A case of the giggles

[sporranlegionaire]

All this colour co-ordination stuff seems to turn out to be quite critical. And I think it can err on the side of overstatement in some cases.
For example:
Yesterday I visited a remote shopping and leisure centre a few miles out of town, in kilt, with my creamy white goat skin sporran and creamy white hose to match. I think this was a big mistake as all that white looked too 'twee' for the occasion. I sensed one or two giggles going on behind me in queues at the checkout whilst I was paying for some items.
So my creamy white hose and matching creamy white goat hair sporran are going back in the closet. From now on it's unkempt scrunched down black socks, my oldest plain black slightly battered sporran, and a rough looking black leather bomber jacket.
Now pushing 61 it starts to get a little more difficult to look like a 'casual cool dude in a kilt, with quavering dress sense'.
Do others sometimes feel that they've over-formalised, and had to live with a totally out of place look for a few hours?

[PiobBear]

Do others sometimes feel that they've over-formalised, and had to live with a totally out of place look for a few hours?

No, I can't remember the last time that happened (It'd be just as embarassing to show up for a formal event "over-casualized"). I always strive to dress appropriate to the occasion, and if I ever have a question regarding the level of dress expected, I ask. It's really no more complex than Sassenach dress...actually it's somewhat easier; with a kilt I have the direct equivalent of blue jeans, slacks & a blazer, a conservative business suit, or a tuxedo all in one garment. It's simply a matter of knowing how to dress properly.

[McFarkus]

with a kilt I have the direct equivalent of blue jeans, slacks & a blazer, a conservative business suit, or a tuxedo all in one garment. It's simply a matter of knowing how to dress properly.

Well put!

[sporranlegionaire]

First off, sorry, my posting should have been within the current 'White hose...' thread and not as a new one.
I don't go to formal occasions as there aren't any that I know of in Devon...nor many (or any?) others who wear kilts for that matter (apart from an ecouraging correspondence from someone on Devon's south coast). Any opportunities to mix/meet with other kilted fellows, and show off my latest getup, is therefore zilch.
This is essentially an agricultural, dairy farming and seaside and ice cream county...kilts don't even come into the equation, and are as incongruous as perchancing a lawnmower salesman in the Sahara. I would imagine, this goes for much of England. There's not even the trendy cut of a Utilikilt in sight. To wear one of them on an evening downtown is probably just asking for a bloody nose, issued by a posse of farmhands the worse for too many jars of rough cider at 'The Flat Hedgehog'
So it's basically a case of dressing in a way that looks the least peculiar to the locals, which, let's face it, is pretty well impossible if a kilt is the main feature.
I prefer wearing kilts, but the only way it really works here is to come across as a guy who has a bizarre choice of garment. I'll get shot down for saying that, but you actually have to live in this part of the world as, so far it seems, a solo kiltist, to realise that it is unquestionably a bizarre image. Even if I were Scottish.
Wearing dainty whitish hose as well is a very big no-no.

[Howard Clark]

Next time I come to Plymouth to see my friend I will pack a kilt or two. It is just as unusual here, in Iowa.

White hose, though, I dunno about that. ;)

[sporranlegionaire]

Next time I come to Plymouth to see my friend I will pack a kilt or two.

Please do. At least then there'll be three of us.

[James MacMillan]

Do others sometimes feel that they've over-formalised, and had to live with a totally out of place look for a few hours?

I never feel that way!

Let's say I'm all dressed up in my evening attire and I'm in my truck driving to the event, and I need to stop for gas. Am I now out of place? Nope, I'm just dressed differenty than the grease monkey who works there.

[macwilkin]

Next time I come to Plymouth to see my friend I will pack a kilt or two. It is just as unusual here, in Iowa.

White hose, though, I dunno about that. ;)

I take it you haven't been to any of the functions of the Scottish Heritage Society of Iowa, or the Scottish games in Cedar Rapids, then?

Iowa has a fairly active Scottish-American community:

http://www.haggis-iowa.com/

http://www.iowascots.org/

Regards,

Todd

*apologies for the OT post.

[3fingerslinger]

That's absolutely miserable that you feel you would get beat up wearing your kilt in public!!!---I've never received any reaction to the kilt that was threatening, (the mohawk I used to sport yes, but never the kilt) what are you going to do?????

[Roan Carter]

I once showed up at a party wearing a black rabbit sporran.
I felt kinda dumb. Thankfully, I was able to sit at a table and I have a feeling quite a few of the people had blurry vision.

Also, I find that kilts with lots of white draw snickers.
Red kilts get as much attention, but slightly more respect.