Is this how you feel?

[Martin S]

This attack was unprovoked and unfair. Martin asked the man why he didn't wear the kilt and he got an answer.

Your response presupposes that Martin had bad intent when there is no evidence of that. You should apologize.

No need for apologies.
I realized from the very first reply that my message was not as clear as it should have been (for people that read too fast).

As Bob guessed, I am on good bantering terms with the gentleman in question; he did not take my question badly, so why should anyone else?

His arrival sans kilt, and his answer, were support for my feeling that a lot of us need a lot of encouragement and moral support to appear in public.

I surmised a reason; sorry if that upset some people.

Martin, who will try to be clearer in future.

[Panache]

There are those that wear kilts all the time and those you wear them only for special occasions. I'm somewhere in the middle, wearing them about 3-4 times a week. Some days I feel like wearing them, some days not. It depends on what I'm doing and how I feel.

Now when one of the gang shows up to our monthly Beer...err Kilt Nights without one they are given a gentle teasing (including me). It's all in fun much like I imagine this interaction with Martin and his classmate was.

Perhaps the gentleman only wears them for Scottish Country Dancing.

That's absolutely fine by me. All the gentlemen in my SCD class, save myself and the teacher, do that.

Perhaps the gentleman in question didn't feel right wearing one that day.

That's fine in my eyes too. Wouldn't the world be boring if we all did the same thing all the time.

Perhaps the gentleman in question doesn't feel right wearing a kilt without his wife.

I know when I have the lovely Flame-Haired Celtic Amazon Goddess on my arm I feel 10 feet tall and like a million bucks.

I certainly don't mind people looking closely at everyday events and think about the philosophical issues behind them. But care must be taken that one's own perceptions don't cloud the questions raised. For example:

I was in my SCD class a few weeks ago and I noticed one of our lady members was wearing a very striking maroon-based tartan wool kilted skirt.
At the break I walked up to her and asked her what the tartan was? She looked at me and said "Gee, I don't know. I just thought it was nice looking skirt." The F-H.C.A.G. laughed at the expression on my face! My lovely wife then said "that was an answer that never would have occurred to you."

And she was right!

By the by,

I run a Scottish dancing club, and the men all come in kilts.

What a great class it must be. As I mentioned above there are only two of us males who wear kilts to the weekly class. I am tempted to show up one day in pants in class just to shock everyone!


Cheers

Panache

[mcvarmit]

i wear a kilt when i feel like it, i feel no obligation to be kilted or to wear levis, i am comfortable in either.

slick

[Martin S]

What a great class it must be

It's usually good fun.
The difference between France and USA, is that our weekly "classes" are all we have, unlike you all who get dances and balls up & down the country.
There are only three events a year within easy reach, and even those are too far for most of our dancers.

See you on the floor one day, Panache!

Martin

[Macman]

"But in all seriousness, I have to admit that I was at first apprehensive about wearing a kilt without my wife or friend(s) around.

I'll admit to this. I've been wearing the kilt for 35 years, not full-time, but by myself, with friends, and with my wives, in all sorts of places. Never a worry. Then last year, at the local beer festival, my wife and I (kilted) were walking around tasting beers and enjoying the weather. She took off to buy a bottle of water. All of a sudden I felt like I had two heads. I don't know why. I just felt kind of exposed; no big deal, but weird nonetheless.

[cessna152towser]

Its interesting to hear that men wear kilts to Scottish dance class in France and that there are only a few dances per year. Here in Scotland, when my wife and I were younger we would go to Scottish dance class on Tuesday evenings and usually a dance with a live band on a Friday or Saturday evening. While I would usually wear a kilt to the weekend dance as would many other men, none of us wore kilts to the Tuesday practices.

[Panache]

Martin,

There happens to be several chapters of the RSCD association within reasonable driving distance ( Monterey, Santa Cruz, Mountain View, Berkeley, and San Francisco, and I believe a few others). The classes I and the F-H.C.A.G. take are in the Campbell chapter smack dab in the middle of them. There is a monthly dance hosted each month from Fall through Spring by one of the Chapters. Our skill level is such that after attending our first dance (after only three classes) that we decided we needed more classes before attempting another. We just learned "Rights and Lefts" for three couples and feel we may be up to speed enough to try another dance.

The one we went to, even though it was a bit overwhelming for us at our novice skill level, was filled with very friendly people. Watching these experienced dancers in action, dressed in all their finery, was quite wonderful.

Once we are comfortable attending dances we will officially join the RSCD.


Cheers

Jamie

It's usually good fun.
The difference between France and USA, is that our weekly "classes" are all we have, unlike you all who get dances and balls up & down the country.
There are only three events a year within easy reach, and even those are too far for most of our dancers.

See you on the floor one day, Panache!

Martin

[Gary Krueger]

I don't much like to drive with a kilt on...only because I don't have the right moves down to smooth the back pleats before ploping down on the car seat. I do drive with it on, and I fill the tank and shop for groceries etc. My wife doesn't have a problem. We held a post St. Patrick's day party last Sunday (or St. Joseph's day if you prefer) and I wore my Ross kilt with green socks and my soft shoes. Not a comment from our guests. Guess they know me well enough by now.

[Hamish]

As one who, until comparitively recently, has passionately enjoyed Scottish Country Dancing for some 57 years, I just wish to make the comment that I truly do not believe it is possible to correctly perform certainly the steps, and maybe some of the movements, of this art when wearing trousers or trews. Shorts might just cut it as an alternative to the kilt, but they come a very poor second to the real thing!

As for the main thrust of this thread: I have always advised newcomers to kilt wearing to take their first kilted steps in public, accompanied by a partner or a friend. If that person is a female of the species, so much the better, but the gender is not that important. The fact that one is not alone on the street at a time when one is perhaps feeling particularly vulnerable, seems to ward off most of the taunts and unpleasant comments we all fear.

Now, after just short of 8 years of constant and daily kilting in a trouser-free life, my confidence has grown beyond measure and I seldom give a moment's thought to any personal need for company - although, if I have it I welcome and enjoy it!

[Blu (Ontario)]

.... Is this the way you Xmarkers feel about kilt-wearing?.... Do you have to be accompanied to appear in public? (by a female to prove you are not gay? is that it?).... I really think it is the fear of having to stop on route and being seen kilted.

Not at all....

I've been many, many, many places solo in a kilt. In the very beginning I was quite self concious. I think most men are as kilt newbies. I would wear trousers to travel and change into a kilt upon arrival.

It's nice to see a man in a kilt anytime. But I have to acknowledge that not every kilt wearer has the same penchant for them as I do. For me the positives of the experience outweighs the potential negatives.

Experience = confidence = enjoyment = more please!