The Kilt is a costume.....

**Matthew Siegmann** · 30th April 10, 08:36 AM

Interesting to read. Of course, one would think I wore a costume most of the time with what I wear. My choice of atire isn't exactly 21st century. I like wearing detachable collars with my suits and I like a little Edwardian style when it comes to wearing my kilt. I must say, however, that I'm going to rethink wearing my smoking jacket with my kilt again. It was a bit too long for my taste. I did get quite a bit of complements though. I like top hats, as a matter of fact I love hats, which is part of my drive toward more historic looking dress.

**NewGuise** · 30th April 10, 09:01 AM

Excerpts from the Oxford English Dictionary definition of costume:
2. a. The mode or fashion of personal attire and dress (including the way of wearing the hair, style of clothing and personal adornment) belonging to a particular nation, class, or period.
3. a. Fashion or style of dress appropriate to any occasion or season; hence, dress considered with regard to its fashion or style; garb.

So yes, the kilt is a costume. So are short pants and a t-shirt as appropriate to summer beach wear, trousers and a dress shirt and tie to the office, et cetera. But a kilt is always fashionable, always appropriate to the occasion or season, and so always a costume, right?

**dfmacliam** · 30th April 10, 09:17 AM

I would just let the comments go... if they don't phase you.. they soon drop the taunts. Life is all about that.. be it a kilt or anything else a person chooses to snipe about... walk with your head held high, live your life... and kilt on.. they will accept it as long as you believe in yourself..

**Scotcop** · 30th April 10, 09:22 AM

thanks guys, people around me are trying to discourage me from wearing it around town, I think it's more about what people will think of THEM than me......I'll just continue to wear it, and put on my "Geordie" face.

**Nighthawk** · 30th April 10, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by Scotcop

Family, "friends", when I am trying to casually wear it around the house and out and about.

My sister in law tried to say that to me once... I asked her if she would spend $600 on costume. That seemed to work. Now, if I could get her to quit making cross dressing comments, I'd be happy.

**Matthew Siegmann** · 30th April 10, 01:18 PM

Originally Posted by Nighthawk

Now, if I could get her to quit making cross dressing comments, I'd be happy.

So make cross dressing comments to her anytime you see her in pants.

**topher** · 30th April 10, 01:45 PM

Originally Posted by Scotcop

you know how hard it is to explain to them that

Rarely have I felt the need to explain such choices to others. If they are friends, they will respect my choice with or without an explanation. If they aren't friends, then what they think doesn't matter to me anyway.

**ghostlight** · 30th April 10, 04:25 PM

Originally Posted by Scotcop

...people around me are trying to discourage me from wearing it around town, I think it's more about what people will think of THEM than me...

Yes. Things like, "That guy in the pants must have ugly knees. But his friend sure looks nice."

**xman** · 30th April 10, 05:23 PM

Originally Posted by Matthew Siegmann

So make cross dressing comments to her anytime you see her in pants.

Every time, with a big warm embrace!

**robthehiker** · 30th April 10, 05:30 PM

Originally Posted by cavscout

Most of the time I simply ignore them, I have enough in my life to take care of and "babysitting the idiots of the world" is not one of them.

Sometimes I know the person is teasing and I let them have their laugh or I may play along if it doesn't belittle me or the kilt.

If the perosn is simply being rude, I will try to turn their obvious insecurity back on them. For example: A co-worker was insinuating that I must frequent certain types of bars where guys dress like women (my words, his were much less civil). I simply responded by saying "well, you sound like a man of experience." He tried to recover with "I don't go to those places, I've seen them in the paper", to which I said "What kind of paper have you been reading to find places like that?"..... He beat a hasty retreat and I've not heard another word about kilts from him.

Another situation, a person said (somewhat tongue in cheek) "I bet some of your Marine Corps buddies would beat your a$$ if they knew you were wearing a skirt.". I simply said, "Unless you are a Marine, don't presume to know what one would think or do."

Bottom line, don't let anyone belittle you over it. It may cost you some friends, but they probably weren't really friends if that's how they treat you. Family is a different story, that may take a bit more compromise but no reason to give the the idea that they have won if you don't wear the kilt around them. If asked, simply say "There are some who just can't handle how good looking I am so I cover up as much as needed to keep them from being jealous."

Well said Cavscout.