Ever feel like it's just too much effort...

[Blu (Ontario)]

.... Don't get me wrong, I like to wear my kilt, but it does take more effort and planning, I think, to wear it. Many times I just find it easier to not wear it....

Everyones situation will be a bit different. Like you, there have been times when I just wasn't in the mood to expend the effort. I think it's important to stress that the decision to wear a kilt, or not wear one, must remain yours alone.

A couple of suggestions to rekindle some interest...

1. Pick one day a week -Sunday perhaps- as kilt day, and wear it come what may.

2. Save some sheckles and order another kilt... that always seems to generate some new interest.

blu

[CameronTaylor]

I can feature what you mean, I'd love to have a sportkilt laying around to throw on to kick around in (and I'll probably go down there one of these days and pick one up - they were nice the last time and the cut me a sweet deal).
Unfortunately I sold my only SK to a friend and Fortunately you guys are a good influence on me and bewteen Freedom, RKilts, SWK, and hopefully someday Pittsburgh I have so many places to throw my hard-earned money and kilts, I NEED more kilts !

CT - I gotta go take off the work jeans now.

[michael steinrok]

I have never felt that way! For me, every minute; every hour it takes to dress, to prepare to dress and to care/bother at the end of the day is well worth while. I don't begrudge any of the time spent on presenting my best image to that great wide world out there.

By dressing well, carefully and with thought I am paying respect to everyone who sees me.

Oh too bloody right Hamish! Jolly good show

Slainte

[Andrew Breecher]

I only wear kilt hose when I'm dressing up, or it's cold out. Otherwise I wear low socks and trainers (running shoes). I don't own anything that doesn't go with a kilt. If I'm wearing my Ramsay Blue tartan kilt I don't wear my blue jacket (they match almost perfectly, and it feels like I'm wearing a uniform), but otherwise I don't really think about what I'm wearing.

The three buckles on my traditional kilt are really just as easy to fasten as the Velcro on my Bear kilts. The snaps on my Utilikilts are pretty easy to work out. I wear a belt in either case, and the only difference then is a sporran, which is easy to clip in place.

In fact, it's so much easier to change kilts halfway through the day than it would be for trousers, because I don't have to take off my shoes!. I often change kilts, since I'll wear one kilt during the day, then change into my work kilt (I work at a restaurant in the evenings most days). So much easier to change kilts than it would be to change trousers!

Andrew.

[sav]

I don't begrudge any of the time spent on presenting my best image to that great wide world out there.

By dressing well, carefully and with thought I am paying respect to everyone who sees me.

Ham,
Once again, you've very astutely summed up my opinion before I posted it! ;) Well said, chap!

[A Dhuglas]

I hear you Brian and have shared the thought. If I haven't pre-planned the evening before it does take more time to get ready.

I also agree with other posts that point out that it's a matter of wardrobing and adjusting to the change. I just started to rearrange dresser drawers etc to ease access to my kilt kit and make it reflect my usual morning routine. That's helping quite a bit. I think adding some contemporary kilts -- i.e. all tan/khaki, navy, black -- would make it even easier in the long run. And my buying is now bent toward what works with my kilt(s). I think the new age speak would call this perspective change a "paradigm shift."

All changes seem to take more time at the beginning. College required Navy uniforms - first month seemed to take forever to get dressed but repetition bred speed. Same with suits and ties when I hit the 'real world'. And now kilts.

I find much of the additional time is dedicated to making sure it all looks "right." That too will become second nature. Part of that is respect for others as Ham notes. The greater part for me is respecting kilted dress since it's part of my heritage. I give it the care and attention I believe it warrants.

And I still get through my morning routine far faster than my wife ever will :-D

[GlassMan]

Even when I wore pants I always dressed up (slacks, nice shirt, dress shoes) so I guess not much has changed for me when I wear kilts.

The only time I had it easy for a choice of clothing was when I was in the fire department and I just put on a clean uniform.

[furrycelt]

This is exactly why I want either a Bear Kilt or a UtiliKilt. Something that I can treat like a pair of jeans and not think about footware, or colors, or hanging neatly, or getting dirty. I want a kilt that I can treat just like a pair of jeans.

My tank by itself isn't hard too put on, just 3 buckles and the belt... and then the sporran which I have to weave the chain thru the belt's sporran-chain-loops, and make sure everything is settled and squre... Yeah, even the modern tank is more work than jeans. And my other kilts are historical repro's, 2 of which are great kilts. It is quite a routine to put those on.

Dang, I really want another kilt now that I am thinking more about it!!... I just can't decide. I can't afford to by a Bear Kilt and a UtiliKilt at the same time. Both are quite different. I can't decide which I want first.

All that aside Brian, I am of the opinion that you don't always have to worry about coordinating shirts and socks and all everytime you wear a kilt. I have worn my tank with no socks, sandals, and a t-shirt.

-ian

[starbkjrus]

I too feel this way sometimes. I'm getting a little better about it but since I can't wear my kilts to work to wear a kilt to happy hour or even the grocery on a week night first I"d have to go home and change and then go back out. Too much trouble for me so I end up wearing a kilt mostly when we are going out for the evening or some sort of "special" event.

We are going on our yearly "escape the cold" cruise next month and plan on being kilted most of the trip (unlike some I don't swim in a kilt :grin: ) . Maybe that experience will make it a little more "automatic" to get dressed in a kilt outfit rather than just tossing on jeans or shorts.

[MacMullen]

Sometimes the kilt takes less time and trouble than putting on trousers. The other day my daughter missed the school bus, so I had to get up, get dressed, and go as fast as I could to drive her to school. I threw on the kilt and a sweatshirt, pulled on a pair of my black casual hose, slipped on my shoes, and I was out the door.

If I'm doing anything where I'll be seen, then it takes a bit longer, but, it's a pleasure to get dressed properly.