I was asked an interetsing question yesterday

**Yaish** · 24th April 06, 07:35 PM

Yeah, pants are definately a costume for me. I feel odd in pants, like I am wearing someone elses clothes.

I've had people make that same comment to me too, that I look more at home in a kilt (posted a thread about it a few weeks back in fact).

Wearing pants is like listening to a Yanni CD or drinking tea with a pinky held out. If I ever do it, its part of an act, not the real me.

**McRod** · 24th April 06, 07:47 PM

I began wearing my Kilt full time from the age of 19,with a gap of about 15 years.[it wore out as i only had the one]Since January of this year i have been fully Kilted again.[in that gap i had two traditional kilts made] As to how it makes me feel, the only way i can describe it is that it is right way to dress for me,any other way and i don't feel comfortable.

**NewKilt** · 24th April 06, 07:55 PM

I had a female physical therapist tell me a few months back that I looked like a man born to wear the kilt. That's how I feel. Certainly there is the history, the tradition, the ancestral ties (although that is certainly not a requirement), but I simply feel better dressed, more confident, and more at peace with myself.

Can a garment of clothing do all that? Seems to in my case . . . and probably so for many others.

Darrell

**Robin** · 24th April 06, 08:02 PM

Derek...I can't explain it either...before I started to wear kilts I mindlessly put on my trousers, just to wear "something".
Now I strap my kilt on and it's completely different....pretty useless to describe the feeling...we all share it I guess.

Feels good though!

**GlassMan** · 24th April 06, 08:55 PM

When I started wearing a kilt it felt so comfortable and so natural, and it looked so absolutely suited to me that I couldn't imagine wearing pants again. Now I don't even own any!!!

I'm asked the question, "why?" rather frequently and I'm starting to reply "why not?"

I just can't explain all the wonderful feeling of comfort, history, empowerment, and more that a kilt gives me. Putting one on seems like the most natural thing to do. I can't imagine ever switching back to pants for anything.

**Phil Wright** · 26th April 06, 08:11 AM

Originally Posted by Robin

Now I strap my kilt on and it's completely different....pretty useless to describe the feeling...we all share it I guess.

Feels good though!

The problem is that is sometimes really difficult to explain that feeling to someone that has never put on a kilt before, and doesn't understand. Most of my acquaintances seem happy to accept wearing a kilt as some sort of eccentricity rather than 'cos it feels 'right' and no amount of persuading will get them to try it (publicly maybe).
Phil

**bangkok kilt** · 26th April 06, 08:24 AM

Great thread. Made me think of some interesting things about why 'we' wear kilts and why people react certain ways.

I've only just started wearing a kilt (about a month ago) and haven't really worn it out much (can't wear it to work). I wear mine so much because it just feels right. It's not the comfort so much, as has already been stated. It just feels right. Plus it looks dern sexy too!

Originally Posted by Phil Wright

The problem is that is sometimes really difficult to explain that feeling to someone that has never put on a kilt before, and doesn't understand. Most of my acquaintances seem happy to accept wearing a kilt as some sort of eccentricity rather than 'cos it feels 'right' and no amount of persuading will get them to try it (publicly maybe).
Phil

This made me think of Cannery Row by John Steinbeck. The character Doc talks about how he finds it easier to just lie. People don't like the truth, they like to be lied to. He recounts a story of walking across the south and people treated him badly when he told them what he was doing it because he wanted to. Then he started telling people it was on a bet, and they loved him and treated him well. If you've read the book this of course is where Doc orders a beer milkshake because he wants to, and tells the waitress it's because the doctor ordered him to and she of course her demeanor changes immediately.

I guess the same is going to be true of wearing the kilt. If you say you just want to wear one people find you odd. If you give them another reason, even if it is contrived they are more likely to be ok with that. I guess the real question is how do you want to be seen, because we all know why we wear them, we just want to.