Kiltless Arizona

[Norm]

I been going out and about in my utility kilts for quite some time now. My wife and I go on walks, I go to the store and post office and over the last couple years we have driven down to Phoenix going to malls, oriental food stores, stopping at gas stations and convenience stores along the way, all the time whilst wearing my kilt and being really comfortable in the process. No sitting on my wallet, no bunching up of my down-yonder equipment, and just enjoying the freedom and comfort that a kilt affords, especially when the temperatures were up to 118 degrees this last weekend in Phoenix. Nearly all of the comments I get are positive; one lady who came to my wife's birthday party just up and told me she really, really thinks it is good for me to wear my kilt.

But for all the positives, the one thing that puts a bit of damper on it all is that in all those travels, goings about, to Phoenix and Flagstaff and other places in the last year, I have never seen another guy wearing a kilt (Phoenix highland games doesn't count). Not one. Several years ago I saw someone in Costco wearing one, and also at an Angry Crab restaurant. But basically speaking, I feel like I am the only one. Why don't more men wear them? I also have shoulder length hair, but at least you see some other guys with pony tails here and there, so I don't feel like an oddball in that way. At the mall down there I saw a jillion and one guys wearing cargo shorts of every description, but not a single kilt. You'd think in that kind of climate, SOMEONE would have gone the kilt route. I kept my eyes open; all I saw were cargo shorts. I love wearing kilts, but not too crazy being the only brown tribble in a football field full of white ones. Anyone else had this experience?

[GrainReaper]

You won't see me in a kilt in Arizona! three years ago I moved back to Chicagoland suburbs after 15 years out there, I was often kilted out and about the Phoenix metropolitan area. D-backs games, Coyotes games, Scottsdale fashion square mall, chandler mall, etc.

Now I prowl the burbs out here in my kilts, aside from kilt nights, I've only ever seen one other guy in a kilt, it was an older gent (late 70s I'd guess) in a rather nice utility kilt out for a stroll with his wife through old town Algonquin.

[Jock Scot]

You don't see many kilts in the Highlands of Scotland either! This year, thus far, it seems as though the kilt is even more scarce than usual.

[BKPowell]

Aye, seeing another lad in a kilt is rare but be assured, we are out there. Here in Northern Utah (Ogden, Utah, area) where the temps have reached the 90s, I have seen 2 other lads wearing kilts (one UK, one McDonald) in the last 3 days while I have been kilted. We are few and far between but hopefully our numbers are growing. As the saying goes, "Keep Calm and Carry On".
---
Hello, All,
I needed to update this post. One of the lads posted here that those wearing shorts may be watching those of us who do wear kilts in public and may have an interest in trading in those shorts for a kilt. Well, last Saturday, while wearing a brown Utility Kilt, my wife and I were out to dinner with my two older boys. Upon leaving the cafe, a young fellow shouted to me as he and his wife were getting out of their car in the parking lot. He remarked how fine and grand my kilt looked and wanted to know if I wore it all the time and wanted to know where he could get such a kilt. I told him that I do enjoy wearing the kilt and my wife said I had a number of them (about 10 at last count) that I do wear out and about. I also told him that he could order them off the internet and the names of vendors to search for, including the ones that are listed on this site, as well as at the local Scottish Festivals. When he said that the cost of a kilt may stop him from ordering, I indicated that the pricing was reasonable and, besides, a kilt was worth the cost since they wear so well, both in summer (cool) and winter (warm). As he entered the cafe with his wife he said he would check it out.
Therefore, that being said, when we are out and about, going to the store, the movies, having a bite to eat or anything else, we are being watched by the lads (and the ladies) and, in time, the kilt will be acceptable, because those who have the courage will think that if that older fellow can wear a kilt, then so can they.

From the Highlands of Northern (and Southern) Utah, Carry On.

BKPowell

[Tarheel]

Norm, I still see this issue is a math problem. I try to pay attention to the area our folks are from and the comments they give are often related to the climate and social dynamics they encounter.

I am often the only kilted character in a county of 34,000 permanent residents and 25,000 college students. One county over, member Roadkill has family members in kilts but more residents in his area. Sometimes, there can only be one (as I've heard from other members that love the movie Highlander).

[Geoff Withnell]

All those guys you are seeing in cargo shorts are also seeing you. Many of them are thinking "That looks a lot more comfortable than these shorts." One or two of those may buy a kilt and find out. I think kilts are never going to be "mainstream", but my hope is that they will become frequent enough to be a known, accepted alternative garment. The more that the public sees kilties out and about, the more normal and acceptable they will seem. Keep on trucking!

[uncle remus]

I live in Tucson. Often I am the only one kilted when I go out. Today we were at Costco and I was waiting to be checked out a woman with her husband was behind me and I could here them whispering about my kilt. perfect opportunity to convert another to wearing them. we had a pleasant conversation where I answered their questions to the best of my ability and pointed them to this site. hopefully there is a new convert, you need to keep the faith we are out there and growing.

[azwildcat96]

I live in Tucson.

There are a few of us in the Old Pueblo. ;)

[tundramanq]

It will be 6 years of being pants-less every day in September for me.
One nice thing is that you meet many interesting people that you wouldn't normally get to chat with if you blended in with the crowd. Kilts attract the more interesting, open and adventurous people to you.
Even if I average seeing another kilt outside the expected places about twice a year in Albuquerque, I too seem to be the only 365 kiltie in town.

Many don't wear kilts daily because maintaining them is a daunting thing for a newbie. I bought or made the equipment to handle this with the least amount of time and labor.

With this last Scottish Wildcat tartan kilt that Kathy Lare made for me out of the second run of the tartan, my count is up to 90 kilts - half tartan and half utility. A variety that ensures that I never get tired of a particular kilt and makes it unlikely that I will be seen in the same kilt twice. I do occasionally get asked about the details of many of the tartan kilts I wear, so there are quite a few people at least aware that there is story behind the plaids.

[joek]

Other than St. Patrick's Day, Ren Faire, Irish Fest and the nearby Highland games you rarely see them around Pittsburgh either. Wherever I've worn them out and about I'm usually the only one in a kilt. Kilts are so cool I do not understand why those who know of them do not wear them more often. There is a time when your comfort should mean more to you than another's opinion. It's also amazing that as busy as kiltmakers are you do not see more kilted guys around.