Am I losing my love affair with kilts?!

**JRB** · 10th June 08, 11:28 AM

I find the kilt to be a great part of my attire. That is to say, I wear a kilt occasionally and wear pants or shorts most of the time. I love wearing a kilt but definitely feel that, for me, there is a time and a place for it. Over the years I've come to wear my kilts more often. Still, I don't ever plan to become a full time kiltie. Do what makes you comfortable and happy. For some that means wearing a kilt every day. For the rest of us that means wearing a kilt when it suits our fancy. If wearing a kilt at any given time makes you stress then don't wear it. There are too many other things on which to focus concern.

**Galician** · 10th June 08, 11:36 AM

There might be a dynamic here which Zookeeper is not expressing. Since he lives in Chicago, I am assuming that he is in a similar urban environment to another resident there who posts here (Argonian?).

One price of being "different" in an area where the population has no connection, direct or otherwise, with kilts is that they seem REALLY wierd to people. Some of the people in these urban neighborhoods like to express their disapproval of difference by harassment, which can be physical. It is a fact of life I feel in mine.

If this is anything like what Z.K. feels, the cost of difference is a high one, and I understand his questioning whether it's worth the hassle. But, once you recognize the situation, you just take your chances and move on.

**Pleater** · 10th June 08, 11:38 AM

Perhaps what you need is a new kilt - something smart, that fits and is really the business. Maybe with a new jacket or a shirt that is just the right colour to set off the tartan?

Your old kilts are maybe looking a bit tired?

Perhaps you just need to take things up a notch, make kilting once more a bit special for yourself.

In situations where you need more protection then try shorts under the kilt. If you then get to where the kilt is no longer an advantage, you slip it off, pack it into a protective tube and go for it.

Cycling shorts, or longs, gortex or other high tech materials, garments intended for sailing or swimming can work well - and after adventuring resume your kilt and it is quite quick and easy to clean up and look smart.

I would not usually wear my shorts uncovered - I no longer have the figure for that, but I find the combination of shorts and kilt will get me most places I want to go.

**Makeitstop** · 10th June 08, 11:44 AM

I don't think this is really that big of a problem. You are jut being reasonable. Call me a heretic if you must, but the kilt is not the best garment for every situation.

If the physical comfort does not outweigh the psychological discomfort, maybe you'd be better off wearing pant in certain situations. I have been full time kilted (not including the job hunt, which requires pants) for months, but when I see my grandparents, I wear pants. OK so it's not a perfect example, as I would wear the kilt despite their disapproval, were it not for the fact that they make my mom pay every time, and she doesn't deserve that. But you get what I'm saying.

And for more practical concerns, you'd be crazy not to weight the pros and cons. Sometimes loose hanging cloth and exposed naughty bits can be a problem.

It's clothing, not a religion.

**Colin** · 10th June 08, 11:49 AM

For me kilts are a clothing choice, not a lifestyle. I don't wear them everyday. I prefer to match my wardrobe to my activities that day. If I am going swimming I wear board shorts, not a kilt. If I am going to the gym I wear gym clothes, not a kilt. If I am going snowboarding I wear the proper gear, not a kilt.

Alot of people discover the kilt and than jump in with both feet. You join a forum like this one and see people that are full time kilt wearers and you think to yourself "hey I like that idea I can do that". However after a while you start to see situations where a kilt really isn't the best option. It doesn't mean that you are not still a fan of the kilt, it just means that other facets of your life include a different type of clothing.

Again to me Kilts are clothing not a lifestyle choice. Limiting yourself to only wearing kilts is no different than those that only wear pants. It's all a personal choice.

**Kilted Archer** · 10th June 08, 11:53 AM

Thanks for all the replies so far. I think I'm just coming to the realization that as much as I enjoy the comfort of being kilted, it's just not the best way to go in some situations. I think what was bothering me was that I'd become so enamored of the idea of being kilted 24/7 - 365 (well, maybe not 24/7) that it was coming as somewhat of a shock to realize that being kilted just doesn't always work best for some situations/outings. When I first got up the courage to go kilted all the time I felt like I was living the slogans - "Down with trouser tyranny!" "Freedom (from bifurcated garments)!" "Look at me, I'm kilted, I'm different, I'm Scottish!" Yeah, I do get far more favorable comments, mostly from the ladies than I get derisive comments, but the derisive comments and stares and double-takes just get really old. Of course we all have to realize wearing kilts just about anywhere other than Scotland is going to seem strange to most folks. Some people appreciate it and others simply never learned from their mom and dad to keep their mouths shut if they didn't have anything nice to say. Actually I think I'm pretty well fine with the whole thing now that I've had a chance to air it out and commiserate with fellow kilt wearers. I'll continue to wear my kilts when appropriate and otherwise I'll bow to functionality when it rears it's ugly head and go bifurcated when necessary. I guess I should try to remind myself that my Brittonic Celt ancestors wore pants long before they wore kilts. In fact the Celts invented and wore pants when most of the rest of the European cultures at the time were still wearing tunics and other unbifurcated garments of one sort or another.

**7 miles** · 10th June 08, 11:59 AM

KILT ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whenever possible.

**JRB** · 10th June 08, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by kilted_zookeeper

...the Celts invented and wore pants...

Actually, I believe the Scythians invented pants. But I digress, I think you will be much happier wearing kilts when you feel like it rather than trying to make the kilt your sole "garment of choice".

**Kilted Archer** · 10th June 08, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by Makeitstop

I don't think this is really that big of a problem. You are jut being reasonable. Call me a heretic if you must, but the kilt is not the best garment for every situation.

It's clothing, not a religion.

Originally Posted by Colin

Again to me Kilts are clothing not a lifestyle choice. Limiting yourself to only wearing kilts is no different than those that only wear pants. It's all a personal choice.

I think these two comments really sum it up for me. I think I may have been taking wearing kilts a little more seriously than I realized. It's just a clothing choice. Wear it when it's appropriate and I'll simply wear other things when appropriate. I already wear bike shorts for cycling, nylon quick drying shorts for kayaking, and long pants for bushwhacking. I can always put the kilt on later when it comes time to relax and sit down with a cold one. Thanks everybody for your varying perspectives.

**Kilted Archer** · 10th June 08, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by JRB

Actually, I believe the Scythians invented pants. But I digress, I think you will be much happier wearing kilts when you feel like it rather than trying to make the kilt your sole "garment of choice".

You're probably right. I imagine pants were common to many cultures at the same time. Parthians (a horse culture) probably wore pants.