Halloween Bifurcated??

**NancyMan** · 31st October 05, 10:21 AM

While I agree with Bear that my kilts are garments first and foremost, I have another perspective as well...

When the great 20th century composer Frank Zappa died in the mid nineties, I found myself listening to a local radio station's tribute to him- a broadcast of one of his concerts including all the between songs patter. During one such break you could clearly hear an off stage fan say in a dripping-with-sarcasm voice, "Nice costume, Frank!" Without missing a beat Frank shot back, "Don't kid yourself, WE'RE ALL WEARING COSTUMES HERE TONITE." For some time after, this became my byline. Everywhere I went, I saw people in costumes. Every one of them. Jeans and a T-shirt? Hey, nice costume man!

Today marks the three month anniversary of my giving up trousers. (Well, I still work in trousers, but I wouldn't do to a kilt what I do to my work pants, which is to get them filthy every day.) Last night at my usual Sunday evening haunt, a neighbourhood bistro I wore my usual garment: a kilt. Was it a costume? You bet! Two tone brogues, argyle socks, a Black Stewart Sportkilt, an argyle vest over a Dress Stewart shirt and I topped it off with a Royal Stewart bonnet. If anyone asked, I said I was a fractured movie title, "The Clash of the Tartans!"

**Hamish** · 31st October 05, 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by Colin

I am in a kilt today, not because it is Halloween, but because it is my wife's birthday and it is Samhain tomorrow. Let's not forget that most of the customs were practise for Halloween came from Samhain.

http://www.celticspirit.org/samhain.htm

Colin, a kiss and a hug to Jill with Best Birthday Wishes, please!

**auld argonian** · 31st October 05, 10:32 AM

...which brings to mind a "costume" item that I've been referencing to those of my friends who are - let's say skeptical - about wearing kilts...and that would be: those Zoobaz pants that were all the rage a several years ago...not a pair of those would make a great halloween costume except that around here THERE ARE STILL GUYS WEARING THEM! You wouldn't look like you were in costume...you would fit right in!

To the kilt-skeptics I say, "Look...no matter what reservations you might have about kilts, would it look any more "normal" if I was parading around in a pair of those Zoobaz pants?" Case closed.

So I'm torn as to whether or not to throw the kilt on today (Oct 31) or not...I'd hate for anyone to think I was "in costume".

...and I wonder if there's a forum out there for the Zoobaz guys...you know, sharing Zoobaz tips and reviewing Zoobaz manufacturers...maybe trying to sew their own Zoobaz....it is damn frightening, isn't it?

Happy Halloween!

best

AA

**KiltedCodeWarrior** · 31st October 05, 12:43 PM

Originally Posted by auld argonian

...So I'm torn as to whether or not to throw the kilt on today (Oct 31) or not...I'd hate for anyone to think I was "in costume"....

Auld, as one famous ad says "Just do it!" Tell the skeptics and nay-sayers they need to walk a mile in your kilt before they can have an opinion!

**Colin** · 31st October 05, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by Hamish

Colin, a kiss and a hug to Jill with Best Birthday Wishes, please!

Thanks Hamish, she'll be looking for anything to cheer her up today. The labour dispute with her company is getting uglier. A big Hello to Dave W. when you see him next.

**Riverkilt** · 31st October 05, 02:28 PM

Thanks for the feedback, glad I wasn't the only puzzled one.

Elected to don my UK Caramel Workman's for the third day, its well rumpled from a couple days of hiking but fresh thanks to "the garment." Added a USMC t shirt, matching olive drab short sox, brown tennies, and a tan jean jacket.

Kilted for sure, but no way anyone could call it a costume.

Ron

**Hamish** · 31st October 05, 04:56 PM

Originally Posted by Colin

Thanks Hamish, she'll be looking for anything to cheer her up today. The labour dispute with her company is getting uglier.

Very sorry to hear that, Colin. Give Jill another hug from me then.

A big Hello to Dave W. when you see him next.

Will do! He's 'between jobs' right now - I'm seeing him on Wednesday.

**Andrew Breecher** · 1st November 05, 02:26 AM

I did wear trousers tonight - and all of my friends thought it was the funniest costume they'd ever seen. They all "got" it, and had a good laugh. After work, I went out to a party and carried a cricket bat, calling myself "Shawn of the Dead" - once again, those who "got" it thought it was hillarious.

Funny enough, even without wearing a kilt, I seemed to attract women. I think I must have become far more confident in the last two years of kilt-wearing, because that would never have happened before!

Andrew.

**JackK** · 1st November 05, 04:16 AM

While wearing my Stillwater Kilts Royal Steward last night a teenage girl Trick or Treater asked "are you wearing a skirt'. My reply was no a kilt actually. Her response was 'what is that'. Oh, the youth of today what are they taught. Wish I would have had the time to explain, but her and her friend's need for sugar, precluded any delays for a history lesson.

Jack

**Riverkilt** · 1st November 05, 05:35 PM

So today, back at work wearing a mostly red, but wildly colorful, striped Ecuadoran shirt I bought in Albuquerque from a street vendor, tan UK Mocker, Red soccer sox long enough to turn down like kilt hose, and brown tennies.

I walk into our agency's lobby a few minutes ago 5:30pm, and a young Navajo lady in her 20's who I've never met before says, "Hey mister, Halloween was yesterday."

I paused and politely asked her, "And if I'd said that to someone who walked by us in Traditional Navajo clothing, what would happen to me?"

She just put her head down and said she was sorry.

I certainly hope so...

Ron