Full Time?

[arrogcow]

1. Do you wear kilts full time or have that as a goal?

I wear a kilt of some kind 95% of the time. There are (rare) instances where being bifurcated ( or at least wearing something that if I ruin it I can throw away and not care) comes in handy.

2. Why?

Kilts are comfortable, practical and darn it I look good.

3. Do you believe promotion of full time kilt wearing is important?

Promotion of full time wear - no, promotion of wearing kilts when you want to - yes.

4. Why?

Guys should wear what they want, when they want. Now having said that, it still drives me crazy when I run into strangers and they tell me that they have a UK (happens alot). My response is, "Well then why aren't you wearing it?" I'm not talking about at work or church, but on a hot summer's day at the local flea market. Yeah the guy should wear pants if he wants, but really what kind of nut wants to?

5. Do you believe kilts will ever be considered a mainstream fashion choice for men?

(Below is a response I made to this same question on the UK Yahoo group - it was written about UK's specifically, but I think it applies to kilts in general NOTE: it was written over a year ago.)

It depends, around me it is an everyday sight (people see me every day). Having said that, I know that there are at least 50 UK owners in the area (Cincinnati), and I have yet to see anyone else other that at a specific Celtic event (two exceptions, a party at my house and at work once with another guy I convinced to buy one). I think only time will tell how accepted it will become. 20-25 years ago earrings were an extremely rare sight on guys, even 10 years ago, I almost lost a job when I pierced my ear because I was in a play. Today, guys with earrings have become fairly commonplace.

Some of it will be exposure. Ashton Kutcher's picture in People Magazine probably helped more than anyone can imagine. Regardless of the caption, I'm sure many 20 something guys (or their girlfriends) have gone on the web to find a cammo kilt.

Mostly it will take time. The Utilikilt Co. has sold over 27,000 kilts in only 4 1/2 years, and there are 8-10 other casual kilt makers out there today. I think that with in 5 years, most people will see the occasional guy in a kilt at least once a month. In ten years people will probably see 1-2 a week, and in 20 years it will not be unusual to see a guy in some kind of MUG. Time will tell if I' being optimistic or pessimistic on my time line.

The biggest problem is the initial fear. When I first learned about UK's, I wanted one, but really expected to wear it only or rare occasions (around the house, maybe to an art opening around some of my weirder friends). On the other hand, I learned that 99% of direct feedback has been positive about me wearing one, so now wear one most of the time.

But fear is still a big factor to most guys. I recently was talking about kilts to a guy, and his response was that yes, it looked great, it was obviously comfortable and practical (this was on a TV show set where I have pockets crammed with gear that I could never carry in pants), but that he "wouldn't have the balls," (his words) to rear it. Now this guy looks like Mel Gibson, is in obviously good shape and has an extremely hot girlfriend. He could put on a TUTU and people would not question his masculinity, but he was still afraid to try because of what people might say behind his back.

As I have said before, "I'm the ultimate corformist. I think everyone should be like me."

Adam

[NewKilt]

1. Do you wear kilts full time or have that as a goal?

Yes, I wear kilts full time.

2. Why?

At first, it was for comfort due to medical problems. Now, it is not just for comfort. I like the appearance, the history, and my ancestral ties to the kilt.

3. Do you believe promotion of full time kilt wearing is important?

No.

4. Why?

I think people should wear what they want, when they want. I respect the men who wear a kilt part-time, as well as those that are kilted full-time. I would not attempt to talk anyone into wearing a kilt. I simply tell people why I wear one. So, in a sense, I'm promoting it, but not trying to convince anyone that they should do the same, and do so on a full-time basis

5. Do you believe kilts will ever be considered a mainstream fashion choice for men?.

I recall reading somewhere that the majority of the world's male population actually wears some form of MUG. I don't see the kilt replacing other MUGS that are worn due to custom and nationality. I think we will see a continuos increase in the number of men in the US that are willing to wear a kilt, but I do not feel that it will become mainstream in the US. Perhaps sometime in the future it may gain parity with trousers.

Darrell

[Graham]

I can understand how a casual visitor to this board might be left with the mistaken impression that this (FULL TIME KILTWEARING) is the goal of all who decide to wear the kilt.

Sorry Blu, but I disagree.
What I see here is men getting very excited about discovering the freedom of the kilt and wanting to wear the kilt as much as their respective situations allow.

I know that when we get really enthusiastic about something, our enthusiasm just bubbles over and some may get the impression that other should do as we are doing.
I know I'm guilty of that within my circle of friends, they think that when meeting me they also should wear kilts, drink single malt and be vegetarian.
I just get excited, as we all do here.

I for one am not concerned as to whether a member wears the kilt full time, part time or just sometimes. However, when they DO wear the kilt, this forum is about encouraging them to feel good and confident about it.

[Ugly Bear]

There are several reasons why I believe kilts will never become mainstream.

1. They have deep roots as ethnic attire. Most people have a general understanding that there is a strict entitlement associated with it.

2. With a few exceptions, kilts beyond the scope of ethnic costume are generally treated with disdain by the media or they are regarded as a novelty.

But the definition of what a kilt is is changing. Thanks to Utilikilts and their contemporaries, there are now kilts of completely non-ethnic identity.

3. Thay are expensive when compared to trousers.

4. There is no incentive for retailers to make them generally available off the peg.

At the moment, a retailer would not sell them, sure. But the market is growing (slowly). A tipping point will be reached when enough men realize that they are ready for a change, that they are not comfortable locked in trousers, and that all that's keeping them in trousers is sartorial dogma. I believe everyone on this board made such a decision at one point, and I believe that all men are capable of reaching the same conclusion we have. We will eventually have enough numbers that even the insecure guy can make the change. That tipping point is coming in 5-7 years.

When the tipping point comes, contemporary kilts will become market-safe, and prices will come down (this has been discussed extensively in another thread). The traditional kilts will also see an increased demand, but not as dramatic as the new market.

5. There is the fear that kilts beyond the scope of ethnic costume are seen as female attire.

6. There is the fear of being laballed idiosyncratic (along with those who immerse themselves in Star Trek attire or dress as anime characters - called "cosplay".)

7. Beyond the internet, there is nothing on the horizon with enough influence to change the above in a significant way.

There have been lots of things men have been afraid of over the years: longer hair in the '60s, shorter hair in the '80s, bike shorts, hair dryers, you name it. Each of these taboos fell when enough men adopted them. So it shall be with kilts.

In three years, I've never had anyone think I was wearing girlie clothes, or playing dress-up. Never. The only comments I've gotten regard the gutsiness in wearing a kilt, contemporary or traditional.

Nothing beyond the internet to change the above? Would Utilikilts be a success if they confined their sales to Seattle and their road shows? Would any of the new kiltmakers following their footsteps survive without the internet? Do traditional kiltmakers without a website ignore and squander a small but growing market, to their own detriment? The internet is plenty, even if it's the ONLY driving force.

Besides, what "drove" previous changes in accepted norms? Nothing, to my knowledge, "made" blue jeans acceptable as everyday wear.

The tipping point is coming. It'll take a little while, but it's on its way. Everyone who gets upset at these johnny-come-latelies in their new kilts stealing the old-timers' individuality, I say go out and find the next New Big Thing. You'll find it, I trust you.

[Blu (Ontario)]

... What I see here is men getting very excited about discovering the freedom of the kilt and wanting to wear the kilt as much as their respective situations allow....

Obviously... and these questions will hopefully help us non-full-timers to understand some of the reasoning behind the complete abandonment of trousers. I'm not qualified to pass judgement on any of this... I'm just making observations and letting the members here fill in the blanks.

... when they DO wear the kilt, this forum is about encouraging them to feel good and confident about it.

Form various remarks here and elsewhere, it would seem that many men would be more confident about trying it if they thought kilts were more generally accepted. ie. If more men wore kilts, then more men would wear kilts... etc. etc.

[mddock58]

1. Do you wear kilts full time or have that as a goal?
My goal is to be comfortable in whatever I wear. I plan on wearing the kilt as much as I can, where I can.

2. Why?
Comfort basically.

3. Do you believe promotion of full time kilt wearing is important?
I think confident wearing of the kilt is promotion enough. But if they ask, I let them know

4. Why?
As I said, the kilt will promote itself. Shoving opinions down someone's throat never receives positive reaction, no matter how someone views the kilt, how you wear it will say more than you can.

5. Do you believe kilts will ever be considered a mainstream fashion choice for men?
I really don't care! That said, I hope they are more accepted, and hope my attitude and actions help those I am in contact with to accept kilts as just another man's garment.

[furrycelt]

"1. Do you wear kilts full time or have that as a goal?"
I don't now, but I want to.

"2. Why?"
because they are comfortable, and I like to go against the grain, and I love my Scottish heritage (though not all my full-time-wearin' kilts would be of tartans)

"3. Do you believe promotion of full time kilt wearing is important?"
not really.

"4. Why?"
I think we should promote the fact that men in occidental society live in fear of *what others think*. We (by and large) are tragically insecure and pathetically homophobic. Both of these I feel are symptoms of a much deeper issue: we have lost our sense of masculine identity. We are reaping the benefits of a post-feminism aftermath.

"5. Do you believe kilts will ever be considered a mainstream fashion choice for men?"
As hopeful as I would like to be, as much as I want kilts to be accepted, I really doubt they will become a fashion staple. I don't think pants will ever go away, nor do I want them to -- at times they can be practical. But people fear and dislike change as much as they fear and dislike freedom, and for some kilts, might offer too much "freedom".

[Blu (Ontario)]

...... we have lost our sense of masculine identity. We are reaping the benefits of a post-feminism aftermath.

Interesting thought.... I'd not considred it in quite those terms.