Am I losing my love affair with kilts?!

[Kilted Archer]

I've been going kilted now for probably over three years. I have four UKs that I wear in rotation everyday. I do have a handsewn (by me) traditional tartan kilt but no longer wear it because it's from the days when I was a 32" waist versus the the 35" I am now. I also have a SWK Black Watch - whatever his really basic one is. I don't really like the SWK that I got but I guess I can't really expect much from an $80 kilt so I've only worn it a couple times. My job requires that I wear a uniform so I don't wear the kilt at work. However, I do wear the kilt to work (we have locker rooms) and change into my uniform and at the end of the day I change back into the kilt. So, I do wear a kilt everyday, just not all day everyday, except for days off. And, living in Chicago I've even worn a kilt on the coldest days, albeit with long johns sometimes. So, that's the back story, here's what's bothering me. I've participated in some activities in the last couple years where I've seen that my wearing a kilt is actually proved to be a hindrance. Kayaking was the first time I realized that my kilt is not the best thing to be wearing. So, now I know to wear shorts when I go kayaking. Another thing is tramping around in thick brush in the woods. I'm a outdoorsman of sorts so I like to get off the trail and into the thick of things occasionally to get a good look at something or take some pictures or whatever. I've found that the kilt allows egress of unwanted critters (things like ticks) that I would be less likely to experience wearing shorts or pants. Finally a couple more things. I'm probably going to make some kind of lateral career move out of zookeeping and into a conservation organization in the next year or so. Wearing a kilt every day is unlikely to be acceptable attire for a position regularly dealing with the public, volunteers, etc. I'm thinking I'd be better off trying to interact with people in this capacity were I not potentially adding the distraction of wearing a kilt. I also suspect most places I'd look to for employment would expect a traditional mode of dress. And lastly, I'm a pretty thick-skinned guy but I do get pretty tired of feeling like I'm on display every day of the year simply because I'm wearing a kilt. I know a lot of that has to do with the kilt still not being very mainstream at all and I also live in an area with a lot of narrow-minded people who think it's funny to be rude and obnoxious. It just gets really tiring and I'm beyond using witty comebacks and what not, it's just not worth it to acknowledge some idiot's comments. So, I'm finding now that I'm just not as enamored of the kilted lifestyle as I was a few years ago, and I have more difficulty justifying wearing the kilt in situations where I know pants/shorts would be much more acceptable either from a social standpoint or a practical standpoint. I'll continue to wear kilts, probably as long as I live because they can be so much more comfortable than bifurcated garments. However, I'm coming to the realization that maybe the garment of choice of my ancestors simply isn't the best choice for every occasion. Anybody else struggle with these issues?

[sharpdressedscot]

Yes, I think everyone of us has faced this issues. You simply deal with them and get on with it.

[Finn]

Hi,

I go through that about once a year for various reasons. The kilt isn't appropriate for every situation (motorcycling comes to mind), but it is a garment that I CHOOSE to wear when I want. I can't wear them at work, but I have a life that allows me to wear one for almost anything else I do.
I get stares and comments (90% positive). I'm kinda known locally for being the kilted guy.
Last year we went to visit my mom in an Indiana Chicago 'burb. I was kilted one day and it felt really weird as I had never been kilted at "home" before.
Usually the feeling passes as soon as I strap one on a feel the lack of the crotch seams. That small sensation seems to make it all worthwhile. It brings to mind all of the "pro's" of wearing kilts.
Maybe take a break for a few days/weeks. See how you feel then.

[Spc. Scott]

I feel that Finn hit the nail on the head with this:

Maybe take a break for a few days/weeks. See how you feel then.

Best of luck to you.

[Cynthia]

I don't wear anything like the kilt, so I'm unable to help you with that specifically. It honestly just sounds like you're re-evaluating your needs, not necessarily getting sick of it.

There are just some things that wearing a kilt isn't the best idea for. Sometimes dealing with the comments gets old.

I may not wear the kilt, but I have something else that's a bit out of the ordinary... my hair is just starting to reach past my knees. I rarely wear it down. I don't want to get tangled up in my hair or step on it, etc. It can be a hazard. So I put it up in a bun. Does this mean I'm sick of my long hair? No, it simply means that I had to figure out what I needed to do with it and decide what worked best for me. Even if my hair were shorter, I would still be pulling it back and out of the way. Sometimes I do get tired of this and wish I could have mid-back length hair that's layered so I can style it, but then I'd wish I had my length back and get tired of styling it anyway. Some people don't understand why I would have long hair if I never wear it down. Well, I do... I simply wear it down when I feel like it or if my husband would like to see it a little more often. It's there to enjoy it when I feel like it.

As far as comments, yeah... I even hear them too. For example, I'm sick of being asked if I'm donating my hair. Most gals and guys with long hair have heard it before and it gets old having to explain why I won't be donating (aside from the most important reason: I simply do not want to). I've even had some pretty nasty remarks and reactions to my hair, but considering the person who was saying/doing the negative crud I'm guessing they're an incredibly unhappy person to start with and would find something else about me they didn't like. I have had far more positive reactions to my hair (even people practically begging me to NEVER cut it). I don't do this to get that attention, but I do appreciate the compliments. I simply have long hair because I've almost always had long hair and I like it.

So no, I don't think you're necessarily sick of the kilt... you just have other interests and routines that don't fit well with it at times. They'll be there when you're ready for them. Comments (both good and bad) can get a little old after awhile, especially when you've been doing something for long enough. Just enjoy them when you're ready for them and when the time is right to wear them.

[Galician]

There might be a dynamic here which Zookeeper is not expressing. Since he lives in Chicago, I am assuming that he is in a similar urban environment to another resident there who posts here (Argonian?).

One price of being "different" in an area where the population has no connection, direct or otherwise, with kilts is that they seem REALLY wierd to people. Some of the people in these urban neighborhoods like to express their disapproval of difference by harassment, which can be physical. It is a fact of life I feel in mine.

If this is anything like what Z.K. feels, the cost of difference is a high one, and I understand his questioning whether it's worth the hassle. But, once you recognize the situation, you just take your chances and move on.

[Kilted Archer]

Thanks for all the replies so far. I think I'm just coming to the realization that as much as I enjoy the comfort of being kilted, it's just not the best way to go in some situations. I think what was bothering me was that I'd become so enamored of the idea of being kilted 24/7 - 365 (well, maybe not 24/7) that it was coming as somewhat of a shock to realize that being kilted just doesn't always work best for some situations/outings. When I first got up the courage to go kilted all the time I felt like I was living the slogans - "Down with trouser tyranny!" "Freedom (from bifurcated garments)!" "Look at me, I'm kilted, I'm different, I'm Scottish!" Yeah, I do get far more favorable comments, mostly from the ladies than I get derisive comments, but the derisive comments and stares and double-takes just get really old. Of course we all have to realize wearing kilts just about anywhere other than Scotland is going to seem strange to most folks. Some people appreciate it and others simply never learned from their mom and dad to keep their mouths shut if they didn't have anything nice to say. Actually I think I'm pretty well fine with the whole thing now that I've had a chance to air it out and commiserate with fellow kilt wearers. I'll continue to wear my kilts when appropriate and otherwise I'll bow to functionality when it rears it's ugly head and go bifurcated when necessary. I guess I should try to remind myself that my Brittonic Celt ancestors wore pants long before they wore kilts. In fact the Celts invented and wore pants when most of the rest of the European cultures at the time were still wearing tunics and other unbifurcated garments of one sort or another.

[Pleater]

Perhaps what you need is a new kilt - something smart, that fits and is really the business. Maybe with a new jacket or a shirt that is just the right colour to set off the tartan?

Your old kilts are maybe looking a bit tired?

Perhaps you just need to take things up a notch, make kilting once more a bit special for yourself.

In situations where you need more protection then try shorts under the kilt. If you then get to where the kilt is no longer an advantage, you slip it off, pack it into a protective tube and go for it.

Cycling shorts, or longs, gortex or other high tech materials, garments intended for sailing or swimming can work well - and after adventuring resume your kilt and it is quite quick and easy to clean up and look smart.

I would not usually wear my shorts uncovered - I no longer have the figure for that, but I find the combination of shorts and kilt will get me most places I want to go.

[beloitpiper]

Honestly, I think it may be your choice of kilts. You're wearing a lot of Utilikilts which are easily mistaken for skirts, and the tartan kilt you have is low quality. I think if you purchased a nice tartan tank, that spark would reignite.

[Jack Daw]

Variety is the spice of life. I cannot wear the kilt for work. I choose to wear the kilt for special occasions to keep it that way - special. This figures into about twice a month. I like looking forward to wearing the kilt as opposed to the hum-drum every day garment.