Kilt Discussion Panel

[David Dalglish]

I think that a lot of men do own kilts, but only wear them for special ocassions, due to the cost. Most men in Scotland like to buy the best kilt they can afford & will not use them on a day to day basis on the chance they will be ruined. The cheap kilts you buy on E-bay are used only for football or Rugby matches, It is not everyone that can afford to buy a selection of kilts

[Scottish Chi]

Panache and Blu seemed to have covered all the bases. I would place cost, insecurity of ones own sexuality (particularly in the US), and lack of popularity as my top guesses.

About six years ago while attending the Games in Antigonish my wife strongly encouraged me to buy a kilt. When we checked the cost it immediately put the brakes on that idea. It wasn't until five years later that I found a relatively inexpensive kilt in my family tartan that I made the leap. Even then it was not part of the budget plan. Now, two more inexpensive kilts later, I'm finally getting a 16 oz 8 yd. kilt made although it's still difficult to make such a large purchase.

Cheers! Bill

[mbhandy]

I would say cost was my big factor but once I got my first Kilt I then started looking about and found this forum and more inexpensive Kilts and got the bug. I had been looking for a Kilt since I was in the Air Force back in the 60's.
5 Kilts later and making More.

MrBill

[RockyR]

I agree with most of what's been said. What I'm adding isn't different, but it's not been specifically mentioned...

1. Fear of "being different" and along with that... being made fun of. Most people I meet are heavily influenced by peer pressure. Think about it... how many times do you hear this EXACT comment from a stranger:

"Man, I wish I had the b@lls to wear that" or "you've got more guts than ME"

2. Cost. Yes, the cost has come down DRASTICALLY since the making of casual kilts in non wool fabric. Yes, you can get a kilt for $75 (or a decent one for $100 or so) now instead of $500, but it's STILL not a pair of $20 jeans.

No matter what anyone says, I don't think there will be any "real looking" kilts in the "under $40 retail price range". There's simply too much fabric and labor involved. The only way that would EVER happen is after YEARS (20+) of kilts being mainstream and even then they would probably end up looking more like skirts than kilts.

[timber]

1. Fear of "being different" and along with that... being made fun of. Most people I meet are heavily influenced by peer pressure. Think about it... how many times do you hear this EXACT comment from a stranger:

"Man, I wish I had the b@lls to wear that" or "you've got more guts than ME"

I hear this sort of thing from friends and coworkers all the time. I keep telling them that most people don't care what you are wearing, and those that do are very positive. The only times I have been made fun of were at family get togethers. Family being what it is, I expect that sort of thing from them and laugh along.

[Colin]

Really good thread, guys. I have enjoyed this read very much. I would love to add something, but Blu really nailed it for me.

[Chris Webb]

Great posts!

Speaking only for myself I think I had to develop a really solid sense of personal confidence before I started wearing kilts. All the reasons mentioned for not wearing kilts most certainly applied to me.

Before kilts become mainstream I think that 'man' kind will have to address the issue of declining personal confidence. We are just fancy animals, mammals to be exact.

Every time I approach my dad's dog he comes up to me with his tail between his legs ... for reasons unknown he just lacks the confidence to come up to me, head high and tail wagging.

A dogs tail is like a man's trousers ... in a difficult world with increasing tensions more and more men, fancy mammals all of them, are inclined to cover themselves with trousers, just like a frightened dog covers his genitals with his tail.

Kilts are awesome. Kilts make sense in an anatomical way. Kilts, when worn, shout confidence. So to increase the number of men wearing kilts, to get them into mainstream society, it will be necessary not so much to eliminate the reasons they are not worn, but to increase the one single reason they are ever worn ... personal confidence.

Of course, I really could be wrong. I only know that it was personal confidence that finally got me past all the doubts and detractors.

Kilt On.

Chris Webb