Why the kilt

[Andrewson]

Quite frankly, I wouldn't have been seen dead in a kilt when I was younger. My wife eventually coaxed me when I was about 40 to get a kilt for Scottish Country Dancing, I discovered how comfortable they were, that nobody would laugh at me, that people would admire the kilt and make conversation. ...

This describes exactly my own experience except that it took until I was 52 before I saw the light. You would have thought that growing up in Scotland would have guaranteed that I got into kilt wearing early but this was certainly not so.

Now I have six and wear them regularly - and not just for dancing either.

[Tattoo Bradley]

It started as strictly a heritage thing. I am also quite the fan of "old fashioned" things. Nikki says I'm an "old man" in that way. Oh well.

[morrison]

It was a manifestation of rebellion for me, amongst the many others feelings I carry in me. My first, the UK Mocker held a particularly inviting appeal for me. After that, "Blow the gates, let the flood!"
:butt:

[Cirthalion]

Kiltedsawyer,

I've wrestled with the same question, as a serious kiltie and someone who studies cultural patterns. The answer for me comes down to identity: wearing the kilt is a outward manifestation of one's identity. Now, what exactly it signifies is a different thing for each of us: but traditionalism and Celticism has much to do with it. For me, as a Canadian is the largely secular and Republican United States, it is a way of signifying my cultural identity as a British loyalist and my religious identity as a Anglican with affinities for early Celtic Christianity.

Oh, yeah, and as Nervous Jock said, "it's a cracking bit of gear."

-- Cirthalion

[Mr. MacDougall]

I was attracted to the kilt from an early age, possibly because Robert "Uncle Bob" Heinlein wrote about it with admiration in a couple of his books. Later, I discovered that I, like E. E. Smith's Red Lensman, was a MacDougall by maternal descent, and started hanging around highland games and such.

As a nurse, I've worked with several transgender patients, and I've found it interesting that a lot of the language and flavor of this community is similar to the gender community. We talk about our first time in public, and share positive reactions to us, while ignoring the negative. I'm not by any means saying that kilting is crossdressing, it's clearly not, but I do find it interesting that much of the language is the same.

[kiltedsawyer]

I was attracted to the kilt from an early age, possibly because Robert "Uncle Bob" Heinlein wrote about it with admiration in a couple of his books. Later, I discovered that I, like E. E. Smith's Red Lensman, was a MacDougall by maternal descent, and started hanging around highland games and such.

As a nurse, I've worked with several transgender patients, and I've found it interesting that a lot of the language and flavor of this community is similar to the gender community. We talk about our first time in public, and share positive reactions to us, while ignoring the negative. I'm not by any means saying that kilting is crossdressing, it's clearly not, but I do find it interesting that much of the language is the same.

Thank you sir,
Very sensative and courageous. Yes, it is not by any means cross dressing, but perhaps shares the spirit of independence. Hoping for more insights.
Again,.....thank you.
David

[fluter]

I was attracted to the kilt from an early age, possibly because Robert "Uncle Bob" Heinlein wrote about it with admiration in a couple of his books.

( off topic ) born 100 years ago today. Rah RAH! ( /off topic )

[Bwana55419]

It has nothing to do with heritage for me, and I don't know if this is a part of my wanting to be different or if this is a by product of me being different.

[Retro Red]

Initially, wearing a kilt was an act of rebellion for me against my employer. See, I work in the IT dept. of a major company & after allowing us to wear shorts to work for many years (which is very sensible in the sweltering heat of a Phoenix summer), my company suddenly said no more shorts, except on "Casual-wear Fridays" - & to add insult to injury they did this in the middle of July!!!! I mean, who cares what you wear when you're sitting in front of a PC all day in the middle of a friggin' cube farm???!!! Needless to say, I immediately was inspired to find a loop-hole. A quick review of the company's dress-code showed that their rule for skirts was gender-neutral. That's when my Scottish heritage kicked in to suggest (ta-da) - a kilt! But at that time the only kilts I knew about were the traditional kind which were not only quite expensive, but a garment made out of heavy wool is not recommended when the outside temperature is 110º+F (43.3º+C). However, it didn't take long surfing the web to find out about modern kilts which were not only cheaper, but made out of lighter, cooler, everyday-wear materials, like cotton. So, I got a tan Original Utilikilt & wore it to work.

Once I started wearing a kilt, though, the rebellion aspect kind of faded as I realized how incredibly comfortable & unconstricting it is, plus I think it's a cool look & yes, it fits in well with my overall approach to life which is, "Why be normal?"

Now, to paraphrase an old US TV ad, I wear a kilt or I wear nothing at all!
.

[Richland]

As a nurse, I've worked with several transgender patients, and I've found it interesting that a lot of the language and flavor of this community is similar to the gender community. We talk about our first time in public, and share positive reactions to us, while ignoring the negative. I'm not by any means saying that kilting is crossdressing, it's clearly not, but I do find it interesting that much of the language is the same.

I dont follow this logic at all. However Mr MacDougall is enitled to this opinion.
That is one of the great things about this site!
I don't like any kilt comparisons to ways of life I dont have any underestanding of.
FOR ME:
Heritage, Uniqueness, pride, Masculinity, Good women like a man in a kilt!