Mad as hell!

[Archangel]

Why dodge the question? The kilt, in fact, is a skirt. That type of skirt is called a kilt. Kilts are generally seen as male clothing.

I wouldn't wear a kilt to the event. I haven't really decided if I would go yet. However, I do know that if I asked right now she would be upset. So, unless you actually ask her, it's no.

Actually asking her might be a good idea. You are hearing all this third hand. If she was a valuable friend in the past, it might be wise to salvage it before a party kind of thing.

Don't worry about the possible gay angle right now. You simply don't know what her issue is. If that's what it is, you can correct her, or try. But really it's a so what issue.

So, I would call her and resolve this before the party.

[Rex_Tremende]

... She is likely worried about how people will react to you. ...

Somehow I get the impression that she is more worried about how people will react to her if she is seen to accept you in the kilt.

There are parallels here to other sorts of personal disclosures. There may eventually be a choosing of sides. Before that becomes necessary, I would do as others have suggested, which is to sit down and level with her. Seek to listen first. What are her concerns? Can you answer them?

In the end, she has a three choices: ignore it, accept it, embrace it. Let her decide= which she will choose, because if she chooses to reject it, she rejects you.

Do keep us posted.

Regards,
Rex.

[Rex_Tremende]

A firm "cut the crap" kind of attitude should let her know that this is unacceptable and that you expect that if she is any kind of a friend she will be a bit more respectful in the future.

I so totally love this approach and second it.

Regards,
Rex.

[kiltedinUSMC]

OH YEAH!! One MORE thing (I know- edit a previous post). Every single branch of the US military has it's own tartan. The US Marine Corps has a pipe band that wear kilts. Last I checked the Marine are not really all that girly. Have her correct me on that if I'm wrong.

I know where Direstaitsfan is coming from. I've been in the situation since I been wearing kilts. I wear them because their comfortable. I just tell my Marine buddies that I been uncomfortable for two deployments and I earned this right to be free. And I do argree with the the replys on this post just talk to her. She still sees you as her High School friend, not the mature person you have become. By doing that I think your friendship will grow for the good. As for the above quote I say again who would mess with Marines in kilts I would not and I am One

[jordanjm]

I had a similar situation with my mother-in-law. My wife and I first got a kilt for our son when he was a few months old. When my mother-in-law saw it she kept talking to him about how he was wearing a skirt. etc. When I started wearing a kilt a little while later she was on my case too. I am the Utah state convener for my clan association, and she came down to a highland games where I was working a clan tent. That was the beginning of a shift in her attitude. Then one day she told me I know why you wear a kilt, it is because you are proud of your heritage. I am telling you this, just so you know you are not alone in this. I would bet a lot of us here had someone in our lives who was significant, and had a hard time with this kind of change.

[McGurk]

From what you've heard, it sounds like she still is looking out for you, and thinks the kilt is a problem, not that you're the problem.
I can understand how you feel, having a friend not accept a choice you've made and I can understand feeling like blowing up in her face.

I think it would be best to get together with just her (probaby in trousers, not a kilt) and ask her what she thinks of the situation. I can imagine the answers, like 'Its not right' or 'not normal' but go deeper then that, ask why she thinks that. Try and get her to analyse her perception of and let her come (hopefully) to the conclusion that there is no reason to not like you wearing a kilt and that her predudice is probably not her own free thought, but a sterotype thats been imposed on her by a close minded scociety.

[Sardious]

NOTHING beats personal communication. Talk to her. Let her know that you wear a kilt not a skirt and you are happy to do so. It is a comfort thing you are not trying to make some loud statement just enjoy. It is amazing how understanding people can be when it is explained. It sounds like she is actually being told your wore a skirt, noting liek setting the story straight. If nothing else even if she thinks a kilt = same as a skirt and thinks it is wierd after talking to her you can say that you are hurt by the stories cause they sound like something different that what it is and she may just drop the repeating stories even though she finds it odd. I'd talk to her though.

[Sardious]

oh also remember, a good friend is more important than an outfit choice. I 'm sure you can take occations with her or her signifigant other and accept not wearing a kilt. A valued friend is more imprtant than a clothing choice for sure. I will hope for ya that she will understand

[Nighthawk]

Ya know... I found out yesterday at Thanksgiving dinner with my family that my sister in law is intentionally misinforming my nephews about what a kilt is! I wore my Back Stewart kilt, green hose, flashes, a nice white shirt, and my matching Black Stewart tie, and my nephew Jake (6 years old) came over to me and said "Ties don't go with skirts!" Now he knows perfectly well what it is, but I reminded him, anyway. He said "But my mommy says it's a skirt!" I confronted her and asked why she was miseducating the kids. She told me that only cross dressers wear things like kilts. I have given her all kinds of information, both printed and virtual. I want to be a history teacher, so I have tons of books. I gave her one about the battle of Coluden, and I gave her one on the history of tartan. So she knows damned well what the kilt is. She is just living proof that you can lead a jackass to water, but you can't make it drink. I don't even have any pics of how good I looked because she is the one with the camera and refused to take any pictures of me from the waist down.

[Jaggy thistle]

I had a similer problem many many years ago with a girl friend she met me when I was wearing a kilt and never said anything but as time went by she began to object if I wore it exept to a dance or wedding ect she even started walking apart from me if we were out so we parted company still cannot understand women !