Topless Kilting

[bear]

I lost about 50 lbs when I started construction at 47. (Almost killed me.) Now I ride my bike a lot and I bought a Total Gym. Another 20 lbs to go, hopefully in time to be lean for summer.

Thanks Ali. It's funny. I don't see faults when I see a woman in a bathing suit. I just smile. (Don't worry about what the guys think. They'll smile, too.)

I guess we're all our own worst critics.

My problem is that I was such a lean, good looking kid and I want to live up to that, even though I know I can't. Still ... can't help trying.

[Dave K]

I don't see faults when I see a woman in a bathing suit. I just smile. (Don't worry about what the guys think. They'll smile, too.)

Old joke: A recent study found women are more uncomfortable undressing in front of other women. Women believe women are critical. Women know men are thankful.

Moving on, are we showing off now? Should I get out the camera?

Dave

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Context, context, context! I've enjoyed reading this thread, and my conclusion for me is that it just boils down to context.

I will happily go shirtless when doing summer-time yardwork, or when in swim trunks at the beach, or watching the kids play in my mother-in-law's neighborhood pool.

But I do not normally wear a kilt in any of those contexts. For me, when I put on a kilt I always want to project a more professional image (this could have something to do with the fact that usually when I am wearing the kilt I am representing the museum in some capacity) and so don't even normally wear t-shirts with a kilt, let alone going shirtless.

So unless I decide to succeed Hamish as X-Mark's official romance novel cover model, it is not likely to be one of my fashion choices. But it is really due to context, not any issues I have over body image.

If you are one to wear a kilt in one of the many contexts where it is appropriate for a man to be shirtless, then by all means do so.

(BTW, and as an aside, I agree wholeheartedly with Ali and others who have lauded the attractiveness of pale skin. Pale doesn't have to mean "sickly" and pale skin on a lady I think is much more attractive -- and healthy -- than skin-damaging tans. Good on ya!)

[Pleater]

The weather will of course turn cold and wet as soon as I click on the 'Submit' button, but we have had wall to wall sunshine here on the South Coast of England for a while now - real mad dogs and Englishmen stuff.

I use SPF 50 or more as soon as we pass the equinox in Spring, and go on using it until late in the year - I almost always wear a wide brimmed Tilley hat when outside, unless there is at least 7/10 cloud cover.

Living on the coast I see so much sunburn - from the first boiled lobster to the falling off in rags stages, even though there are shops everywhere that sell sunscreen, or even total sun block.

Everyone should protect themselves against the damaging radiation of the sun - it doesn't cost much and it can save you anything from sleepless nights lying in a bath of cold water up to and including death from skin cancer - and malignant melanoma is not a pleasant way to go.

I don't mind bare skin - (though too tight shorts pushed down so the belly can expand over the top are really something I'd like to avoid) - but whatever shade, from Scottish blue to molasses brown, skin needs sunscreen.

Anne the (pale) Pleater :ootd:

[abaort_cav]

At 31 My body is not what it should be however I love the sun and can sometimes can burn badly. However I cant hide my flab away so I will go out shirtless in shorts jeans and as soon as I get it a kilt. If going to a store, friends, or work of course I will wear a shirt. The body comes in all shapes and sizes and I think its great becouse it would make you six pack joes regualr people if we all had bulging muscles

[Fit2BKilted]

Just a couple weeks ago this old fat man was hiking topless in a tartan kilt in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado...in private of course, save the lady with me.

So what do you think of topless kilting?

Ron

Well, first of all, in Canada (especially Ontario) it's NOT "topless" IT'S "top-free"... And generally going about with an un-draped torso is enshrined in jurist prudence as an 'equal opportunity' elective public activity ;-) not that many lasses embrace their rights...

Anyway... I see nothing wrong with kilted top-freedom; in fact, I endorse it: It's the next best thing to being stitchless when it's mercilessly hot and doffing the kilt as well would be socially insensitive.

The fitness or aesthetic qualities of the bodies of my fellow humans are irrelevant to whether or not they may choose to expose any part of themselves in the interests of comfort. However, I firmly believe that doing so overtly for the purpose of causing offense or for a sexual purpose is totally unacceptable.

Nonetheless, I believe that the practice of going without a shirt (kilted or not) is generally regarded as a 'manly' behaviour---at least as much so as participating in Highland Games---and therefore appropriately within the bounds of common decency. I personally believe that this tolerance should extend to members of both genders in the most universal way. I accept that this view is perhaps 'from the fringes' but it is what I believe.

[Tetley]

I am currently in Bermuda and here it is illegal for anyone to go topless in public, so it would be a very quick way to get arrested. Politely arrested, but arrested nevertheless.

Mark

[BroosterB1]

Topless kilting?




Thought that was what you did to look big, bad and mean............... even when you are a teddy bear!

Good to hear from you Tetley! How goes the sailing?ith:

[Fit2BKilted]

Topless kilting?

Is that Clark you're wearing? Nice kilt. Good pic. The Crocs are a nice touch. Kilt-on!

[piperdbh]

Any activity that I do shirtless (mowing, building, etc.) usually ends up with me being sweaty and dirty, and often involves paint, and as I have an 8-yard, heavy weight wool, several-hundred-dollar Newsome tank that I want to preserve as long as I can, I therefore do those activities non-kilted. For instance, today I finished the steps on my front porch, then stained them white, so I wore some old denim shorts and a T-shirt, which I soon peeled out of (the shirt, that is). Sunday I'm 'piping at my parents' church, so I'll be kilted and wear a shirt and tie and jacket and half-plaid and all the rest of the kit. Like Matt said above, it's all a matter of context.


By the way, why do Hamish and the other shirtless models shave their chests? Are they all Olympic swimmers, or did they use too much lighter fluid while grilling shirtless?