In all honesty... Why?

[Blu (Ontario)]

As a man who has worn a kilt for several years, (since Y2K), I've been asked on a number of occasions, "why?". Each one of us probably has several reasons for expending the resources to procure and wear a kilt. As for myself, there were three motivating reasons to do it. 1. Family heritage, 2. A admiration for tartans and kilts since adolescence, 3. The millennium year - seemed like a good time to do it. Since then, I've discovered that there were, to my surprise and utter delight, other attributes which to me were a bonus. 4. Girls, lassies, birds, chicks, shielas, all love to see guys in kilts, 5. the canvas waistband offers wonderful stomach and back support, 6. It's one versatile, comfortable, functional garment that actually makes me look good, hence I enjoy wearing it. In retrospect, I now must admit that each time I strap on a kilt, my primary motivation now is probably #4. with #5. running a close second.

I would be interested to hear your answers to the same question...well a two part question.
1. For the gentlemen... In all honesty, what would you identify as the <u>primary</u> reason why you decided to wear kilts?
2. For the lassies... In all honesty, what is the primary reaction you experience when seeing a man / men in kilts?

I have been quite blind sided by the effect the kilt has had on me and the reactions I get from others. My only regret is that I didn't discover all of this 20 years ago!

blu

[bubba]

It's pretty simple. Kilts are more comfortable, my genitals don't get pinched and I don't have a swampy crotch.

[Robbie]

Hi Blu -

Actually, I don't remember making a conscious decision. Children in the 50s and 60s didn't have the same freedom of choice as those nowadays (whether this is a good or bad thing depends on your personal point of view!) - what happened was you simply put on in the morning whatever clothes your mother left out for you, and in my case this was a kilt (for family heritage reasons, I discovered later) and I just stayed with it.

When meeting people for the first time I'm sometimes asked why I'm wearing a kilt, and rather than launch into some detailed explanation (and I don't see why I should have to explain anything anyway), I usually simply respond that it would be rather chilly without it. If I've taken an instant dislike to the other person (and there are those who have that effect), I often follow this up with "So tell me, why are you wearing trousers?" - it can be quite amusing watching them struggle for an answer!

[Blu (Ontario)]

Robbie, I must applaud your tenacity. In a world where trousers are king and the pressure to conform is constant, you have stayed the course. Undoubtedly this speaks volumes as to your strength of character.

blu
p.s. Great comeback lines.

[Alaskan]

My primary reason for wearing the kilt is pride in my heritage.

I've wanted a kilt for a long time. Finances and availabiliy were what kept me from getting one for so long.

Living in Japan I looked around at all the Japanese people wearing suits and ties when they are at work and blue jeans and t-shirts when away from work. I wondered why seeing a Japanese person wearing a kimono, yukata, jinbei, hanten, happi or any other Japanese clothing is really a pretty rare sight outside of special events or tourist spots. I constantly thought "You should be proud of the blood in your veins! Why don't you wear traditional Japanese clothing?!"

I decided that if that was the way I feel it was high time to buy a kilt... working full time I now have the money and I just needed to find a place to buy them. The internet is a wonderful thing.

[Blu (Ontario)]

...Why don't you wear traditional Japanese clothing?!"...

Japanese (and other oriental folks) I come across seem to have a particular fascination with traditional highland attire. I always assumed it had something to do with their own traditional attire or history.

[GMan]

For me the first I donned the kilt was for heritage reasons the proud Celt that I am, but after a few festivals the comfort factor came into play. So now I am a happy comfortable proud Celt

Glen

[Kilted_John]

1) More comfortable, as Bubba says, no cramped privates, and no swampy nether reigons...

2) Heritage.

3) Quicker to put on than pants - quite true, find that I wind up spending 60 seconds putting on the kilt, yet, with pants, I gotta fight with'em to get 'em on...

4) The CDI factor.

5) Personal image - the kilt is sorta my uniform, as is the rather long hair... Trousers make me feel out of place and much less masculine than I am when kilted.

-J

[David in Maryland]

With tartan kilts, what other men's clothing allows you to go from casual to formal by just changing shirts and putting on a jacket.

[Ded N. Buried]

I simply think they look cool and my goal is to look as cool as possible, as often as possible.
I prefer the more modern styles for myself, though I do like the look of the more traditional, I have to have pockets.
Of course the comfort thing comes in, but mostly to me it's just a good look.


thanx...Ded N. Buried