Any suggestions for wearing a kilt in public for the first time?

[tpa]

It can take you a lot closer to nature, and of course if you go to France, it will always be men who ask what is underneath.

I spent 10 days in France last year and nobody asked "the question". I only got 2 comments, one a compliment from an english female and the other from my host, who said he had always fancied a kilt, but felt the expense was not justified for the use it would get.

As for getting close to nature, that very much depends on the height of the undergrowth you are walking through and what you are or are not wearing underneath.

[estimaa]

As for getting close to nature, that very much depends on the height of the undergrowth you are walking through and what you are or are not wearing underneath.

I can't remember seeing much undergrowth when it's -25C and there's 3ft snow drifts everywhere...

[cajunrph]

I can't remember seeing much undergrowth when it's -25C and there's 3ft snow drifts everywhere...

There was probably shrinkage. Haha.

Good advice here for the novelist kilters among us. I haven't seen any around here. The RenFest has many. It's coming up in October.

[Alan H]

estimaa wrote: ".....The fact is,- the kilt is still (rightly or wrongly) considered to be a sexual statement. ..."

Huh?

Not sure I understand this.

[estimaa]

estimaa wrote: ".....The fact is,- the kilt is still (rightly or wrongly) considered to be a sexual statement*. ..."
Huh?
Not sure I understand this.

Sigh!

Here goes:-

You most certainly WILL understand this, if you regularly travel in France (where you can be easily fined for not wearing a shirt in public).
I find this incredible & totally hypocritical, in what was one of the most avant garde countries in Europe.

DUH! It's just clothes!
It's got nothing to do with "cross dressing".

What goes on in other people's minds, you can't see and you can't change them.
(my words - "rightly or wrongly*") very much apply.

How they interpret your "liberty" to dress in one of the most beautiful, colourful garments in Europe, is often interpreted as sexually and socially provocative.
Even more so, if as an artist you have a personal culture of beauty and hygiene.

You will understand you are doing something extremely provocative if you sport a kilt in public in Russia today or even in some parts of ex USSR-Eastern Europe.
People have been arrested in Moscow for this.

I would say you have an even strong chance of being arrested in Minsk, but I don't have a visa for that country.

In winter DRAB, dark, miserable mono-colour, poor temperature controlled, group think culture is the norm.

You are seen as an exuberant, ANTI-conformist, in a country (countries) which is/are undergoing a radical backward transformation to a fully authoritarian state, -

(You can do 2 years prison for writing something as simple as disagreement with the annexation of a certain peninsula on the internet, or sing a song in a church...)

In one case, one local supermarket caissier (in EE) said, "you can't come here dressed like that, you will upset people".
This was by no means an isolated case, in a country divided on ethnic lines by language.

My reply runs (in Russian)"You as a country are in the EU, free to travel and to wear whatever you like.

You have no right to tell me what to do.
Go travel exactly 2500kms to the left on the world map at the same latitude, and you will see people (in Scotland), regularly walking around the streets like that".

Just saying.

[Alan H]

Sigh!

Here goes:-

You most certainly WILL understand this, if you regularly travel in France (where you can be easily fined for not wearing a shirt in public).
I find this incredible & totally hypocritical, in what was one of the most avant garde countries in Europe.

DUH! It's just clothes!
It's got nothing to do with "cross dressing".

What goes on in other people's minds, you can't see and you can't change them.
(my words - "rightly or wrongly*") very much apply.

How they interpret your "liberty" to dress in one of the most beautiful, colourful garments in Europe, is often interpreted as sexually and socially provocative.
Even more so, if as an artist you have a personal culture of beauty and hygiene.

You will understand you are doing something extremely provocative if you sport a kilt in public in Russia today or even in some parts of ex USSR-Eastern Europe.
People have been arrested in Moscow for this.

I would say you have an even strong chance of being arrested in Minsk, but I don't have a visa for that country.

In winter DRAB, dark, miserable mono-colour, poor temperature controlled, group think culture is the norm.

You are seen as an exuberant, ANTI-conformist, in a country (countries) which is/are undergoing a radical backward transformation to a fully authoritarian state, -

(You can do 2 years prison for writing something as simple as disagreement with the annexation of a certain peninsula on the internet, or sing a song in a church...)

In one case, one local supermarket caissier (in EE) said, "you can't come here dressed like that, you will upset people".
This was by no means an isolated case, in a country divided on ethnic lines by language.

My reply runs (in Russian)"You as a country are in the EU, free to travel and to wear whatever you like.

You have no right to tell me what to do.
Go travel exactly 2500kms to the left on the world map at the same latitude, and you will see people (in Scotland), regularly walking around the streets like that".

Just saying.

Hmmm...well, having never travelled in Russia at all, I'll have to take your word for it.

Having never travelled in France at all,but knowing people who wear kilts in France, I have to say that I'm not so sure. There are XMTS forum members who are French. In fact, I purchased one of my very best kilts from Lady Chrystel - she and her husband Robert live in France and regularly post photographs of themselves in tartan clothing in France and they have not, yet mentioned any issues that I'm aware of.

Your experience may be different from theirs.

[Alan H]

As in all things, there's an element of common sense involved.

To extrapolate....it's all the rage to post inspirational meme's on the internet containing statements along the lines of "true freedom comes when you learn to not care what other people think of you."

Well, there's an element of truth to that. At the same time, if you take it too far, it's also a ridiculous lie because if you really don't care at all what people think of you, then why not murder, rape, steal and so on, if it pleases you? Or, if you opt to not go full-on criminal....why not just be a complete jerk..rude, over-the-top and in everybody's face all the time, if that's what pleases you. After all, "true freedom comes when you learn to not care what other people think of you."

Much the same philosophy works here.

Wear a kilt if you want to. If you spend your life worrying about what people might think about you based on the cloth that's belted to your waist, then IMHO, y'all worry WAY too much. You're not hurting anybody, nor are you breaking any laws by wearing a kilt. If you want to wear one, wear it.

On the other hand, you don't have to plant your fist in the face of everybody who rolls their eyes as you walk by, either.

[Taskr]

estimaa wrote: ".....The fact is,- the kilt is still (rightly or wrongly) considered to be a sexual statement. ..."

Huh?

Not sure I understand this.

There is a blog from Outlander cast member that raises this very point. I won't place the link due to one photo embedded in it that might not be considered appropriate to all audiences. (consider the kilt, by Dresbach)

[cajunrph]

Back on track before we get any other shots across the bow by the good Padre. For the western world it boils down to being comfortable with your dress. For example in motorcycling. There's a damn near perfect riding suit made by Aerostich. It's a one piece suit designed to go over your work clothes which you take off at your final destination. It works like a charm. Allows for riding in extreme weather conditions. The problem is that you look like the toxic adveger in the suit. The early adopters were older BMW riders who didn't care how they looked. I ride on a Harley and the suit doesn't fit the expected style of the bike. It's a great garment. Allows for extreme riding conditions. From rain to snow. And you arrive at the destination as though you took a car. It's just out of the norm for a Harley rider and some are uncomfortable dealing with the real or imagined reactions they get. Same with a Kilt. Some are uncomfortable with what they assume the reaction to a Kilt will be. The prevailing advice is to just do it. For some that's easier said than done.

[Jimmy the Celt]

Some are uncomfortable with what they assume the reaction to a Kilt will be. The prevailing advice is to just do it. For some that's easier said than done.

I very much agree. The first time I sported a kilt in public I was a bit wary, but I figured that if I stood tall and walked proudly I would become instantly comfortable with it. And do you know what? I was. I have had nothing but positive reactions and frequently get comments. That, to my mind, is the only downside to wearing the kilt: it draws attention, and unless you like that sort of thing, you may have to learn to deal with that aspect of Highland dress. I don't relish attention, but I have adapted to it and met some great folks as a result.

I really believe that if you act as if you are completely comfortable in the kilt, you soon will be. Confidence is the key!