It's not about the build, it's about how you wear it!

[Cynthia]

So recently I went out with the hubby to listen to some music and have a few beers. I was wearing my SWK Thrifty (Irish National), which got a lot of attention even though on me it is probably nothing more than a skirt. I have to say it was most likely the tartan (it really does stand out), but then a lot of the folks do know about me and my love of the kilt (some of them did not, though).

Anyway! Genealogy was a subject that came up a lot that evening, as well as the kilt. When I told one of my friends (male) that he should wear the kilt (a bit of a compliment) he quickly said that he couldn't. He's too skinny. Another friend (male, also considered himself too skinny) sitting with us quickly agreed. Skinny men, in their opinion didn't look right. You had to have a stocky build. Whaaaat? I've yet to see any guy with a nice kilt worn correctly look bad in it.

I even, get this, said "listen... I'm a WOMAN... trust me... you will NOT look bad in a kilt".

They turned it around to "yes, women look good in them, too!".

No no no. They didn't get it. D'oh! Now, I could see it if they just came out and said "I have no interest in wearing them." That's cool, I totally understand. They thought they wouldn't look good in them because of their build.

*face palms* Their loss, I guess!

And of course, I stood up shortly after that conversation so we could go home since it was getting late. My kilt was pointed out again and they said "See? It looks GREAT on women!" To which one of them added, "so do the mini-skirt versions."

I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree about which men look best in a kilt. Tsk!

[TheBlueCow]

Hmm... I'm skinny myself and have never considered kilts to look weird on me. I've received plenty of compliments while wearing them (much more than when wearing pants). The only part of my outfit when wearing one that I would think to be odd is the fact that I have a short torso and long legs, so tucking in my shirt in a kilt shows how short my torso is - but in fact, it doesn't look bad at all and even looks better than when I tuck my shirt in when wearing pants, since pants tend to make my legs look that much longer and the kilt somewhat "widens" my appearance.

I do think it's odd that they won't listen to you though. Men's Fashion Rule #1: Listen to the woman, she's right.

[hospitaller]

We can't deny that some somatotypes look better or worse than others in the same garment.

Ectomoprhs (skinny), Meso morph (muscular) and endo morphs (plump) will wear the same garment differently, and that will affect the self perception. Whether to a third party it looks good or not, the individual's self image is something that takes a lot more than honest compliments to accept.

[Scrapscot]

When men tell us their legs are too skinny for a kilt, we always tell them "it's not the legs we're looking at"; but your friend said he was too skinny Period, so that wouldn't really be the best response. You're right, Cynthia...I've yet to see a guy of any size look bad in a kilt unless he's wearing it "wrong". (ie. big men that didn't get measured correctly and the kilt is shorter in the back; wearing them too long or too short, etc.)

[Riverkilt]

I think I pretty much butcher the fine look of a kilt when I strap it on my aging plump body. The side views are pretty horrible.

But, I don't kilt up for other folks. I kilt up for my own comfort and FREEDOM...it is sad that some men stay focused on what others "might" think instead of their own FREEDOM and comfort.

Some of the worst things I ever experienced never actually happened....

Presumed peer pressure is a nasty thing.

Hope you keep on talkin' it up through Cynthia...you're bound to find a few more men with the cajones to kilt up.

Ron

[Pleater]

Yet I have never heard any man say 'oh I'm too skinny to wear a raincoat' - which, if worn belted over shorts for a summer shower, is more or less the same silhouette as a jacket and kilt.

I think that all shapes are improved by wearing a kilt.

The more substantial shapes are smoothed over, an athletic build is enhanced and a skinny outline is filled out, which is all good.

[MacTavishOfJapan]

It's all personal preference.

I picked up my new tank today and I think I am too big for the kilt to look good. It's a common saying here that bulkier guys look better in a kilt. In a way I kind of agree, however speaking about myself only, I think I'm off the other end of the scale - my tanks look massive and not exactly flattering. It's something I'm going to take action on after all the wedding hi-jinks have passed. In the mean time I have to run the gauntlet of Chicagoland's amazing foods!!!

[Splash_4]

Funny isn't it? None of us are ever happy with how we look. I know that somedays I feel that I just look dowdy while in the kilt... On other days, I feel like the top of the world.

[David White]

Funny isn't it? None of us are ever happy with how we look. I know that somedays I feel that I just look dowdy while in the kilt... On other days, I feel like the top of the world.

Amen, well said.

[SteveB]

At 6'1" and 130 Lbs during my younger time, the kilt fit great. My original is 27" waist 32" hip 27-1/2" length. The higher position of the kilt on my then thin frame made my shoulders appear wider than they actually were. Also, while being lean could make one the target of the local bullies, having the cajones to wear it regularly scared them far more than my muscles.