Wolf whistled while in a kilt

[kingandrew]

I get compliments, questions, thumbs up, and picture taking whenever I wear the kilt. Depending on the event and place, I often get questions about my underclothes from women I don't know. None of this bothers me, as it is all presented in a friendly, smiling way. Walking anywhere in a kilt in Beijing can take time, since many passersby will ask you to pose for a picture with them. I always try to make the time, since it clearly brings them such pleasure and I see it as an opportunity to give them a good impression of foreigners. Most people in China have never met anyone from outside the country, although folks in Beijing do see plenty of tourists, businesspeople, and diplomats.

We did have a thread a while ago about some members of the Rabble being harassed by self-appointed "kilt inspectors" who "take matters into their own hands" by lifting the kilt to reveal what's underneath to the public at large. Such behavior is certainly unacceptable, but I have not personally encountered this sort of rudeness.

Enjoy the attention with a smile, as long as it doesn't involve unwanted physical harassment.

Andrew

[John_Carrick]

This is an occupational hazard. Women are generally being complimentary, men (usually young) sarcastic

[Jock Scot]

Its never happened to me in the Highlands. I do well remember my brother and I visiting Glasgow clad in our kilts in about 1944/5 and our kilts being given a really hostile reception by the locals, adults and children alike. I suppose its inevitable on occasion, sadly, if the kilt is worn in places where the kilt is not recognised or understood.

[neloon]

Its never happened to me in the Highlands. I do well remember my brother and I visiting Glasgow clad in our kilts in about 1944/5 and our kilts being given a really hostile reception by the locals, adults and children alike. I suppose its inevitable on occasion, sadly, if the kilt is worn in places where the kilt is not recognised or understood.

Maybe this experience has scarred you for life, Jock. You certainly seem to be against the kilt being worn outside the Highlands. I've never found any problems in Edinburgh where I lived for 4 years or even in England. If the kilt were so unknown in the Lowlands, why were/are there so many Highland dress shops throughout the Central Belt?

Alan

[Jock Scot]

It was certainly an unsettling experience Alan, but it was an early lesson in life that people from different places do see things differently and that has helped me through life on occasion.

The not wearing the kilt outwith the Highlands thing was something that my Grand Parents, father, mother, uncles, and their peers, my peers including teachers and assorted religious representatives always drummed into me and to my certain knowledge all those of my age group in my circle. Whilst I cannot speak for the Royal Family, I cannot help but notice that we do not see them wearing the CIVILIAN kilt outwith the Highlands often and never, as far as I am aware, outwith Scotland. Perhaps they might think the same way?

Given the myriad of pages of questions here on this website asked by those outwith the Highlands who are trying so desperately wear the kilt in a proper manner and frankly not always understanding Highland attire and therefore not always succeeding in their endeavours, I am more certain than ever I was, my elders had a point.

The fairly recent proliferation of hire shops in the Lowlands is easy to explain, I think. The largest proportion of the Scottish population are in the Lowlands and they on the whole have never worn the kilt until the last few years. Are they going to spend a large part of their wages on a kilt for themselves? Not, if they are not sure about the kilt and added to that, the traditional Lowland hostility to it adds to their caution, so what do they do? They quite understandably hire the kilt and in such numbers that the enterprising hire companies have expanded to keep up with demand.

[neloon]

I'm not really thinking of hire shops, Jock, which are indeed a recent phenomenon. Most of the larger local retailers in the 40s/50s/60s in the Central Belt had Highland Dress departments and, off the top of my head, I can think of a number of specialist kiltmakers e.g. Forsyths, Andersons, Lawrie, Highland Crafts etc. The wearing of the kilt in many private schools would have been partly responsible for providing a market but I do think you are underestimating the prevalence of general kilt wearing outwith the Highlands back in those days. Maybe you tried to dash through the Lowlands on your way south as quickly as possible.

Alan

[Jock Scot]

I spent many happy weeks as a child and young man in Dumfriesshire and Lanarkshire, pursuing, trout, salmon, grouse, deer and even young ladies of my age too and many an evening was spent in various country houses at drinks does and dances and even the occasional ball and a sight of the kilt was a rare event. It was not until I could drive and able to work to my own social agenda did I occasionally wear the kilt to a ball in the lowlands. I had worked out by then, that as the only kilt on show gave me an extra edge over my more silver tongued lowland friends when it came to the fair sex! Interestingly my father seemed to turn a blind eye to the kilt being worn outwith the Highlands when I brought a pretty young lady home to visit!