Being an Ambassador

**crboltz** · 13th March 10, 10:33 AM

In the theatre department which I teach, we have been presenting the play "The Exonerated" for the last few weeks. Part of my duties are House Managing (helping audiences get from the box office to their seats). For many of the performances I was kilted (some nights in my 8 yard Scotland made, prince charlie etc., some nights in a casual vest, and my SWK nightstalker). I had a couple of great experiences.
1) I heard two teenagers whispering and pointing. Finally one walked up to me and asked "Where did you get your kilt? Its great!" I gave them Stillwater's web info, and when we discussed the cost the one said: "Wow that's the same cost as my jeans!"
2) One of the ushers told me of several audience members saying how classy it was to have a guy in a kilt in the lobby.
3) I had one audience member give me the information of the local scottish society. (I thanked her, but declined to explain that my celtic heritage comes from my husband and my local area is not the most glbt friendly place I've ever lived -- but its not the worst)
4) I had two audience members ask me details of the kilt I was wearing last night and we had a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of wool kilts vs. synthetic materials for kilts.

Over all, I heard one negative comment, and many positives. I hope two things: One, I hope I will inspire others to wear the kilts more, and two: I was a good ambassador, and will eventually have more people dressing stylishly the way they want not just confining themselves to society's narrow list of prescribed cloths. (With he minor fear of moving off topic, but my kilt wearing has inspired several of my students to wear cloths that celebrate their cultural heritage beyond jeans and t-shirts, and I am very proud of that, and one student told me how thrilled his dad was that my student has been wearing his cultural dress more often)

Cheers
Chris

**Bugbear** · 13th March 10, 11:03 AM

That's neat, Chris.

Do you have your husband wearing kilts yet?

**crboltz** · 14th March 10, 08:10 AM

Ted,
My husband has a few kilts of his own, and he is gaining more. My kilts have begun to grow in the closet. 2 of my kilts, which fit perfectly when I bought them, have expanded to the point that even with it buckled the smallest way possible, and a belt, I am inconstant fear of loosing the battle over my kilt with gravity. He is eyeing my beloved SWK Nightstalker, and at that rate it is growing, it will soon be my husbands. He already wears my USA Freedom Tartan kilt more often than I do (But the velcro allows me to wear that one as well). I wouldn't mind sharing except that due to the financial situation, we don't have the money to replace my growing kilts with slightly smaller ones.

Ahh well, if he wears more kilts, I still win. A man in a kilt is a man and half!
Cheers
Chris

**Bugbear** · 14th March 10, 08:40 AM

Congratulations on the growing kilts.

I understand not being able to afford new kilts.

Hope things work out, though.

I guess that would be fun to have two kilt wearers in the family that were about the same kilt size.

Keep him looking sharp.

**Riverkilt** · 14th March 10, 10:53 AM

Great story! Good on you.

Do check out kilt strap extenders. Know USA Kilts and Celtic Croft offer them. That's how I solved the battle of the bulge for my hand sewn kilts. Does look a little different to have two buckles showing, but kinda fits in with the metal look, or you can wear a sweater and cover the extensions.

Kilts hold their value and you might consider selling the too small kilt and using the proceeds towards a larger kilt. I've done that too. Works. No jones for the buyer.

**Bugbear** · 14th March 10, 11:02 AM

Hmmm, I read it differently, Riverkilt. It sounds like Chris is losing inches, and his kilts are too large; the buckles can be moved without too much trouble, though.
I apologize, Chris, if I have misread your post.

I'm trying to remember, Chris, were you all kilted at your wedding?

I just remember you saying something about the grooms on the cake sinking because it hadn't been iced.

**Riverkilt** · 14th March 10, 11:52 AM

Duh...thanks Ted....I was reading the wrong thing expanding...sooo embarrassing...Aye yi yi!

So sorry Chris...the concept of losing weight is so totally foreign to me...congrats.

But the sell and buy a new SMALLER size may still be an option...

Geez...someone got a towel...need to wipe this egg off my face...

Aging isn't for the meek...it gets worse every day...

**Bugbear** · 14th March 10, 12:14 PM

There, there, Ron. It's all ok. Just wrap your self in a leather security kilt, and you'll feel better.

Anyway, I was interested if Chris or his husband were kilted at his wedding.

here is ScottInNewHampshire's thread on his Commitment Ceremony from a while back:
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/c...x.html?t=42021

**crboltz** · 14th March 10, 06:34 PM

Ron, I didn't post about the growing kilts because I feared raising the ire of the many in this group who complain of the shrinking kilt.

Ted, I was kilted at my wedding, the pics are at:
http://www.chrisnjim.com/weddingphotos/index.html

Beyond the kilt in the photos, my husband (the one with the short hair in the photos), has an Irish American Tank, and a SWK black shadow tartan (and as I said his eye on my USA Freedom and my SWK nightstalker)

Cheers
Chris

**Riverkilt** · 14th March 10, 06:48 PM

Thought you'd posted a few wedding pics on the forum (?) Hadn't seen all these - thanks. The young lads in kilts were so cool...that they'd wear them so proudly speaks well of the future of kilting.