So, this past weekend I went out for the first time kilted. While most of our local Celtic society were down in Tucson, Arizona for the festival I was in charge of our booth at the local university's International Fair.

I admit I was very nervous, even though I was going to an International Fair. The two guys in the parking lot who sniffed and snuffed (they actually did sound a little porcine) didn't increase my confidence level. Neither did the two little girls who came running up screaming "You're wearing a dress!" I know experienced X-Markers have dealt with that situation extremely well, but I was a little stunned. They seemed like such sweet kids as they ran up to our booth, all dressed in their Kenyan clothing for a dance number they were doing later. I didn't expect the snooty comment. But my volunteer, who was wearing his kilt as well, was very calm and nice as he corrected them.

The most exciting part of the day for me was - I thought at the time - non-kilt related. A Kenyan student, probably about my age, came up to our booth. Now, I am not an extrovert, so when I am doing a booth I tend to introduce myself and then just let people browse, rather than engaging them in conversation right off the bat. He looks over our displays and I see he is actually reading everything! Soon he looks up and asks a question about Celtic history. And man, we were off. Every answer I gave him seemed to raise another question in his mind. We talked for nearly 45 minutes, ranging from ancient migratory patterns of the early Celts to maritime customs, culinary practices, the importance of story-telling, history of the bagpipes, spiritual traditions, and the symbolism of the various flags of the Celtic regions - I couldn't believe how wide-ranging his interests were! And the whole time he was drawing comparisions to his culture. It was fantastic. At the end he quietly thanked me, smiled and shook my hand. As he walked away I realized I had just had an amazing conversation with a perfect stranger - had made a connection and exchanged ideas across cultures. And the whole time I was standing there in a kilt and it didn't matter. He didn't think it was odd. He simply saw it as part of my culture - a culture he wanted to understand better. For me, it was a pretty exciting moment.

Anyway, here are the two photos. One is by our apple tree and the other is on the back porch. This is my first kilt, which arrived last month. It is a USA Kilts casual in the Ireland's National tartan. I also got the belt and pin (with Irish harp pattern) and sporran from Rocky. (And as an aside I ordered my box-pleated kilt in the Ulster ancient tartan from Matt yesterday.)

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Your smile says it all - you look brilliant - well done!

Excellent outfit and first outing!

Well done

Cheers

Talk about becoming a baptized kilter! You dove into the middle of the lake and swam very well.

Kilts are an automatic conversation starter for seriously interested strangers. And, its interesting to compare cultures - particularly how unbifurcated garments for men seemed to naturally emerge in the olden days of yore.

And, so weird to get the stupid comments in Flagstaff, a well kilted city...guess there are always 2% who don't get the word.

Didn't know about the gig or might have driven down too. Were the Hopi's there in their "kilts?"

And hey, don't forget a Utilikilt for working in the garden.....

Ron

Great pictures, great look, and congratulations on your first kilted outing. It sounds like you made a fine representative for your society.

Nice kilt! That may be one of the most popular kilts on X Mark.

It sure is a pleasure to engage with someone who is truly curious, willing to follow their curiosity rather than their preconceptions. Botgh of you were enriched. Well done.


Dale

So very comfortable and natural in that look.

Good job!! Sounds like everything went well -- you had the initial comments, but it sounds your extendeded cross-cultural conversation much more than made up for that. Also, your kilt (and outfit) looks great!

Great job. Talk about a good day, first kilted outing and excellent conversation with somebody while kilted. Congratulations!

And I agree that the USAK Ireland's National seems to be some kind of de facto favorite kilt for many XMarkers.

Looking good! Sounds like you had a great day!

I know that the USAK Ireland's National is on my Christmas wish list!
(I left a printed out copy of the web page with my measurements on it on her nightstand :) )