Why don't we see more men wearing kilts?

[Jock Scot]

So wearing a kilt gives a man a strong sense of masculinity and freedom and many women are attracted to men in kilts. So why do we see such a small number of men wearing kilts? I have never seen a man in a kilt where I live in Milford, PA (USA). Are we men too chicken? And in NYC maybe be once.

I suppose that we have to face up to the fact that as kilts have been around for long enough now, that if they were going to catch on, then by now they would have. So realistically I suppose, most men one way ,or, another don't like the look of them. Personally I am glad about that, as the kilt is "different" and "unusual" and even in Scotland not a common sight. It just makes the kilt a "cut above" everyone else's standard male attire and I like that.

[Peter Lowe]

Well I wear a kilt around forty times a year. Usually these are social occasions such as dinner,theatre or just a casual drink. I would not normally wear a kilt when I am gardening, shopping, doing jobs in the house or golfing. I do look for any excuse to wear it but it has to be appropriate. To help with the term "appropriate" I went to a golfing friend's funeral when I wore blazer, trousers and my Golf Club (neck)tie.

Just my 2p worth.

Peter

[MizzouScotsman]

I have no idea as to why more men don't wear this fine garment. I have recently decided to go kilted full time. I am on day 20 and enjoying every minute of it. I get so many nice compliments that it makes wearing them a joy. I get more ladies approaching me and talking about the kilt, giving me more smiles and winks. This of course makes the Mrs claws come out a bit but she knows that my heart is only for her...lol. She has accepted the fact that I'm going kilted full time and has embraced it enough to encourage me to order MORE kilts....It's no wonder I love her so much...lol.

[Tobus]

I suppose that we have to face up to the fact that as kilts have been around for long enough now, that if they were going to catch on, then by now they would have. So realistically I suppose, most men one way ,or, another don't like the look of them. Personally I am glad about that, as the kilt is "different" and "unusual" and even in Scotland not a common sight. It just makes the kilt a "cut above" everyone else's standard male attire and I like that.

*** to that. I actually prefer for the kilt not to be mainstream. Everything that goes mainstream ends up being ruined, commercialised, and bastardised. Kanye West was mentioned earlier in this thread. If more men start wearing kilts, that's the kind of foolishness that will follow. Do we really want the kilt to be hijacked by tweens, gangstas, hipsters, and other subcultures who will undoubtedly turn it into something else with an entirely different connotation? It's already been hijacked enough.

Also, consider that a well-made kilt is very expensive. Modern fashion trends just don't go into that sort of territory. The masses will buy some higher-priced garments in order to sport a particular label, but they really aren't interested in quality. Nor would the masses be willing to spend the kind of money it takes to buy a well-made kilt. So a mainstream kilt market would be one that is composed mostly of cheaply-made Asian imports and casual kilts, with cheap accessories. And though it may be snobbish of me to say so, I have to admit that when I see the rare kilted man in public who is wearing a cheap kilt with crappy accessories, I think to myself he should have just stuck with trousers.

[sailortats]

It just makes the kilt a "cut above" everyone else's standard male attire and I like that.

Aye Jock, you speak the truth.

[JohntheBiker]

We all know that wearing a kilt will make you the centre of attention, whether overt or covert. Women seem a lot more comfortable with that than men do. The only thing that would change men's attitude is more kilt wearing and consequently less attention. As Jock Scot correctly points out, that probably won't happen.

I guess that we will just have to put up with the attention!

[creagdhubh]

*** to that. I actually prefer for the kilt not to be mainstream. Everything that goes mainstream ends up being ruined, commercialised, and bastardised. Kanye west was mentioned earlier in this thread. If more men start wearing kilts, that's the kind of foolishness that will follow. Do we really want the kilt to be hijacked by tweens, gangstas, hipsters, and other subcultures who will undoubtedly turn it into something else with an entirely different connotation? It's already been hijacked enough.

Also, consider that a well-made kilt is very expensive. Modern fashion trends just don't go into that sort of territory. The masses will buy some higher-priced garments in order to sport a particular label, but they really aren't interested in quality. Nor would the masses be willing to spend the kind of money it takes to buy a well-made kilt. So a mainstream kilt market would be one that is composed mostly of cheaply-made asian imports and casual kilts, with cheap accessories. And though it may be snobbish of me to say so, i have to admit that when i see the rare kilted man in public who is wearing a cheap kilt with crappy accessories, i think to myself he should have just stuck with trousers.

***

Well said!!!

[jeanfor]

I have to say that in some places, it is not even attracting any attention and most of the time people do not notice at all. As far as the price of the kilt, it is possible to find used kilts that are very well made and spend much less than the price of a new high quality kilt. There are cheaper kilts that are still very decent especially if you you need a small size. My feeling is that the kilt is just another option that should be given to men, like women do have. It is possible that men do not wear kilts, because they do not want to make the extra effort to think how they are going to wear the kilt: what type of top, color.... Men have got used to spend only 5 minutes dressing up in the morning, they just need to pick a tie!

[Bearded Man Brew]

Personally, I would rather not to have kilts in the mainstream. For those who "dare", it offers a nice alternative to pants or shorts. I wouldnt discourage anyone from wearing a kilt, but I dont want to have them made horribly and in stores like H&M. I make all of my own kilts and know that time and passion that it takes to make a quality garment, especially when trying to line up stripes with tartan. I also agree that most people dont notice at all. I had a recent experience where I was talking at the pub with somone and an hour later, they said, "Oh, you have a kilt on". For me it is a way to express myself with what I wear and have a sense of accomplishment knowing that I have created it myself.

[Nile]

It just makes the kilt a "cut above" everyone else's standard male attire and I like that.

Well said Jock; I like that about the kilt as well. Wearing the kilt is a unique way to dress that is tied to a cultural, heritage and/or identity and not some fad that has to be changed, radicalized, altered, etc. to keep it selling to those who want something different, for a while. As Tobus said: "Do we really want the kilt to be hijacked by tweens, gangstas, hipsters, and other subcultures who will undoubtedly turn it into something else with an entirely different connotation? It's already been hijacked enough."

I think it's great that men all over the world are discovering the kilt as a comfortable garment and many of those are finding it a connection to their cultural heritage (or other identity) and wearing it with ease and pride.

As kilt wearers, we may be in the minority but, that shouldn't stop us from getting out there in our kilts. It demonstrates that we march to the beat of our own drummer (pipes in the background, of course).

Nile