Relatives and kilts

[Geoff Withnell]

My wife and I traveled last weekend to Long Island from our home near Washington, DC. My wife's cousin's son was getting married. My wife asked me NOT to wear my kilts during the weekend. She felt it was best not to detract from the attention given the happy couple, and as she said "You know my Aunt Sylvia!" Sylvia is an 80 year old woman, with an extreme sense of what is proper and improper, and no hesitation to make a large loud and unpleasant scene at a family gathering. I had already thought this through and decided to wear my khaki Flamingo kilt for the actual trip (I was driving), for comfort, and be bifurcated the rest of the weekend. The wedding and reception itself was black tie optional, so I had rented a tux.
When we got to the country club where the wedding was being held, Sylvia took one look at me and called out "Where's your kilt?" My wife's loving (sarcasm) sister-in-law had taken photos from my 60th birthday party, with me in my USA casual Thompson Gray, and shown them around. The sister-in-law thought I looked silly. Sylvia just said she had never seen someone in a kilt and yarmulka (Jewish skullcap) and wanted to see it in person. I just remarked that both were my clothing, I wear kilts, and I wear yarmulkas, so the two together seem normal to me. Anyway, I wore the kilt (and my yarmulka) to the family breakfast the next morning. Only a few brief questions/comments, and we went on to talk about the economy, politics and criticize the relatives that didn't show up (grin). Oh well, next year when the sister of the groom gets married I should have my 16 oz wool Leatherneck, and I'll get a formal jacket and come in that.

Geoff Withnell

[runewolf]

Relatives can be surprising. My wife figured her Aunt and Uncle would have a few words about the kilt, they never even blinked an eye. My Brother's only comment the first time he saw me was that I needed to shave my legs lol. I may find out what my grandmother thinks later this weekend.

[jrmiller]

Geoff,
I wore my US Navy kilt to chorus practice Monday night. Got a bunch of questions, one gal, Nancy was clearly disturbed, however, she settled down. Then, at the end, I put my Aussie hat on to leave. She cracked up and said "that's not Scottish!". Too bad she wasn't wearing jeans, I would have told her she wasn't 100% cowgirl!

We have a fundamental right to "our own" look.

[Mipi]

Relatives! Who would understand them? The problem is you can't just ignore them totally like rest of the "world"

[McFarkus]

What a pleasant surprise that Aunt Sylvia was looking forward to the kilt. I'll bet your wife was surprised.

[BEEDEE]

Great story. I too wear a yarmulke with a kilt, but prefer the expression kilt and kippah. Has a nice ring to it.

Brian

[ali8780]

I'm glad you had a good experience, I hope my relatives will be as open-minded if my husband ever decides to join your ranks!

[Geoff Withnell]

Great story. I too wear a yarmulke with a kilt, but prefer the expression kilt and kippah. Has a nice ring to it.

Brian

Indeed it does have a ring to it! Oddly enough, Sylvia was the first person in over a year to comment on it. I had expected comments on the order of "that's not Scottish!".

Have you worn your kilt to services? I have to weekday minion, but since I don't yet have the kilted equivalent of a suit, I wear a suit on Shabbos.

Geoff Withnell

[The Barry]

Have you worn your kilt to services?

Geoff Withnell

I ditched my tux some time ago in favor of my kilt. My tank is my only black-tie outfit, and I keep my suits to a minimum (for work, etc). Anything church related (weddings, funerals, gatherings, etc), I go kilted.

[wyldathart]

As the saying goes, you can pick your friends but you can't pick your family. I all ways thought it was a crying shame. Anyway, glad you had a good time. Maybe things will go a lot smoother from now on