Dealing with objections

[jfellrath]

My wife bought me three of my five kilts so obviously I don't have a problem from that end. My parents have always wondered about me anyway, so they don't say anything, they just admire whatever kilt I'm wearing when I see them.

My mother-in-law thinks it's great, she actually has bought me kilt hose, flashes, a kilt shirt, etc. My father-in-law doesn't care, and doesn't say anything.

My brothers don't care either, though one likes to give me a hard time about it sometimes (he and I have a history of friendly smack so it's not really that big a deal). He's the one who asked me why I was wearing "that goofy thing" and I told him that "some of us need the extra room." I then looked at his jeans and said "you must not." He smirked a bit and shut up.

My sister is the only one who's been hostile toward it... and most of that revolved around her wedding. I think she was afraid I was going to wear my original Utilikilt to her wedding (I wasn't IN the wedding) and she told me that she didn't want me to wear it. I wasn't planning to, but being one who likes to poke at people's psyches a bit, I asked why! You could tell that she'd thought it out a bit, and she told me immediately that "it's a casual kilt, not a formal one. And this is my wedding." So my wife asked whether it'd be okay to wear a kilt if it was formal, a real tartan kilt. My sister said yes... never thinking I'd actually do that. And then she promptly figured that the matter was settled.... (It was assumed that she didn't want me stealing the thunder from her, picture-wise)

Silly girl.

My wife then bought me my Clark Ancient. As soon as my sister heard that I had that and was planning on wearing it, she called my mother. My mother, who knew the whole story, said "but... you said it was okay if it was a real kilt." So that went back and forth for a while until the condition was put on me that I had to be non-regimental, as she didn't want my "bum and dangly bits hanging out." So I ended up having to wear underwear, and my wife even inspected me before walking out to the ceremony to make sure I was in compliance.

(Ironically, no one really noticed me as much as they did my five-month old son, who is cute as the dickens and attracted more camera attention than anyone else AT the wedding).

Sis is the one in the family who worries the most about things being out of place, and to her a kilt is out of place if it's not in a pipe band or at a festival (or in Scotland).

Anyway, my point of view on this stuff is that when people ask me why I wear kilts, I don't go into a lot of detail about family history, health, built-in air conditioning, etc. I just tell them "I like it." And let it go at that. The best response for such problems is simple self-confidence.

[pbpersson]

Kilts have for hundreds of years been a male garment. Long ago they were worn by men in casual everyday settings. The kilt is just enjoying a revival in the 21st century as men re-discover how comfortable they are.

It's just that simple, there's no mystery or grand truth to it.

This is not a HUGE and SHOCKING event like women suddenly in the 1950's deciding to wear pants which women NEVER in the history of the world ever wore before.

Kilts are more comfortable and they're fun and what good is being here on the earth if we can't a little fun while we are alive?

That's my point of view for what it's worth.

I don't have parents, or a wife or brothers or sisters or a girlfriend to persuade though.

[GTRMAN]

First, please allow me to further define my question / topic: for me, this is more of an anticipatory strike, rather than coping with an existing situation... but I thought I'd ask and see if a) it's been discussed before, or b) someone has already had to deal with this situation.

Essentially, my (new) wife has informed me that while she's fine with me wearing a kilt casually (and formally, of course), my new in-laws probably won't understand why anyone would voluntarily wear a kilt without a formal occasion to attend (ie: casually). My wife believes that her family are too "conformist" ("socially conditioned", "narrow minded", etc - feel free to use the term you prefer most ) to understand or acknowledge any motivation to wear a kilt in a casual situation.

My question is this: has anyone encountered family members who (for whatever reason) are unwilling to attempt to understand why a guy would opt for a kilt over more "normal" bifurcated clothing? How did you deal with this "active ignorance"?

cheers

Hachiman

My mother and grandmother have both commented on the kilt in a "less than positive manner". Neither like them, actually. My mother thinks it's just "weird". My grandmother thinks I'm just refusing to "grow up".

I just laugh and let it roll off my back. I know that I like wearing kilts and I feel most comfortable in them. The women also love them which is a huge ego boost to me.

[Frank McGrath]

If it feels good, do it. The only person you should have to justify it to is God and he doesn"t care either. Have fun.