Proliferation of kilts in the UK...

[Captain]

Okay, the wife is not a big fan of the kilt... she spent her childhood with an alcoholic father who always drew the wrong kind of attention while they were in public, so any attention is now bad... Guess what a kilt does? Yeah, you guys know...

Anyway, recently during one of our spats about the kilt she said that even in Scotland, England, and Ireland they don't wear kilts everyday, so why should I? So what's the scoop? I've never been there, so I can't agree or disagree with her, but I know a lot of our members are from that side of the pond... Is kilt wearing fairly predominate over there, or is it as big of an oddity there as it is here in America? Something tells me that my wife may be drastically wrong on this one...

[Blu (Ontario)]

.... Something tells me that my wife may be drastically wrong on this one...

Methinks your wife may be drastcally right.

There's been lots of discussion on that point in past threads.

...even in Scotland, England, and Ireland they don't wear kilts everyday,...

This is rare anywhere... although perhaps more common now in Seattle.

If that is your goal, my suggestion is to take it slow. It's an awakening of sorts.... for both of you.

.

[Rigged]

What difference does it make? What you wear is your own business.

It wasn't common for women to wear pants in public back in the '70s (unless they were hippies, biker chicks, or openly gay).

If it weren't for a handful of pioneers, the majority of women would still be in skirts and dresses. Somebody has to be first -- or third -- or tenth.

Don't get sucked into a spurious argument that you can't win.

[MacTavishOfJapan]

Kilts seem to be thought of as formal wear for special occasions back home in Scotland. :confused:

[GatorUK]

When I was stationed in Scotland ('78-'81) the Scots mainly wore kilts for special events..weddings, funerals, highland games, Burns night, etc. That trend probably had a lot to do with the cost of a quality kilt. But then again it was not an 'oddity' to see a man in a kilt as it is considered the 'National Dress' in Scotland although not worn daily.

But the argument that because the Scots and the Irish don't wear kilts daily so you shouldn't doesn't hold water. In the UK they drive on the left side of the road daily, doesn't mean you should do so here. There are some in the UK that do wear them daily (Hamish might know one or two) and there are some here also.

Now that we've shot down that argument, what's her next one??

[bubba]

If it weren't for a handful of pioneers, the majority of women would still be in skirts and dresses.

This would be bad how? :rolleyes:

[Graham]

This would be bad how? :rolleyes:

I agree, I love to see women in skirts and dresses much more than jeans etc.
Rigged is right tho' in saying we are pioneers.
Sometimes when people ask me why I wear a kilt all the time I just tell them I'm a fashion pioneer

Kilts are unique, we are pioneers of something new, but also very old. We look both forward and backward by wearing a kilt.

Be patient with your wife Captain, it took my wife quite a while to accept my kilt wearing. I was firm, but mindful of her feelings.
When I buy a new kilt I like to buy her a dress, or some other gift.

When you go out together, and you're kilted, make sure you tell you wife how great she looks. This has helped us stay faithful together for nearly thirty years.

[McClef]

One could argue that kilt ownership in the UK is growing, but a special event mentality still limits how often they are worn.

There are a few dedicated kilties here and there who wear them more or less everyday and it's our choice to do so, hopefully inspiring others who have kilts to wear them more often and those who don't to consider getting one.

As to the ladies, I was amused when shopping yesterday to see so many in bifurcated garments and would have responded to any that made a comment - "well somebody has to wear a skirt!"

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

During our little journey over the pond a few weeks ago, I saw only 2 other people in kilts. The piper performing in on the bridge for donations, and Derek in Wales. Which made me stand out the same as I do when I go out at home, and also got my picture taken with a number of other tourists!

[McClef]

You would have seen 3 others if I hadn't been away in Cyprus

But if it's any consolation 3 was all I saw in the Scottish highands in July (besides myself).

Going to a ceilidh in Edinburgh weekend after next - expect to see loads then!