Who DOESN'T like wearing the kilt?

[auld argonian]

This just occurred to me while I was straightening up the closet...

Many, if not most of us, when we talk about how we got started wearing kilts say something like, "...I was curious...I tried it and I instantly knew that it was a good thing and I dove right in" or, "...I wore one standing up for a wedding and it felt so good that I turned around and bought one."

Okay...have you ever known anyone who tried it and DIDN'T like it.

We get so many postings from forum members who are saying, "...I don't know why...I have no Scots in my ancestry but I really dig the kilt and it's comfortable and the chicks dig it...." and so on...but I never hear about anybody who tried wearing the kilt and had a negative opinion about it. Maybe somebody who wore one as part of a wedding party who said, "...eh...so-so...not bad, not good...I can take it or leave it." but have any of you ever dealt with someone who really had a negative opinion after they tried wearing the kilt?

Best

AA

[HeathBar]

I've seen pipers at highland games who come to the event in their street clothes, put on the kilt for their performance or competition and as soon as its over, put their street clothes back on. Its odd how someone who has put years of work and practice into playing the pipes at competition levels, has not grown to enjoy the kilt for at least one whole day. I see this happen more with bands than individual competitors. And it goes with both pipers and drummers.

[Sir William]

I've seen pipers at highland games who come to the event in their street clothes, put on the kilt for their performance or competition and as soon as its over, put their street clothes back on. Its odd how someone who has put years of work and practice into playing the pipes at competition levels, has not grown to enjoy the kilt for at least one whole day. I see this happen more with bands than individual competitors. And it goes with both pipers and drummers.

I saw this at the Alexandria Christmas Walk two weeks ago. Most of the pipers and drummers arrived in street clothes, shifted into a kilt, marched, and then shifted back into street clothes.

I know that some feel "uncomfortable" wearing a kilt - in that they don't like to be stand out or be different - but I find that reasoning difficult to defend when they are at a Scottish function. But then I like wearing a kilt and I don't really mind what others think about it.

[wildrover]

Yeah...any member of a pipe band .

Tho come to think of it, my Dad doesn't wear his kilt much...I guess it has a really high rise, four or five inches, and he doesn't really dig it. I wouldn't either. Trying to convince him to send it out for an alteration. Is that even possible?

[auld argonian]

I guess that I cut the pipers a little slack because they have to keep their kit neat since it's part of how they're judged in competitions. After a while the expense and trouble must get to be a big pain and I can see how they want to minimize it by changing...but how many Xmarksers have that "knockaround" kilt for just such occasions?

And I'm sure that your dad can get the alteration done...it sounds like one of those deals where they want to work from the top down rather than the bottom up, though. Maybe he should just try to find someone that he can work out a trade with? Maybe a taller guy with the same waist size?

Best

AA

[OC Richard]

I've seen pipers at highland games who come to the event in their street clothes, put on the kilt for their performance or competition and as soon as its over, put their street clothes back on.

That seems to be the usual attitude towards Highland dress among people in the Pipe Band scene. Whenever they're not actually competing they take off all or part of their uniform, so you'll see people with their kilts on but their ghillies traded for trainers/tennis shoes and their "hose" shoved down around their ankles, or with their hose and ghillies intact but with shorts replacing the kilt, or with shorts and trainers but the band's dress shirt and necktie still in place etc etc.

The guy who runs the pipe band I play in thought that having band members running around the Games looking like that was bad for the band's image, so he made it a rule that we must arrive at competitions in full uniform, and wear the full uniform the entire day. The only exception is wearing baseball caps instead of the band Glengarries. You'll note that few Pipe Band people wear their Glengarries except when actually performing, and that most Pipe Bands have baseball caps with band logos that members wear the rest of the day. One of the last things that any band's Pipe Major has to tell the band as they march "up to the line" to compete is "hats!" , a reminder for everyone to put on their Glengarries.

Pipe Band people almost universally dislike wearing their uniform unless actually performing, and especially don't like riding in cars in their kilts. (At a performance you can usually tell if someone has worn their kilt on the drive to the event.)

[McFarkus]

I think many pipers see it as a costume to wear for performances, not as a garment to wear on any sort of regular basis.

[Jock Scot]

These days, more often than not, if I am just popping into town I shun the kilt as I am sick, sorry and tired of posing for photographs. I have got that I feel like a performing seal, or some such. |Its a pity really, that so many visitors expect to see kilts being worn everywhere, so when some poor devil turns out wearing the kilt he gets no peace. Mind you, perhaps this is an age thing and my patience has worn a bit thin over the years.

[Redshank]

These days, more often than not, if I am just popping into town I shun the kilt as I am sick, sorry and tired of posing for photographs. I have got that I feel like a performing seal, or some such. |Its a pity really, that so many visitors expect to see kilts being worn everywhere, so when some poor devil turns out wearing the kilt he gets no peace. Mind you, perhaps this is an age thing and my patience has worn a bit thin over the years.

C R A B B I T

[ixoyedeg]

I must admit that I do not understand the position most here have posited that it is more comfortable than a pair of those four letter word garments. I have not found them to be so. I have the kilt, I don't like having it just sit in the closet, so I wear it from time to time. However, I usually have to wear some bifurcated garment under them to keep from chaffing, they are difficult to sit down or just lounge in, and I have to be constantly aware of whether I am sitting in an appropriate manner. I like the look when I wear it, my wife loves the look when I wear it, but I am much more comfortable when wearing a loose fitting pair of ****s.