Not exactly a poll, but a question-How often are you the only one kilted?

[MinusHD]

Do you go to gatherings in your kilt where you are the only one?
I got my first kilt in April of 2014. I have been the only one kilted every time I've worn a kilt, with the exception of the Texas Scottish Festival & Highland Games.

How do you decide when to wear your kilt?
When I feel like I might want to wear a kilt I use a little discernment to determine if there is any reason why I should not wear a kilt. Of course, my reasons may be different than anyone else s here at XMTS.

Do you wear the kilt for daily casual wear?
I do not wear it on a daily basis, but I have done typical daily types of activities while kilted (supermarket, shopping, dining) . I'm also in a kilt quite frequently around the house and on walks around the neighborhood... even in the near freezing temps we've been experiencing in North Texas.

Do you wear the kilt for work?
No. Generally speaking, it would not be seen as appropriate business attire at my company. However, after I ran a 5K race (in my SportKilt) I ran into our Chief Financial Officer at an Irish pub (for the Gaelic Football Championship) who said it would be OK for a casual day. My boss got word of my kilted outing and said she would allow it on occasion. I have yet to push that boundary yet. Perhaps for St. Patrick's Day and National Tartan Day to get started.

Do you wear the kilt for "social occasions" (i.e, out drinking, to parties, etc)?
Yes, I've worn my kilt several times to performances with my band, and to go out for drinks, etc. I would say I do this regularly, but not all the time. I've not worn my kilt to a party hosted by someone else yet. I feel it would come across as "attention seeking", so I'll ease into that as people become more accustomed to me wearing the kilt. If I was specifically asked to wear my kilt I would strongly consider it, and discern what is most appropriate for me based on the situation.

Do you wear the kilt to events- weddings, balls, the opera, the ballet, shows?
No. I do not currently own any evening/formal highland accessories, and I'm not sure I'll be going that direction with my wardrobe. That being said, I have worn my kilt to a non-Celtic festival/concert in a more casual setting, which would be "normal" for me.

Do you wear the kilt to funerals?
Fortunately, I have not had to attend a funeral since I acquired mt first kilt, but I don't believe I would. I'm a fairly conservative person, a native Texan, and don't have strong genealogical ties to Scottish or Celtic heritage. Additionally, kilts are extremely uncommon in North Texas outside of renn faires and and Celtic themed festivals. While I do enjoy wearing the kilt, I don't think it would be appropriate to me to do so while honoring the life a loved one or close friend. If I were specifically asked to wear the kilt to a funeral I would consider the request, but would likely opt to dress in the appropriate type of "regular" attire.

[Nik]

wear the kilt for daily casual wear, yes
wear the kilt for work, no
wear the kilt for "social occasions" (i.e, out drinking, to parties, etc), yes
wear the kilt to events- weddings, balls, the opera, the ballet, shows, no, mostly due to me not having a full formal outfit
wear the kilt to funerals, see response above

I left my answer above. I have worn my kilt to a few more formal function in my church, one being Sunday service. But really it's more casual for me.... until my wardrobe grows a bit.

-Nik

[crash]

I recently joined the local scotch club and except for the two pipers that always attend I am usually the only one kilted. Even at our Burns night meeting there were only two others. I think if I keep coming out kilted the others may break out their kilts more often. We'll see.

[Mike_Oettle]

For the past year or so I have been trousered, and have not liked it one bit. My kilts will be heading back to their maker before the end of the month to have their straps sewn on (they need machine stitching) and I will be back in business.
For about two years I wore the kilt every day – to the shops, to work, to church (Sunday worship and funerals), you name it.
Unfortunately my wife and daughter object to kilt-wearing for reasons best known to themselves, and from time to time I have been banned from wearing a kilt. It really irks.
This year I plan to get two new kilts – but I haven’t told the wife yet!
Regards,
Mike

[Angela Kaye Bodine]

MacLowlife, not sure if my input counts but I wear my kilts very often.. Funerals yes ( 3 sadly ) every Friday/sat /Sunday I wear them I wear them to church, meeting up with friends, movies, dinners, fancy restaurants, bdays parties, Celtic or Scottish fairs type things etc .. Work no, because I'm a house wife, but I WOULD and if I get a job in future I WILL . But iI think its easier for woman because its like wearing a skirt.. The only time I don't wear a kilt on weekends if we go to mud bogs or amusement parks ( then I go through kilt withdrawal lol ) don't want to get them dirty..I wear mine often and will continue.. My goal is 15 kilts and have 7 now by April 9 & by the end of summer 10 possibly 11... I have a plan on them being my wardrobe.. plus later get more every so often .. but not much.. But like I said before I think its EASIER for women to wear kilts.. I think it shouldn't be, I think men look terrific in them and should be able to wear them to work if they choose too instead of trousers/pants or where ever. It should be a choice kilts look just as great but better than pants..Maybe one day it will be a choice as long as you keep it nice and business like it shouldn't matter.. just my thought....Angie

[New World Czech]

Yes, I do wear the kilt for casual wear, but not on a daily basis.
I do not, and can not wear the kilt for work. As a surveyor and construction inspector it just wouldn't be practical.
Yes, I do wear the kilt for "social occasions" (i.e, out drinking, to parties, etc). I wear it out to our local pub on occasion, or out to supper, or when my wife and I are out on the town. I've work the kilt hiking, and at Walt Disney World as well.
I have worn the kilt to events such as balls or galas, but never have worn the kilt to a wedding or a funeral.
Outside of highland games I'm the only one kilted 95% of the time. There are a couple of guys with kilts in town, but they rarely wear them, and a couple of guys I know who have Utili-Kilt style kilts and while one wears his pretty regularly, the other doesn't.

This is my experience also. I have worn my kilts to work (civil engineering firm) but usually when I know there is no chance I will be called out to the field.
While I have not worn a kilt to a wedding, I would with permission. My daughter only allowed my kilt at the reception. My good friend DryFly was allowed because he was not walking her down the aisle.
I would only wear a kilt to a funeral if there was a kilt connection with the deceased.
Edit: I do wear my kilts regularly to church. I started by wearing to events not related to Sunday service, then transitioned to Sunday services. I dress in Argyll to shirt sleeves and no tie. I sing in the choir so I am under a robe most Sunday services. When I perform in small groups I wear whatever the group wishes. If I sing solo (not part of the choir) I am kilted.
So in conclusion the only time outside of Scottish themed events that I am not the only kilted gent is when DryFly and I are together.

[NYClark]

I'm new to kits so this discussion is helping me to think about when and where to wear my one kilt. So far I've only worn it to the casual Burns Night where I was the only one kilted. Not even the pipe band wore kilts.
I originally wanted a kilt for running, I thought it would be a nice alternative to shorts and could celebrate my heritage. Then I quickly added enough bits and bobs to make passable attire for casual wear and I don't want to wash my kilt every other day or so. Now I'm looking for justifications to wear a kilt in public in addition to Burns Night. St. Paddy's day. Renaissance Festival (Sterling NY). And I'll be wearing the kilt when I take my wife to the Knucklehead Brewery in Webster. She'll drink the beer; I'm on the water wagon.
I do go kilted about the house some evenings for comfort. (I don't own sweat pants)

[MacLowlife]

Thanks to all for the many replies so far. I find it useful to know that, despite varying levels of addiction, all but a very few of the self-selected loyalists who have posted replies spend the majority of their time NOT wearing kilts. And when we are kilted, we are frequently the only one kilted in the room. What lessons can we draw from this? I am not sure. Perhaps we are like the people who frequent other discussion boards, say music or mechanical forum sites. Few if any guitar players are actually playing ALL of the time, and even the most dedicated tinkerer closes his eyes for a little rest now and then. Most of us spend more time THINKING or talking about kilts than wearing them, but unlike the musicians and mechanics, at least we can wear kilts while we are reading and posting.

[RCAnderson]

I am a little different than most in that I look at wearing the kilt differently than others do. I stopped wearing the kilt when I was 9 years old because I moved to a new school in St. Louis Missouri and I was the only kid wearing a kilt. I was constantly teased, harassed, and picked on over it. I swore I would never wear a kilt again.

Fast forward almost 40 years later and all of that has changed. Just over a year ago I almost died from a massive heart attack which triggered sudden cardiac arrest. In the months that followed I began to rethink several things in my life, the denial of my Scottish heritage being one of them. I decided that I was no longer going to care what anyone else thought about what I chose to wear.

So, several months ago I bought a kilt and started wearing it, and I haven't looked back. I wear the kilt everywhere, everyday. I have not worn pants in months now, and I have even boxed up all my pants and shorts and packed them away to give me more closet space for my kilt collection.

I served 17 years in the Marine Corps and fought overseas in several campaigns so that I and everyone else in this country would have the right and freedom to honor our heritage and to wear the kilt if we so choose to. I do not ask myself if I shouldn't wear a kilt to any occasion. I see the kilt as any other clothing. I always wear it appropriately depending on the formality of the situation, but I never even consider not wearing it anymore. The way I see it if someone doesn't like me wearing a kilt, then thats their problem not mine.

From what I have found, outside of celtic events and such, I am the only person on this island of over 1 Million people that wears a kilt, so yes, I am quite frequently the only person wearing one.

[Angela Kaye Bodine]

RCAnderson, I think what you wrote was just excellent ! Good for you... Thank you for being in the Marines for 17 yrs ... Angie :-)