snide comments of your co-workers. Is it worth it? Strap on a kilt ourside of work and see how people react and ask yourself if you can live with that reaction at work. If you can, and are willing to go through the 2-3 month transition period (no, people do not accept it overnight), then go for it. If not, wait until you are ready.

Cheers!

[jfellrath]

Right now I'm in my kiltstore.net Casual Clark Ancient with black sporran. I was wearing my new Blaxnit hose (thanks to whoever posted about these, fantastic socks!) but decided to let my dogs breathe for a while. I'm also wearing an old Columbus Crew jersey that doesn't match it at all, but was the first thing I grabbed out of the drawer this morning with the lights off (so I didn't wake up my wife).

My only other kilt is my khaki original UK. Sometimes, when talking to you guys about this, I feel like that guy who hasn't gone through puberty when the gym teacher requires everyone to take showers after 8th grade gym class.

[Alan]

Right now I'm wearing my swk. I also have a traditional 8 yd in the Macleod of harris tartan. So far I have made myself a camo kilt and a solid black kilt. I am currently looking for some tartan material to try my hand at pleating a tartan. So for now I have 4 kilts. My traditional is my favorite.

[GlassMan]

Ahh the joys of checking back on this thread while I relax in a flannel nightshirt in the blackwatch tartan and a pair of leather and flannel slippers.

What more could I ask for? Oh yeah, a nice 12 year old Scotch. I'll be right back after a quick trip to the liqour cabinet!

[Alan H]

Yesterday was my Bear Kilt, Macnaughton 4-yard, todaay is the Black Stillwater.

THe STanford Kilted Kontingent might get together for coffee tomorrow, so I'll be kilted three days this week...yowza! Maybe I'll wear the canvas one tomorrow.

[furrycelt]

Ian, ... You CAN accomplish being kilted at work, especially in a large corporation that claims to support cultural diversity! Do you have any Indian gentleman or women working with you or at your location? The men wearing any turbans? The women wearing traditional wraps/dresses? Then why should you be denied celebrating your heritage?

In my section there is no one that wears anything of a religious or cultural context. I have seen on campus a Sikh's turban or two, but that is it. If the Kilt were a religious item, then I would wear it company be damned. I put my religion before any job.

... I can say that your perceived fears are pretty much unfounded. There is very little that HR can do as long as there are no safety reasons for not wearing a kilt...

Oh but there is much HR can do. In the state of North Carolina, you can be fired for any reason. However, it would not come down to that with me, I have a good relationship with the power's-that-be. Besides, I do not "fear" wearing a kilt at work, per se. My work culture is more complicated than you realize. I do not work "for" IBM, I work "at" IBM. Therefore, I must live under the guidelines of two separate entities. IBM is infamous for having strict dress codes. It wasn't so long ago that all men were required to wear black pants, black shoes, black tie, and a white dress shirt (PERIOD), no deviation. The company that I get my paycheck from has a VP who openly states he thinks all men in the call center should wear ties all the time! Before I launch into a rant about the oppressive culture here, let just say that I am really pushing the envelope by wearing sandals and not tucking in my shirt. Heck, I got a "talking to" for wearing corduroy pants one day instead of dress pants. (and in a $!#% call center!!!!)

Yeah, I could probably "argue" my way into wearing a kilt. Yeah, in theory, I should be able to win such battles citing legal writs. But sometimes, when one just starts a battle, one has already lost.

As much as I want to wear my kilt (and have had a few co-workers wanting for me to show up kilted), I just don't want to risk it now, especially when things are so up in the air now. The project that we are on is being terminated. The future of my company's relationship with IBM is unclear, as are all our jobs.

(anyone hiring? I can program in a variety of languages, and graduated with a Magna Cum Laude, B.S. degree (insert cute grin here))

All the same, I do appreciate the encouragement. One day, I will work at a company that will allow me the freedom of being kilted.

[Riverkilt]

What a great thread!

I'm at work wearing my chocolate Utilikilt workman's. Haven't worn pants anywhere since August 4th. Don't wear kilts OR pants when lounging at home :grin:

Is this an excuse to do a kilt inventory?? Cool, if I can remember...

Hand sewn traditionals from Kathy's Kilts: X Marks the Scot, Macdonald Lord of the Isles, Macdonald of Kingsburgh, Cameron Red and Black (on order).

Freedom Kilts: Desert Camo, CADPAT (a favorite).

Pittsburgh Kilts: Desert MARPAT, Forest MARPAT, Custom Arizona state flag tri-color kilt (curious, its in my gallery).

USA Kilts: Thomson Gray, Ireland's National (on order) both semi- traditionals.

Celtic Croft: Weathered Gordon (hand sewn traditional - in the mail)

SportKilt: Black Stewart (sewn down pleats) Macdonald, Scott Skye (both old gathered style).

RKilts: Saffron Leather kilt

Utilikilts: Black, Caramel, and Chocolate Workman's, Basil, Black, and Tan Survival IIs, Navy, Olive, and Tan Mockers, Blue Denim, Camo and Tan originals, and Brown Leather.

AmeriKilts: Forest, Putty, Black, and Tiger Stripe Camo.

I LOVE KILTS! I WEAR KILTS! ;)

I believe Ham when he says, "Everyone needs another kilt."

Ron