Kilted in Chicago

[Benning Boy]

My recent trip to Chicago turned out to be a very positive thing. It confirmed my experience: despite what some grouches may say, overwhelmingly people are quite OK with kilt wearing.


I decided to make it a 100 % kilting adventure, and wore a kilt for travel and casual wear in Chicago, packed a dressier one for our night out, but took no trousers or bifurcated garments of any kind. There was no fall-back position. I have no regrets, all went so well.

I'd like to post pictures of the kilts, but the forum system will not let me upload anything but the tiniest, most degraded images imaginable. Don't know how the rest of you are managing it.


Things got off to a great start on Tuesday at the end of our flight up. When I stood to leave the plane,a woman behind said she really loved my kilt. She related that her husband just bought one on a trip to Scotland. I asked if he wore it occasionally, and she replied only once, for their daughter's wedding. I suggested he wear it often, and gave here the URL for this forum, and we went on our way.


After awhile, at baggage claim, we encountered her again, I'll call her Woman One. She was with another I'll call Woman Two. Woman One told me again how much she liked the kilt. And Woman Two nodded in agreement. Woman one asked if I knew of the Outlander series on TV. Of course. She said that she had read in a magazine one person “goes commando” to get in the mood for watching Outlander on TV. I'm always in the mood, I quipped, at which the two women looked at each other with surprised expressions and laughter, and Woman One exclaimed, 'It's true!” Woman Two,noticing my partner, who had a big grin on her face, said, “Look at her, she knows!” And all three laughed together, nodding at one another. We took our leave and the two strangers walked away still in animated conversation. The kilt wins over two more. Hurrah! for our side.


The next day, as we strolled around downtown, my best girl said to me, “Every time someone looks at you I just want to say yes!” Apparently there were a lot of looks.


I don't look for the looks. I just wear the kilt as I would trousers, and go about my business as usual. Yes, a lot of people are going to notice when you wear the kilt, and quite a few will say something, but kilts ain't bait, they're clothes. I don't go out fishing for compliments, and hope you don'teither. Somehow, to me that's just violating the spirit of kilting.


At the end of the trip, back at the Kansas City airport, my Terminal Girl (has nothing to due with airports, she's here forever) went to claim her bag, and I stood near the exit alone. An attractive middle-aged woman passed slowly by, and as she did, she looked me in the eye, smiled, and said, “You look awfully handsome.” As no stranger has ever remarked as such before, I took it to mean she, too, liked the kilt.


In between times there were many more compliments. Mostly by women, but occasionally from a man. The women were almost too many to count, but two stand out, both at Symphony Center as we awaited a concert.


While standing in a corridor reading posters announcing upcoming events, an elegant couple passed arm-in-arm, and as they did, she semi-sang, “I love it. I really love the kilt. I love it!” ending on a high note. He seemed perplexed by the brief aria, asking, “what was that all about?” I felt like applauding her performance. It wasn't what she said, but how she said it.


Again, when doors to the hall opened, and as we were walking in, an older woman, standing with elegant gentleman, reached out and touched my arm, and said she really loved the kilt. He glanced at here, then at me, and back to her with a look that said he was a bit surprised and shocked that she would pay such attention to a strange fellow. (Little does he know just how strange I am.)


Anyway, I think there's a lesson here. Guys, if you want to win over another man's girl, wear a kilt, and wear it often.


Two men who commented on the kilt during my trip were quite brief, but to me notable. The first said only “nice” drawing the word out for emphasis. The other, “I respect that.” Both simple but sincere remarks.


Life may restrict you to wearing the kilt only on special occasions. That's cool. But, if you can wear it regularly, and are uncertain as to whether you should or not, be not afraid, just do it. It's more acceptable than you might think. All I'd ask is don't be a poseur. Be one with the kilt. It's the Rabble Way.

[Gibtron]

Sounds like a awesome trip. I did the same thing on a recent trip to the North Carolina, after wearing nothing but kilts for the week I didn't want to go back to wearing pants. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

[Liam]

Great story....yesterday I had a first...as my wife and I walked into a pub we regularly go to for lunch, a guy sitting at the bar with a number of his friends says "Hello sexy".
I couldn't think of a response, so just ignored it and went to a table.

[416 Rigby]

Very nice!

[Reiver]

Great story....yesterday I had a first...as my wife and I walked into a pub we regularly go to for lunch, a guy sitting at the bar with a number of his friends says "Hello sexy".
I couldn't think of a response, so just ignored it and went to a table.

My wife told me this was a gay bar but I didn't believe her until now.....

[Liam]

My wife told me this was a gay bar but I didn't believe her until now.....

that is not the case here...

[Reiver]

that is not the case here...

I forgot the smiley face.....I know, would of been my comeback with a grin.

[tpa]

as my wife and I walked into a pub we regularly go to for lunch, a guy sitting at the bar with a number of his friends says "Hello sexy".
I couldn't think of a response, so just ignored it and went to a table.

Possibly just as well, he might have been talking to your wife. I've nearly made that mistake when someone said "Nice skirt" to my wife. I didn't because a female who was with him also thought he was talking about my kilt, but he corrected her. He was right it was a nice skirt!

[Gibtron]

I get hit on by more women than men when I go out for the evening. I am happy at home but it is always an ego boost when someone hits on me.

[tpa]

Life may restrict you to wearing the kilt only on special occasions. That's cool. But, if you can wear it regularly, and are uncertain as to whether you should or not, be not afraid, just do it. It's more acceptable than you might think. All I'd ask is don't be a poseur. Be one with the kilt. It's the Rabble Way.

Definitely sound advice. My wife often tells me when people reacting to my kilt, but I don't notice it. Most of the time, because I'm so used to it, I forget I am wearing anything different to anyone else and I'm certainly not looking for attention. If anyone says anything to me about it, naturally I'll react, hopefullly appropriately, but my hearing, especially for higher pitched voices is not brilliant, so I maybe miss some comments. Hopefully I don't appear to be being rude and ignoring them if that is the case.