Is this how you feel?

[cessna152towser]

When I first started wearing kilts I only wore a kilt to country dancing and the like and would have wanted my wife with me for support. That's here as a Scotsman in Scotland so I'd imagine an Englishmen in France who only wears a kilt for the dancing may feel the same. Nowadays I don't give it a thought and wear kilts unaccompanied almost every day.

[Fearnest]

I've rarely been "accompanied" when kilted, but that may have something to do with the fact that my sweetie lives on the other side of the continent! (GRRR!!!) When we are together, she's always very eager to see me kilted - for a special event, or just "out and about."

We don't get a lot of kilts (even fewer traditional kilts than contemporary kilts) in this part of West "by God" Virginia, but every now and then I'll see one (other than in the mirror). Most comments come at work, but they're slowly getting used to it, too.

This is not an area with a large gay community (of which I'm aware)... most of the "presence" here seems to be rainbow stickers on cars. That being said, the number of those I see increases daily, as more and more folks choose to live out here and make the 90 - 120 minute commute in to the district. So times are changing, even out here in the hinterlands.

[Raphael]

As much as I love my kilt, I still wear my pants/short all the time. Sometimes, it doesn't make sence for me to wear my kilt to go out at all.

[flairball]

My kilt wearing has been for the most part solo ventures. My wife initially disagreed with my wearing a kilt but has slowly warmed up to it. I think she is even starting to like it.

As for sexual ambiguity while wearing a kilt; I've never felt it. Around here everyone knows what a kilt is so it is never a question of sexuality, but of circumstance; where are your bag pipes?, are you marching today?, etc. However, it is my belief that people want things understood correctly from the start. If the local population somehow begins to associate kilts with homosexuality then one who is straight may adopt the tactic of either "kilting in accompanyment" (just made that up. What'da ya think?), or wearing pants. What is wrong with that? Sexual orientation is a significant part of identity and character, straight or gay. If one doesn't want any ambiguity as to their sexual preference then so be it. An example of this is names. Some people have names that are difficult to pronounce, so they usually make a point to say their name in a way (slowly) when meeting new people. Nationality is another area. My wife is Japanese and finds it annoying when the employees at the asia market assume she's Chinese and speak to her in Chinese.

[Julie]

I agree with M.A.C Newsome, sometimes you don't want to wear a kilt because you inevitably have to face your public who want to talk to you. I have always said that the day no one talks to me when I wear a kilt then I'll stop wearing it but it can be tiresome at times always having to be nice to people who want to ask you questions (I always believe that kilt-wearers should be polite and set an example)
I remember a couple of years ago on a caribean cruise ship that any night I wore my kilt, my partner and I would have to answer a barrage of questions about the kilt. Eventually I found some quiet corner of a bar where I could remain incognito and relax and be myself.
Although I have always enjoyed frequently wearing the kilt I feel that at times there are pressures that go along with wearing it. Does any other member feel the same?

[Kornbread]

Martin S., I am secure enough with my manhood and to wear whatever I want to wear ,with or without my wife.Others negative opinions of me,effect me not at all.

[Eujeankilt]

Martin,

It looks like you've gotten a wide array of opinions here. It seems to me that we Americans tend to be more individualistic and worry less about what others think, we wear the kilt for ourselves.

I also took it that the question was asked with curiousity, not in forming a judgement. Might you ask the gent, with respect, the next time about his motivation? At least you'd know one way or the other.


Dale

[Nick]

I'm quite comfortable wearing the kilt all by my onesy. I'm almost always the only one in a kilt in the room, with or without my wife.

[Roan Carter]

In all honesty, I've been an idiot and worn my kilt too often and wound up in trouble for it on several occassions.

I love them so much, and I'm just 21, so I can pretty much get away with wearing whatever I want in my own time.

I decide on wether or not I am wearing the kilt on any given day right about when I wake up, based almost solely on what I feel like wearing.

As for being bothered about my kilt -- I find that being with a lady doesn't help very much. Being with a pack of guy friends tends to keep the taunters at bay though.

[PiobBear]

Is this the way you Xmarkers feel about kilt-wearing? Do you have to be accompanied to appear in public?

Nope; I wear the kilt quite often; usually several times a week, most of the time solo, although I have worn it on occasion to accompany someone else who feels self-concious being the only kilt in the room.

another fellow drove some 150 kms...he wore shorts for the journey and changed on arrival, and before departure to return home. The usual excuse for this is they don't want to spoil their kilts, but I really think it is the fear of having to stop on route and being seen kilted.

A lot of guys in our band do this. Depending upon the weight and weave of the cloth, long drives can play havoc with the pleats. My Saxony wool kilt's the worst in this regard; my acrylic SWK the best, and my traditional worsted wool somewhere in between.

I have no fear at all of being seen in public kilted; if anyone asks, I actually am a piper, and it's another opportunity to hand out a business card.