Just a funny story from Friday night

[Cynthia]

I wasn't feeling like going out Friday. I mainly wanted to relax and be with my sweetie. We both really want to see the movie Hellboy II, and Christopher had a moment of "ahhh!" that hit him at one point that evening. He said to me "I'll wear the kilt if we go tonight!!!" He very quickly got a bit of a deer-caught-in-headlights look because he is still very shy about wearing the kilt out in situations like that and I guess he realized what he'd just blurted out.

I almost agreed to it, but that's just how blah I felt about going out. Oooh, so close ;) We definitely need to get him some nice black combat boots or hiking boots so he can dress more casually, though. Had I agreed, he'd probably have felt the need to wear a tie or fretted about what to wear with it.

I'll have to remember that next time I ask him to wear the kilt out and he says "no", though ;) I did ask him what he would have done had I agreed, and he told me he'd have worn it.

We'll stick to getting him used to wearing it out to pubs/kilt nights/celtic heritage events and things like that so he can work up to Friday night at the movies or anything else like that.

Just thought that was amusing (and I can't believe I didn't agree to it *slaps forehead*... what was I thinking? )

[Splash_4]

That is a great story! When I first got into kilting, my wife had to encourage me to wear it out in public as well. Now she has to let me know when not to wear it....

[12stones]

Put him on a reward system for wearing the kilt out (sans tie)... I won't go into any detail, but I'm sure you can figure something out. That will get him kilted daily when you go out in public.

[Nick the DSM]

doggie treats? but get those beggin' strips, they taste good unlike some other dog treats!!

[Cynthia]

I definitely don't want to push him too much yet. I was just shocked he offered it (and really shocked I didn't say yes).

But I did make him sweat for about a minute while I got an evil little look on my face and grinned at him while I thought about it

He has told me having more accessories will help a bit. Once he's finished losing weight, we can get him more kilts as well.

[MarkReaves]

I would probably be a bit shy wearing a kilt in public the first few times. However, I'm a shy person myself. I would enjoy it just to stay in the shadows out of sight.

However, I also believe that if you care what others think about you, you will be controlled by them. So basically, I have no reason to be shy because I don't care what others think of me. I am my own person.

As for "rewards", after a few times in public, I'm sure he will start wearing the kilt more often. Just make sure you keep his confidence high and encourage him. If some idiot puts him down for wearing a kilt, I would "put them down... on the floor" but that's just me. You could probably easily make the idiot feel stupid for saying anything bad about your guy in a kilt. Be creative in this and if some idiot comes along, it might just encourage your guy more.

[Cynthia]

Oh definitely He gets tons of encouragement from me (and tons of compliments, and grins, and... you get the idea).

We've fortunately never had any bad moments yet the few times he's been out in public kilted, but I'm sure I will step in (still being a lady, of course) and put that person in their place. Unless he beats me to it... and then I'll give him tons more encouragement and compliments

I know he'll eventually get a better feel for it and settle into his choices for when and where to wear it... I definitely don't want him to have any forced situations (especially negative ones) that might cause him to reconsider. I don't think it would be that bad, but since he hasn't had an experience like that I don't know how it might affect him.

[siva011]

You could probably easily make the idiot feel stupid for saying anything bad about your guy in a kilt. Be creative in this and if some idiot comes along, it might just encourage your guy more.

My fiancee is quicker than I am to give it back to any idiot who makes nasty comments. And she knows it works too. The hagglers do it to be macho, and an attractive woman looking at them like their idiots hits them right in their ego.

I also don't really care what others think, but it's nice to have support and that WILL encourage him to be more comfortable. I'd wear the kilt regardless, but having her support just makes it that much better.

Don't push him, but at the same time let him know he has 100% of your support. It will help, and he'll most likely love it like we all do!

[sharpdressedscot]

Ironic, the first time I wore the kilt out was to the movies.


He'll come to it in time.

[hospitaller]

I can fully understand his point about 'having more accesories'.

When I first went out kilted, it was to walk my dogs.
I thought, well, its time for you to go out as you can not be kilted only at home, that's silly.
So out I went.

For visuals, being my first kilt, my outfit was super simple, a solid black SWK economy, some navy hose with green flashes, a self made camera bag/sporran, some walking shoes and I think a dark blue t-shirt on.

While I was home it felt like I was kicking **** and looked like a million bucks.

As soon as I hit the street...boy I felt like the entire neighborhood was staring at me thru their windows.

I managed to walk the dogs, came back home and asked the wife to take a photo for me to upload to the forum, really proud and all.

Well, to my utter dismay, a mirror is not the same as a picture/real life thru someone else's eyes.

I looked horrible in that outfit...no color coordination...the dark hose with the walking shoes didnt match...the hose and the kilt looked too formal...but not the shoes...and the t-shirt...and that NASTY camera bag/sporran I made?

YUK-O!

So, I decided the best course of action was to focus on accesories, such as a couple of day sporrans, several hose in multiple colors, flashes (self made), a couple of nice belts (2.5" - 3" help to disguise my equatorial gut)...and here's the kicker...a couple of polos, tees and 1 safari shirt.

That way im sure your laddie will be able to pull casual, semi-dressy and dressy outfits for every occasion.

And yes, after I got a couple new things, I was able to match colors, chose styles and my confidence level went ballistic.

Im sure it will be the same for him, so encourage him and as theothers have mentioned, let him progress at his own pace.

Thanks for sharing!