Anyone's spouse/significant other vehemently opposed to you kilting?

[AFS1970]

My wife has grown less happy with my kilt as time has gone on. She was OK with my getting married in it, and OK attending Burns suppers with me. She was fine when I bought her a hostess skirt in my tartan and she wore that for years. However she seems to have a problem with my just wearing it to wear it, even if I am going to an event where others will be wearing kilts. She even asked me why I had to wear it to the Tartan Day Parade, and was confused when I said that I did not HAVE to wear it anywhere.

I think this goes back to an unintentional peacock moment when we were engaged, that began to sour her to the kilt. She was very big into ren faires at the time and had a friend make her a relatively fancy dress for walking around a festival in. She convinced me to try and dress up for the ren faire. When I said I didn't have anything, she said to just wear my kilt. So I grabbed the kilt, a pair of moccasin boots (never worn with the kilt before) a colonial shirt (somewhat similar to the oft maligned kilt shirts but not quite), and my full mask skunk sporran. At the last minute I grabbed a walking stick my mother had brought me from her trip to Scotland. To my way of thinking I looked horrible, wearing stuff cobbled together from my closet while she looked quite good in her dress. Then IT happened. We were approached by a member of the faire staff about joining in their costume parade because they liked what they saw. My wife graciously accepted and thanked the staff for the invitation to which they replied, Oh no, not you, him, we were only inviting him to be in the parade. Of course I declined in order to save the engagement and because I could not fathom how this look could have been better than anyone Else's at the faire. Over the years my wife has grown to hate that story and I can only tell it here because she doesn't read these forums. Oddly enough it has also helped me put all ren faire costuming into perspective.

[CDNSushi]

We were approached by a member of the faire staff about joining in their costume parade because they liked what they saw. My wife graciously accepted and thanked the staff for the invitation to which they replied, Oh no, not you, him, we were only inviting him to be in the parade.

Wow! What incredible social ineptitude to say such a thing... What a shame if that's what started to sour your wife's opinion... The rudeness of a couple of ren faire staff...

[ForresterModern]

And I hate to break it to you, but the boundaries of the geographical area called Flanders have changed throughout history and either encompass or have encompassed parts of modern-day Belgium, France, and the Netherlands (Holland).

But neither of our comments are at all relevant to the discussion, so I apologize for the side-track.

Thank you Cygnus, you beat me to it. Not only has the geographical area of Flanders itself varied through the years, those who claimed it to be part of their "throne" have varied as well, including the Dutch and French predominantly. As a matter of fact, my surname namesake was the first "Forrester", Richard Forrester (Ricardus Forrestarius) was the brother in law to William the Conqueror (by Richard's sister Maude) and one of his first lieutenants during the 1066 Norman Conquest invasion, after which Richard was granted great lands from Stirling through Lothian to Berwick and points south (Bambrough Castle), which is how our name reached the Scottish lowlands and subsequently became Scottish and northern English (Northumberland mostly).

But I digress. Sorry for the second thread jack.

jeff

[ForresterModern]

I don't currently have an SO, and haven't since I started kilting, so I can't really say it's ever been an issue.

FM (and Wife), I've worn my kilt quite often around Louisville (in particular when piping for the last several annual St Patrick's Day parades - the Saturday before the Day) and have yet to be accosted by anyone - male or female - even then. The most I've gotten is a smile and 'Nice kilt!'. No one (to my knowledge or recollection) has ever tried to kilt-check me in the 9 years I've been kilting.

Granted, I'm seldom kilting alone (usually at least one other band member around), and I rarely venture out in my personal kilt. Say, didn't you mention in my happy thread that we in Louisville are overdue for a kilt night?

I unfortunately have been asked the question in my wife's presence on numerous occasions usually by teenage or early twenty something giggly girls, and on one occasion actually had a young woman (lady would be too good of a word for her) actually kilt check me in passing in a busy public place (luckily no Wife around) after which I sternly scolded her and threatened a complaint of sexual assault, inquiring how she might respond if I were to try to lift her skirt in a public place without permission. Came within a gnat's whisker of purposely dumping a full glass of beer on her head for trying it, but thought better of it as I did not desire to waist good beer on bad manners.

Yes we are due for a kilt night and I will be working on it---the date you gave me at last discussion was a significant conflict for me, unfortunately. Will be in touch as my schedule opens up again. Apologies for not having fulfilled my offer yet. But soon. Promise.


jeff

[piperdbh]

...I sternly scolded her and threatened a complaint of sexual assault, inquiring how she might respond if I were to try to lift her skirt in a public place without permission.

You could x-ray her.

[Burly Brute]

Check out one of the social groups listed as "my significant other hates kilts-support group" for other views from their members on this subject.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/g...support-group/

[tky58]

I must admit I have forgotten how I decided to start wearing a kilt. But having been married about 20 year by that point I knew enough to discuss it with her first. She was not only fine with likes the way I look kilted. ("Chicks dig men in kilts!")

I do not wear my kilt at work, I don't think half my patients would understand. I have gently reminded the few (older folks) who complained, that it was a kilt at a Celtic Festival and they have slowly accepted it. The directors at the hospital, not so much.

Last Christmas I got the oddest kilt reception. My wife recently converted to Judiasm. So we followed their tradition of going out to Chineese food for Christmas Dinner. I went in my Leatherneck Kilt and Wooly Pully sweater. The rabbi was beside herself with joy! There is a rabbi in Scotland who has "copywrighted" a Jewish tartan. My wife has bought her kippa (yamulke) and wants her prayer scarf in that pattern. Our rabbi has asked me when I am going to get a kilt in that tartan. (He has to start making them first.)

It turns out the Scots were very welcoming to Jews in the early 20th century and were one of the few places where they were not perscuted. But lets keep it to the tartan and my wife, not forgetting there are rules about discussing religion (so apologies to anyone offended.)

Dorothy has raised an eyebrow to the amount I have bought, ("Just why do you need another sporran?") but has never complained as I use money I have saved up myself, or asked for it as presents. I am currently looking for a used tweed jacket in 48in. and thinking about a Douglas Kilt (her family) or a SK Gridiron (for the Boston Bruins).

Semper Fi
Steven Wilson

Proud (kilted) husband of the wonderful Dorothy!

[Teufel Hunden]

Mine loves it. She would prefer I wear a kilt more often, actually.

[LitTrog]

If you look at my earlier post, you can see that my wife wore my USAK casual last weekend. (Yeah, I know. I'm not the world's biggest fella!) Now she wants her own. If she gets one, then I get to buy myself number 4!

[BuchananBiker]

My wife was a highland dancer back in the day. The only issue she had was when I was going out to pipe a gig one night and as I was walking out in my highland finery she reached under my kilt and took hold of my... "complete attention" and stated, "Scotland is free, you are not! Put on some underpants." That was about the extent of my kilt wearing troubles.

Ha ha ha ha, snort, ha ha!
Your wife is awesome. That's the funniest thing I've read in days.