Conversations with Strangers

[Big Homestead]

I haven't seen the same sort of reaction to people with purple hair, facial tattoos, or hand-made buckskin hippie clothes.

I'm laughin out loud, man! Because its true!

[davedove]

I have found that you certainly can't be shy when wearing a kilt, because LOTS of folks want to talk with you.

[rollerboy_1979]

I haven't worn my kilt in public enough to be able to add to this conversation, but I'm finding the reactions of my female co-workers to be very interesting. They all remember how great I looked when I rented the formal Prince Charlie ensemble last Halloween. I've been telling them how nice my new Gordon tartan looks, and they are all anticipating seeing it. As I was relaying the buying experience and my first public appearance, etc., I began to think how foreign this all is to them. In a brief moment of self-depracating humor, I said "I guess I'm a little weird" because it sounded so non-conformist. One of them immediately chimed in, "Yes..........but in a good way!". Okay, so it's hard for them to imagine why a non-Scot would want to wear a kilt, but they're conflicted because it looks so good on me (they like my legs), so I guess that makes me "good weird". I have not initiated this conversation with the guys because I don't think they'd feel comfortable discussing it, but I'm certainly not going to avoid the topic if asked directly. There is no doubt that wearing a kilt sets you apart, but no different than the "urban cowboys", caucasion "hip hoppers", or asian "Goths". It makes life interesting, doesn't it?

[James MacMillan]

I haven't worn my kilt in public enough to be able to add to this conversation, but I'm finding the reactions of my female co-workers to be very interesting. They all remember how great I looked when I rented the formal Prince Charlie ensemble last Halloween. I've been telling them how nice my new Gordon tartan looks, and they are all anticipating seeing it. As I was relaying the buying experience and my first public appearance, etc., I began to think how foreign this all is to them. In a brief moment of self-depracating humor, I said "I guess I'm a little weird" because it sounded so non-conformist. One of them immediately chimed in, "Yes..........but in a good way!". Okay, so it's hard for them to imagine why a non-Scot would want to wear a kilt, but they're conflicted because it looks so good on me (they like my legs), so I guess that makes me "good weird". I have not initiated this conversation with the guys because I don't think they'd feel comfortable discussing it, but I'm certainly not going to avoid the topic if asked directly. There is no doubt that wearing a kilt sets you apart, but no different than the "urban cowboys", caucasion "hip hoppers", or asian "Goths". It makes life interesting, doesn't it?

I really have some mixed feelings here. I do not consider the kilt as appropriate for halloween! I do not consider it a costume!

I would not go to a halloween party in my old MUG attire, so why would I consider going in kilt now? I am going to a costumed halloween party in October, and currently plan on going as some sort of roman centurian thing.... still not in those hated cloth tubes!

[ChromeScholar]

I'll wear my kilt for Halloween (at the library), but I'll wear my ref faire gear, rather than how I would normally wear it, sort of a dry run for the renfest in February.

[davedove]

I'll wear my kilt for Halloween (at the library), but I'll wear my ref faire gear, rather than how I would normally wear it, sort of a dry run for the renfest in February.

Yeah, I wouldn't wear a kilt outfit unless it was something like renn faire garb, or something historical. Wearing a Prince Charlie ensemble is like wearing a tuxedo for Halloween.

Now, I could also see wearing a kilt outfit incombination with something else, like maybe a gorilla suit or something, just to make it different.

[ChromeScholar]

Now there's a thought...

I wonder who I can borrow a gorilla suit from?

[Perldog007]

I was in Wal Mart (forgive me) as I needed new tires early in the a.m. After dropping the ride of for new shoes this dog wandered over to McDonalds for a coffee.

A young lady, pretty and very full figured came up and while staring at my FK asks "Is this authentic?". My reply was just to smile in her direction.

She then added "I mean are you Scottish?". Ahhh, the R U licensed question... Well, well now. "I am descended from two identifiable clans, tell me young lady, are you from Bermuda?".

"No, I'm not" came the confused reply. "In that case" I replied "I am going to have to insist that you take those Bermuda shorts off immediately". She blushed and said "Another time" and walked away giggling with her friends.

I too have noticed that when you are "out of uniform" that folks seem to take that as a license to initiate conversation, get rude, or even challenge you to see if you should really be wearing those clothes.

Strange. Very strange beings these mortals.

[Ayin McFye]

Its to the point I would definately suggest single men wear kilts to meet women.

I tell this to my single friends all the time. I let them know that unknown self esteem comes when you wear a kilt, and it's a great icebreaker for conversation. If 10 men are at a place, and they all look relatively the same, and then there's 1 guy in a kilt. Odds are that the 1 guy in a kilt is going to have much more attention than the other 10.

[rollerboy_1979]

Believe me, I don't consider a Prince Charlie a "costume" either, in fact, I plan to wear it regularly to the opera, and dress it down for other occasions. I chose Halloween because it is the only way I could wear such a thing at work. I guess I was testing the waters to get public reaction to this magnificent garment. The reaction was so overwhelmingly positive, I made the decision to buy one (now two) of my own. I'm glad I wore it on Halloween and I want to assure you that it was authentic in every detail.