Aggressive reactions

[parpin]

Hi all ,

I wear my tartan kilt as often as possible. The only issue is to get acceptance from my family and relatives.

Yesterday night I went with a female friend to a cine conference at a local auditorium with a large audience attending.

I decided to go there kilted in Jacobite outfit because I fell so confortable in it.

My friend looked at me and her reaction was extremly aggressive. To her opinion it was completlely displaced and bad taste to be dressed like that for that type of event. To continue she told me that a Halloween party or a scottish festival would have been more appropriate to wear a kilt.

I insisted to tell her I feel so confortable wearing a kilt. She replied that being in pyjama is confortable too.

As an former psychiatric nurse she recommended me to go back to my psychologist because I have a teenager mind into a 59 years old body.

I didn't care too much about her remarks. Other people in the crowd looked at me and smiles were the biggest reaction. One man asked me for what occasion I weared my kilt. I replied because It's so confortable and pleasant to be dressed like this.

Have you been put in such reactions before ?

[cessna152towser]

It seems to me that maybe the lady is the one who needs psychiatric help. Its not her place to tell you what you should wear. You don't need a so called friend who isn't going to be comfortable with what you wear. Having said that, while I would probably have worn a kilt to a similar event, I'd probably have worn it with a casual top and I wouldn't have embellished it with the full Jacobite outfit.

[David White]

I did not mean to offend anyone here by my post.
I was just giving an analogy to tell of a situation.
I guess I wasn't thinking that I would offend anyone If I did please take this as a heart felt apology.

[turpin]

Le premier de tout, bienvenue a le forum, Parpin.

Well, that about shoots the french.

Welcome. No, So far in my short kilt-wearing experience, the only really adverse reaction is from my son, who gets embarassed. I picked him up at school yesterday and had to go inside. The Principal joked "Nice legs! I'm jealous of the kilt!." When my son saw me he hiked the neck of his shirt over his head and walked out to the car. Next time I'll bring him a paper bag.

Monday he was playing with a female friend (10 y/o) and I was kilted. He started going off about it, and she said "Willie, it's not a skirt, it's a kilt. It's men's clothing. What's the big deal!" At that moment I wanted to undergo cryogenic suspension until she grows up and I can marry her. (Sa maman et babelicieuse!!)

[MacTavishOfJapan]

Seems to me this "friend" is more interested in themselves and their perceptions than you. You should do what you feel comfortable in, shame you had to have your night spoiled like that.

[Panache]

Hi all ,

...Yesterday night I went with a female friend to a cine conference at a local auditorium with a large audience attending.

I decided to go there kilted in Jacobite outfit because I fell so confortable in it.

My friend looked at me and her reaction was extremly aggressive. To her opinion it was completlely displaced and bad taste to be dressed like that for that type of event. To continue she told me that a Halloween party or a scottish festival would have been more appropriate to wear a kilt...

Parpin,

The thing that strikes me about what you wrote was that you were wearing a "Jacobite Outfit". Not only were you wearing a kilted outfit, but you were wearing period kilted outfit. Now I'm sure the outfit is smashing. But you must admit that it is a bit theatrical and out of context for the evening. My lovely wife made me a wonderful Elizabethan noble's costume that I really like.
But I wouldn't wear it out to the movies. I can imagine several friends who would not be comfortable with me wearing a costume for a normal evening out. One of the things a lot of us here on X Marks the Scot encourage is for kilts to be seen as clothing for the modern world, not costumes. I think you should wear what you like. But I'm not surprised that someone wasn't comfortable going out with someone in a period costume. I think a dress shirt and an argyle jacket would have been more appropriate attire.

Just my opinion.

Respectfully

[Kilted Taper]

Luckily I've been an odd ball all my life, so those that know me and family reacted more like, "what took you so long?" But I'm sorry you had to have such a reaction from a "friend".

[Andrew Green]

I have seen some Jacobite outfits look quite smashing really. Well, at least if you were dressing as a better off jacobite anyhow. Felidh beag, or feilidh mohr, with a nice clean shirt and waistcoat can look very formal, as long as you take the time and effort to get your pleats looking sharp. It really depends on your portrayal.

The type of function would halp determine the type of dress though, I will concede that point. You can look really good in modern highland dress, even casual, or semi-formal.

In short though, I find your "friend's" reaction completely over the top, and quite inappropriate. Kilts, of any era, are not costumes. The only time they come close in in re-enactment. But if I saw someone else walking down the street wearing a belted plaid, I'd pat that person on the back. Especially if the weather was fairy nasty, as I have yet to find something as protective and warm aas a belted plaide (despite the fact that I am still trying to get the hang of what to do with the upper part, and lack a brooch, clasp, or bodkin to secure it).

[McClef]

No fun wearing Jacobite and being surrounded by Hanovarians

[binx]

It seems to me that maybe the lady is the one who needs psychiatric help. Its not her place to tell you what you should wear. You don't need a so called friend who isn't going to be comfortable with what you wear. Having said that, while I would probably have worn a kilt to a similar event, I'd probably have worn it with a casual top and I wouldn't have embellished it with the full Jacobite outfit.

I would have to agree. And the full outfit wouldn't be that comfortable IMHO.

binx