Is Vanity a Valid Reason for Kilting

[Chris Webb]

Just an hour ago I encountered a man from Scotland at Walmart. For the second time he approached me and complimented me grandly on my kilt. He also said that he always looked for me at Walmart and was really glad to see me. I felt great!

I asked him if he ever wore a kilt and he emphatically said 'No!' I said I'd be happy to give him one of mine and he replied that he just didn't have the legs for it and that it would be too long on account of him being too short for a kilt.

I shook his hand and thanked him for his encouragement and told him that I really enjoy wearing my kilts and am thankful than I can.

I'm a Native Texan and have heard similar remarks from other Native Texans about Cowboy hats. Many, many Texans don't even own one, often because they think they don't look good in it ... too tall, too short, makes me look fat or skinny.

I wear cowboy hats with my kilts at work ... admittedly, even I know I'm a bit of a character. I guess my question is this: Do you wear your kilts because you simply look good in one and, likewise, do you ever not wear your kilt because you don't think you look good in one?

Lord knows that I've got a dozen reasons I can give for wearing my kilts, but, in the end, I must admit that I think I just look better in a kilt than anything else. For all the high minded reasons I've concocted I may well be just a vanity kilt wearer after all.

I hope not, but I'm not sure why I hope not ... maybe just feeling like you really look good in one is reason enough.

Chris Webb

[smaughazard]

Well, I think heritage and comfort played the biggest roles in getting me to try a kilt, but it certainly didn't hurt that my wife thinks I have the legs for it!

[Panache]

Chris Webb pondered:

Is Vanity a Valid Reason for Kilting?



Panache answers:


Y E S !



Cheers

[mkmound]

. . .

I asked him if he ever wore a kilt and he emphatically said 'No!' I said I'd be happy to give him one of mine and he replied that he just didn't have the legs for it and that it would be too long on account of him being too short for a kilt.
. . .

Chris Webb

Maybe part of this is the regular and ongoing discussion that we have on balancing colors / styles / etc. . . . I know before reading some of those discussions, I sometimes felt uncomfortable with a particular combination of kilt / shirt / shoes / etc., but I couldn't articulate why.

Many thanks to all on this board who have so clearly described the visual aspects of appearance, and helped me to learn what to look for in the mirror!!

[KiltedKnight]

Personally I am never satified with the way I look, whatever I wear, I feel that it can always be better but my wife says differently. She says I look too good and so she has to go to greater lengths to look that much better.

I guess it was all the years in the Army when everything had to be Dress-right-dress with nothing out of place, not even a loose thread. I got used to that and it's hard to shake.

In any case it's good to hear that from the only woman who impresses me in my older years, my wife of 18 years and a woman that's much too good for the likes of me.

Chris.

[Rex_Tremende]

I bought my first kilt (a UK) after a female acquaintance said I'd look good in one. Besides the comfort, and that it adds variety to my wardrobe, I keep wearing them because people say nice things about it and say stuff like, "You wear it well," all of which makes me feel really swell. If this is not vanity, I don't know what is.

If vanity is a good enough reason to keep people out of kilts, it is as good a reason to be in one. But given that I've seen photos of all sorts of people in all sorts of configurations, most looking pretty good regardless provided they've made some effort at it and are not wearing a tablecloth, I think "I won't look good in one," is just a convenient excuse.

Regards,
Rex in Cincinnati

[Robin]

When I strapped on my 1st kilt for the first time and looked in the mirror...I thought: "Hey! you look pretty okey wearing a kilt". That's a good start

And all the compliments, the smiles, the winks. Well...I must admit...this makes me feel fantastic and very confident.

I think I look good wearing a kilt and I love the compliments...for me vanity is a very valid reason.

[Tattoo Bradley]

I wear cowboy hats with my kilts at work ... admittedly, even I know I'm a bit of a character.

I've posted a picture of myself, and I know I too am QUITE a character. I suppose the wearing of kilts can very well be due to vanity, perhaps it is in my case as well. I don't really know. I do know I like the way I look in them. That and my heritage are the main reasons for my choice.

[Blu (Ontario)]

Just an hour ago I encountered a man from Scotland at Walmart. For the second time he approached me and complimented me grandly on my kilt. He also said that he always looked for me at Walmart and was really glad to see me. I felt great!... etc.

Cool!... I had a similar encounter at a Home Depot a couple of years ago, although the fellow professed to owning a kilt... he admitted to wearing it for special occasions only. I do find Wal*Mart an interesting place to wear a kilt though. The stores always seem to attract an interesting cast of characters.

A fun story.

[binx]

I think I look best in a kilt, considering my girth, as it balances out the top with the bottom. And my wife's also said I have the legs for it. It makes me more careful when coordinating my daily attire. Of course I have to be more aware of how I sit, the surroundings, and circumstances that I might find myself in. I do like the compliments, even if seems to always lead to heritage. If that's vanity, so be it.

binx