Your first kilt wearing experience

[cessna152towser]

The decision to wear a kilt.
Was made by my boss who expected me to wear a kilt to events which we were hosting. I should explain that I worked for Councillors (Selectmen) in a tourist area of Scotland.
Choice of kilt.
Black Watch.
The occasion.
First occasion was a 1990 charity event on the English Border where we sold Scottish Passports which gave discount entry to swimming pools and leisure centres, with the proceeds going to good causes.
Your experience.
Started out with a cheap kilt from a thrift shop. Found it comfortable so donated it back to thrift shop and ordered bespoke kilt.
The response.
Very positive.
Kilt wearing since then.
Wore kilt once or twice per month from then on until eight years ago when a leg injury forced me to become a full-time kilt wearer for a month or two, since then I wear a kilt most days.

[John_Carrick]

The decision to wear a kilt.
ALWAYS FANCIED ONE AS A LAD HAVING OCCASIONALLY SEEN THEM WORN AND ALSO ON TV IN DR WHO BY THE CHARACTER JAMIE. NOT A COMMON PREFERENCE IN HERTFORDSHIRE AND MY MOTHER QUICKLY CHANGED THE SUBJECT WHEN I ASKED IF I COULD HAVE ONE. SCROLL FORWARD 15 YEARS- JOB, MONEY, WENT TO EDINBURGH AND BOUGHT ONE.
Choice of kilt. MODERN GORDON (SHOP HAD ONE MADE UP AND IT WAS MY TARTAN (SO I WAS ADVISED)
The occasion. WALKING ROUND EDINBURGH IN FEBRUARY
Your experience. EXTREME COLD, SARTORIAL SATISFACTION
The response. TOURISTS ASKED TO PHOTOGRAPH ME, SCOTS SAID THINGS LIKE "NICE KILT", "WELL DONE" ETC.
Kilt wearing since then. ONE KILT WAS ENOUGH FOR 21 YEARS, NOW EIGHT ( THREE VARIANTS OF GORDON, OTHERS APPROPRIATED) DOES NOT SEEM TO BE SUSTAINABLE
John

[kilted scholar]

First occasion: around 1959, but I can't recall details as I was young and it was no big deal.
Since then: I suppose an average of about 50 times a year (once a week), with the exception of when I was in the USA when it was infrequent (Highland games, Christmas, birthdays and family occasions, and visits to the UK and Scotland), while in recent years it's about 200 times per annum.

[MacSpadger]

The decision to wear a kilt. Forced on me in Ferryhill North Church, Aberdeen, 1964.
Choice of kilt. Gordon No.3
The occasion. Some well-meaning idea that Sunday School bairns should wear Gordon Highlanders kilts as the church was affiliated with the regiment.
Your experience. I was only 4 years old that the time and I can't really remember feeling much different. I had already seen plenty kilts by then as all the males on the mother's side went into the Gordons, as they had been doing for over 100 years.
The response. A load of excited young boys dressed up like soldiers, the envitable happened, a fight broke out. Surprised myself by giving a good account against the Grant twins, who I had previously feared.
Kilt wearing since then. Yes, indubitably.

[dea3369]

The decision to wear a kilt. Celtic Festival Dayton Ohio. I have always been fascinated by kilts. Here was my chance and excuse to wear one and not feel too out of place.

Choice of kilt. Black Utilikilt. Can't remember the model name at the moment.

The occasion. Just because I wanted to wear one to the festival.

Your experience. Very positive. Not a lot of comments because there were tons of others wearing kilts. But at least nobody jeered.

The response. Almost one of indifference.

Kilt wearing since then. Maybe once or twice a week around town. Have made a handful of kilts since then. Bought my first tartan kilt when I completed Boy Scout Wood Badge course.

[CMcG]

Please comment on:

The decision to wear a kilt.
Choice of kilt.
The occasion.
Your experience.
The response.
Kilt wearing since then.

My father played in the Edmonton Boys Pipe Band and still had his hair sporran. As a child, I was always fascinated with it and decided that I wanted to embrace the kilt as a form of cultural or heritage attire. My family has been in Canada for several generations, but, as with many people in this officially multicultural nation, I still identify as hyphenated Canadian. And the kilt is a damn fine looking piece of clothing

The first kilt I wore was borrowed from one of my father's colleagues. It was a tank in the Ogilvy tartan; he also lent me matching Argyle hose, red flashes, and a dark tweed jacket. I added my dad's old horsehair sporran, a white shirt, and a bowtie.

My first kilted experience was junior high school graduation and the second was high school graduation (with different borrowed kilt).

These experiences were great because I received a lot of positive attention and approval from classmates, teachers, and parents. The outfits, however, were a bit of a dog's breakfast... nonetheless, I felt like the bee's knees! This was before the internet age and I was going with bits and scraps of advice or my own limited experience. The advantage to this was that nobody knew if I was getting it right or not

I didn't wear the kilt again until a few years ago. My buddy was getting married and asked me to be the only kilted man in the wedding party. I started doing some internet research and discovered that there are many more options for Highland attire (in a variety of price ranges) than there used to be, so I decided to start putting together my own kit. Now I wear the kilt to Scottish, Irish, or Celtic events, as well as to some special events like Christmas, birthdays, etc. I also wear a Sportkilt or Utilikilt around the house almost everyday

[Darren Smith]

The decision to wear a kilt. I was talked into it by a brother Mason and I also wanted to embrace my Scottish heritage a little further.

Choice of kilt. An X-Marks from Freedom Kilts.

The occasion. At a pub for dinner and drinks after marching in the Nanaimo Empire days parade ( not kilted during parade ).

Your experience. I was nervous at first and a little uncomfortable, but that slowly changed as the evening wore on.

The response. I was teased by my fellow parade members but in a good natured way. It was to be expected as this is just the nature of social interaction between co-workers in our business. Also as I was returning to my hotel room a couple of ladies asked to have a picture taken with me at which point I discovered there are kilt groupies out there.

Kilt wearing since then. A half dozen times or so. Out to lunch, running errands, a poker tournament ( which I won for the first time Kilts are lucky ).

[JTA]

The decision to wear a kilt. I had been thinking about wearing a kilt for some time but couldn't justify the expense for something that I thought I would wear so seldom. Recently became interested again and did some research. I found that there were inexpensive kilts and also learned that kilts could be worn as everyday attire rather than just to Highland Games and the like.

Choice of kilt. Gordon Comfy Kilt by SportKilt (The Black Watch was sold out).

The occasion. The farewell party for the Hospital Commander. The invite said "very casual" and the theme was Margaritaville.

Your experience. I was a little nervous at first but quickly calmed down. I was quite comfortable in it.

The response. Overall it was very good. It was a social gathering where I already knew most of the people and got along with them very well. Some of my friends knew about the kilt beforehand and had encourage me to wear it that evening. I had several favorable comments. I learned that one of my friends was born in Edinburgh, Scotland when his father was stationed there with the Air Force. The Hospital Commander came up and said that he had thought he would have the best outfit for the night (Hawaiian Shirt with lei) until he saw me come in. I was surprised, though, when he took it upon himself to do a kilt check on me. Fortunately I was not a "True Scot".

Kilt wearing since then. That was only two days ago. Since the Comfy Kilt is not designed for wearing out in public I have ordered two additional kilts, both from SportKilts. One is the Irisher and the other is the Big Blue. They should be here by the end of next week. I also ordered my first Sporran. I even started a blog about wearing Kilts full-time with the plan to chronicle my Scottish heritage and my adventures wearing a kilt. Eventually I plan to get a tailored kilt but I want to lose some weight before spending that much money. My wife thinks I'm going through a bit of a mid-life crisis but she has been very supportive and thinks that kilts look nice.

[kiltimabar]

Decision to wear a kilt: I knew I had Scottish heritage on my mother's side, and I loved bagpipe music, so I had been going to several Highland games before it dawned on me that I didn't need to be in a pipe band to wear a kilt to the games. It seemed like it would be a lot more fun to join in with the crowd and dress the part. Wearing the kilt seemed more like being a participant, rather than a spectator in the whole affair, so I got measured up. When the kilt arrived, my first reaction to the tartan (Maclean of Duart Modern) was "Wow! That is sure a bright red!"

Choice of kilt: Being that my mother/maternal gf were Macleans my choice of clan was obvious. Later I got a kilt in the green Hunting Maclean, which I really love. Later I got a cheap Black Watch so I wouldn't get my good tanks messed up. This kind of thinking led me into getting a couple Utilikilts. Participation with the Scottish-American Military Society made a US Navy kilt necessary. The hot summer Games encouraged me to get a Sportkilt and a USA casual--and so it goes.

Occasion: The next games at Pleasanton, CA.

My experience: This is for me! Why didn't I get into this sooner!

The response: One curious response really puzzled me--I mentioned to a vendor that it was the first time I had worn a kilt and she said "It must be fun to wear!" I thought, what is she thinking? Here's a girl who has worn a skirt, maybe not all the time, but surely a good part of it all her life--does she not know what it's like? Maybe she's never gone commando--does she think I am--what would be the difference between a kilt and a skirt? Never have figured that one out.

Kilt wearing since then: I have participated in more events in which a kilt is worn, such as parades with SAMS, Burns dinners, and various kilted activities with the NorCal Rabble. I also find other occasions to take advantage of the comfort the kilt affords.

[Mike_Oettle]

Don’t be too quick to assume the worst, kiltimabar. The vendor’s remark “It must be fun to wear” could easily have been entirely innocent.
People make all sorts of remarks on seeing a kilt, and not all of them are carefully thought out. Some are made with mischievous (or worse) intent, but (in my experience) most are complimentary or at least neutral.
My own recent experiences included two responses from little girls.
One came up to me admiringly and embraced my thighs (quite unexpected, but clearly well intended).
The other looked and me and said: “What are you?” When I responded: “A man,” she wanted to know: “Then why are you weawing a dwess?”
She clearly had not heard of kilts, as she accepted my reply: “It’s called a kilt, and it’s what men wear in Scotland.”
Regards,
Mike