Saturday kilted

GG · 3rd December 07, 11:08 AM

One of the last Saturdays in November when on my own, because my wife was abroad for business matters, I made a trip to nearby Sweden; to be specific, the city of Malmoe. Dressed in my Mcleod of Harris Ancient casual kilt from Heritage of Scotland I drove off from home, took the tunnel and bridge connecting Denmark with Sweden and less than one hour later I had parked the car.

Malmoe is the third biggest city in Sweden with 270.000 inhabitants and it was my first time to be there kilted.
It was – as usual when in a kilt – a non-event, or rather it almost was. My first impression was that what other people wear is 110 % of nobody’s concern. I visited several shops and I had a lunch at a restaurant. Friendly and professional all the way it was. Nobody seemed to notice my kilt at all.
Then I twice became aware that people were taking pictures of me, and that is very, very seldom. After all, I’m a rather old man. It must have been because of the kilt. The first time was a teenage girl using her mobile phone, the other a man with a professional Canon and with a long tele-lens mounted. I didn’t try to prevent them. Probably it had already been too late and why not let them, should I make them sort of happy this way?
I also got two compliments, one from an elderly (10-15 years younger than me) woman, telling me that I had very nice knees; the other one from a delivery man who said I was wearing a nice kilt.
Finally two Englishmen – or were they Scots? – asked me if I was Scottish. They were on the outlook for a Scottish pub, they said, and if I knew of where to find one. I couldn’t help them, however, neither in being Scottish, nor knowing anything about such pub.

I returned to my car and went home.

Greg

www.dress2kilt.eu

**James MacMillan** · 3rd December 07, 11:16 AM

Are you sure the people who were taking your picture weren't part of the private investigation firm that your wife hired to keep an eye on you?

**Bugbear** · 3rd December 07, 11:29 AM

Glad things went so well while kilting.

GG · 3rd December 07, 11:44 AM

Originally Posted by James MacMillan

Are you sure the people who were taking your picture weren't part of the private investigation firm that your wife hired to keep an eye on you?

O that was new to me. And by all means, I did nothing that should worry her.

Greg

**OFCJAX** · 3rd December 07, 07:13 PM

That's his story and he's sticking to it!

You know what they say.

"What happens in Malmoe...."

**SteveB** · 3rd December 07, 09:41 PM

I have recently come to enjoy the kilt! I wore my homemade self color kilt while shopping near home. The only comment was from a gentleman with his young son in tow " We've got a Scot here?" I replied by the kilt pin and belt of the claddagh, it would appear Irish. I regularly commute on the subway and buses while kilted. No real big deal, Boston is very ethnically diverse. Most people do recognize it as a kilt and not a skirt. That was the real surprise. -- Steve

**O'Neille** · 3rd December 07, 11:05 PM

Wow, I just realized I hadn't been in Europe for a while. The last time I was in Denmark I took the hydrofoil to Sweden. Sounds like an enjoyable trip.

GG · 4th December 07, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by O'Neille

Wow, I just realized I hadn't been in Europe for a while. The last time I was in Denmark I took the hydrofoil to Sweden.

The hydrofoils as well as the ferries betewen Copenhagen and Sweden disappeared year 2000 when we got this 20 km tunnel/brigde.

The bad thing:
For a one way crossing ypu have to pay what equal 45 US$. Three crossings or a Utilikilt - had it not been for duty tax, shipment, handling fee and on top of that 25% VAT, making it about 6 crossings for a Utilikilt.

The good thing:
On a sunny day it is a really beautiful trip - and due to a rebate system I only have to pay half the price. So no Utilikilt in sight.

Greg

**pipesndrumsnun** · 4th December 07, 11:16 AM

Sounds like a good Saturday (except for the crossing toll!)!

**TheKiltedWonder** · 9th December 07, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by GG

The bad thing:
For a one way crossing ypu have to pay what equal 45 US$. Three crossings or a Utilikilt - had it not been for duty tax, shipment, handling fee and on top of that 25% VAT, making it about 6 crossings for a Utilikilt.
Greg

If you don't mind going north there's still a ferry from Helsingor to Helsingborg.

Have you much experience wearing the kilt in Sweden? I'm just wondering because I'm hoping to get back there soon-ish to visit again and we all like to hike. I had hoped to go hiking in a kilt, and I don't mind modeling it for all hte people with their cameras