Kilts in the office

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Buy majority ownership of your office. Then you can bring the dogs to work, wear a kilt, whatever.
The hours are attrocious, the headaches are worse, but you can wear a kilt anytime you like!
David

David, if only! However the capital needed to do that for my present company would be in the multiple billions, and I actually think it woud be in the multiple hundred billions!

RJI

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

It's very important to me that you don't have a hostile workplace. I certainly don't mean for my aggressive reaction to be your practice. It's the way I plan, always have a script. Diplomacy comes hard to me, planning a fight comes way to easy....

The encouragement: jurisprudence is that when push comes to shove, the right to wear a kilt has usually won. That means legal history is on your side. A recent thread gave a very good American example. A lot of people here are already doing it. Keep your dignity and plan for a long campaign. If you're denied, ask for possible exemptions like the ones already discussed.

Or, on the other hand, remember that it is easier to ask for forgiveness, than to get permission. Bad voice, get back in head.

Archangel, thanks for a very concise and informative post. I think that in the back of my mind I was also wondering whether I needed to go beyond my own manager before donning the kilt. You have pointed out very clearly the weaknesses of my second 2 arguments, and the restrictions of the first. I need to reflect on this over the weekend (kilted the whole time). I think that one thing I am wrestling with is the fact that I am a senior person within the organization and want to have this seen as a positive move in the workplace and not a stunt or other wierd behavior. I don't have any concerns with wearing the kilt out of the house for everything else. Let them think what they will.

RJI

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

...
It was not intended to “fool” you.. it was intended to “fool” your boss.. when you wear your kilt to work and he says, “Hey, what’s with the skirt?” You can do like others and first explain that it is a men’s kilt, then explain that it is Kilt Day. Send anyone that asks to KiltDay.com and they’ll believe you!...

What they really need to understand is that it is NOT crossdressing, any more than women in pants are crossdressing. If women can do your job in a skirt, there is no reason you should not be allowed to do your job in a proper kilt.

If you have the courage, everyday is Kilt Day.

Motorman, I really meant that I had made a fool of myself, not in a bad way, by believing that there was a specific Kiltday each year. I basically came across Kiltday.com through another post and saw whatever the following day was as the "kiltday". I reviewed the site, lamented the fact that I had "missed" it this year, and went on to other sites and never looked at it again. Had I known the intent, I would probably already have forced the issue, not sure.

And everyday IS KiltDay, it is just that not every hour is right now!

Later,
RJI

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

I think somebody on this board has a job with one of the big courier companies where a kilt is an accepted alternative. Help me here somebody, am I remembering this right? If so, precedence is always good.

Archangel, yes there is, and a search of the archives, I think the thread was "I shocked somebody" should find it. I would also encourage yoippari to meet the boss in the kilt, especially if it is before he starts work. A perfect intro to the kilt.

RJI

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

KCW, Archangel DOES have a point. I mean, once you get acceptance from your boss, and possibly HIS boss, or someone else with some authority, then there comes a point where you just DO it.

As the old saying goes, it's easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission....

Alan, I definitely agree Archangel has a point, see my earlier (but delayed due to work!) post. If I continue to ask for permission, then I will find somebody closed minded who won't say yes, no matter what.

On your other point regarding the formality of the kilt and accessories, I totally agree. Luckily I work in a business casual environment. Currently I would wear khaki slacks or other equivalent trousers, and a pullover, collared shirt with semi-dress shoes. My plan was to wear my Stillwater standard Nightstalker kile with black hose and flashes, black dress shoes, and a button down oxford shirt. I think that this would actually be slightly more formal than my current attire. After a few weeks, I would consider going a little less formal and introduce a sportkilt with the same accessories.

Any feedback on what I am proposing to wear and how formal/informal it is in regards to what I wear today would be appreciated.

RJI

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Does posting 6 in a row on your own thread indicate hijacking the thread or talking to yourself?

RJI

[Southern Breeze]

Does posting 6 in a row on your own thread indicate hijacking the thread or talking to yourself?

RJI

Nope,you're just getting in touch with your inner politician. :-D

[Archangel]

I think I'm beginning to see what you're after. You're a senior employee and are expected to set an example to the juniors. I've been hit with that too. It surprised me that I had gained that much seniority. It surprised management that I was not that impressed and not willing to take on the responsibility of being a good example.

Here's what I see. You really want to do this and do it as perfect as can be. Realize that perfection is not attainable. Close will have to do. You're also trying to determine the kilted equivalent of the business uniform. I'm not sure it translates well but your best bet would be to wander around 21stCentury's site: http://www.21stcenturykilts.co.uk/discountedpackage.htm. The kilt doesn't translate well. I prefer to think of it the other way around. The business suit is wrong. Anyway, if you are trying to find the right jacket to complete the look, I would suggest you give up, for now.

My personal rule is when in doubt, try and look military. I would suggest khaki colour shirts with military type pockets, Eddie Bauer usually has this style. Hamish would suggest socks to match. In an office I would suggest the thinner socks rather than the thick wool ones, heavier shoes rather than boots. A thin black tie would complete the look, a tie with a small clan crest would help keep the focus. These aren't any rules, they're just what I'd try to do.

Anyway, at some point you're going to have to jump out the plane.
Here's the samurai philosophy, which works well in this kind of case: prepare to die. This means as you approach the situation what is the worst that can happen? Can you accept that? If yes, go: if no, stop.

My feeling is that you would be okay. You're a senior employee, you've got some kind of permission, there is a HR department. You might get called in to discuss this. You've already got lots of advice from here so you know the parameters, make them chase you, give them short, one word answers. Worst case scenario, they tell you not to do it again. That starts you off on another campaign. Each step has a specific response.

Do you have casual Fridays, United Way Fridays, gosh, why not? That would be the best way for you to test the water.
Or dive right into the deep end Monday morning.
Either way, you'll just add to your legend.

Best wishes.

[yoippari]

I FIANLLY got in contact with my pontential employer. I have called him multiple times over the past couple of weeks and left two voicemails. I talked to his father in law (a friend that temporarally employed me recently) and he said that his bad phone habits is just the way he is. So I called him on a saturday instead of a weekday. Apparently he deleted the voicemails before writing down my number (though all cellphones have caller id now). It payed off and now I will be meeting him after school on monday. I plan on wearing my stillwater that day (I have worn it to the school in the past two weeks 4 out of the 5 times I have been there) so we can discuss the kilt before wearing it on the job, that is if he wants to discuss it at all, he might just ignore or overlook it.

If need be I will bring up the "standing out when waiting for a part can be usefull" aspect of the kilt, but as you guys have said, I will let him find something wrong before I try to "sell" him on it.

[Prester John]

I'd still like to start a company where the dress code, officially, was tartan kilts for men, kilted skirts for ladies.

Hey, you know it would get press!