To Kilt or not to Kilt - That is the question

**Bikehonda600** · 15th August 16, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by Roadkill

Tarheel and I both live in Mississippi so I understand where you are coming from. I am the chairperson for a kilted Brain tumor fundraising event and have to go to different places in North Mississippi kilted to promote it. It is interesting the reactions you get. Most ladies love it. Some guys (idiots) will make comments, but its just because they don't get it. Just be confident and wear your kilt with pride. When I'm asked what I have under the kilt, I reply "lipstick". That usually shuts them down.

Funny.....

**Bikehonda600** · 15th August 16, 06:18 PM

Originally Posted by Taskr

There is a lot in the OP, but I zeroed in on this one: "Third, I live in NC and while the ignorant people has been using media to really misconstrue things, I would like to know, if there is any a time, where wearing a kilt would make you the center of attention."

Only if you want to. Anyone can become the center of attention in anything they wear, from the mundane to outlandish. It is more about the person than what they wear. And that guy in the bunny suit in the airport gets pretty lame after a while if he doesn't have the personality that would make him the center of attention. If you don't want to be the center of attention then don't be; kilt or pants you can still walk, act, talk, eat, sit, listen, and go to the bathroom. Depends on how you want to go about it. It clothes. Period.

While I see the point made, I have to disagree with "it clothes". If I knew people in the airport would have kilts, that's different. But me, the only one, I think, that does stand out.

**Bikehonda600** · 15th August 16, 06:22 PM

Thanks all for taking time, writing, and sharing thoughts.

I took my kilt to be dry cleaned and pleats pressed.

Gotta look sharp.

;)

Right now, planning to wear it.

**Coinneach** · 18th August 16, 06:16 AM

I've worn a utilikilt to Home Depot and I've worn a wool kilt traveling from coast to coast. Besides the TSA who wanted to know if I could take it off because of the buckles (I told him we really don't want to do that), the only comment I've had in an airport was in Atlanta when a guy walked up and said, 'well, that's something you don't see everyday' and then he just walked away. Honestly, it's not really been an issue in Georgia. After all, there have been Scots all up and down the east coast.

You'll be fine! Have fun.

**Stoff** · 18th August 16, 06:55 AM

HI gang, I am a kilt wearing North Carolinian living in coastal NC (the Morehead City area) and I hve never had any problems while wearing the kilt. In fact I usually get only favorable comments.
Stoff

**Kiltboy** · 20th August 16, 04:22 AM

Don't worry about it. Just wear it. If you have doubts, then don't. Traveling through NC for me and a kilt was nothing different than usual. Nothing bad, and the usual stares from some. (Although I was the center of attention while touring Biltmore. The tour guides had to stop and talk with the guy in the kilt. I swear I met every person working that day. Even saw a few rooms not on the standard tour. Nice time.) Airports are a non-event anymore. TSA knowledge has improved over the past 5 years. Wear it with pride and confidence.

**Grae** · 20th August 16, 06:33 AM

"We have nothing to fear, but fear itself

I thought this qoute was from the US President FDR not the British PM. Think the NewDeal not WW2.

If you want to wear the kilt in an airport you must do so with practical pupose ,that is dress for travel , just the kilt is substiuted fot trousers

**Father Bill** · 20th August 16, 08:43 AM

Quick search on Duck Duck Go came up with this:

Franklin D Roosevelt at his first inaugural speech. "The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself!" Speaking of the depression and the prospect of turning the U.S. economy around.

Actually Francis Bacon said it about 400 years ago in his essay on Tribute. He was talking about fortune and change of fortune and how a man with fortitude will not be shaken. Whereas a person who is fearful will suffer much by these changes. He referred to fear as the inner enemy and said "Nothing is to be feared but fear itself. Nothing grievous but to yield to grief" FDR probably learned this in grammar school

In all reality you are both correct. While Francis Bacon did say this quote, so did Franklin D. Roosevelt. While the quote was quoted from Francis Bacon by Franklin Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt did say it in his inaugural speech so technically, both of you are correct!

I guess we could look around for a long time.

**Steve Ashton** · 20th August 16, 02:47 PM

I have a rather odd response to "I would like to know, if there is any a time, where wearing a kilt would make you the center of attention."

You see, I wear the kilt to blend in.

I am an older, white haired, white, N. American male. I am a member of the most mistrusted demographic in the world. On the street no one says hi to me never less makes eye contact. I cannot approach a women anywhere in public who is not my spouse. If I see a small child obviously lost and crying in the center of the mall, I cannot approach and try to comfort that child.

Yet, when I walk down the street in a kilt I can smile and say hi to anyone. And Wow, 90% will say hi back. Most will smile when they do so.
It took me a long time to be able to step outside my shell. I am shy by nature, a loner, and have had my share of unpleasant experiences. In pants.

In a kilt I have not only had the opportunity to meet some amazing people but been able to speak to, and get to know some of them.

I have known some people who - if they are not the center of attention the moment they walk into a room simply by the way they are dressed -will make themselves the center of attention by how they act. Sadly some of these wear the kilt (and in some ways over-the-top) to garner that attention.

I wear the kilt because I don't want to be seen as many of my fellow "Old guys" are. The simple fact of not dressing in jeans, t-shirt, ball cap and runners seems to allow be to be seen for who I am, and not being branded on site as just another stereotypical male.

When I was just getting ready to go to High School my father gave me some advice. He told me "When you try to fit in by dressing just like everyone else you will be painted with the same broad brush. Never dress in such a way as to draw attention to yourself but find that one small thing that sets you apart from the herd."

That is a very fine line to walk.

**Tarheel** · 20th August 16, 03:16 PM

Grae, thank you for the clarification. You are correct. Father Bill thank you for the expanded history and (as always) bringing together rather than pointing out differences.

I still admire Winston Churchill even if he didn't present these words. I've been wrong many times and am still willing to learn and be corrected.

Back to our regularly scheduled program.