Working in a kilt

[Blu (Ontario)]

I'm pretty much a traditionalist and my kilts are way too expensive and precious to me to risk being damaged or soiled on a construction site. They might be fun in the engineering office, however since ones credibility and authority are challanged frequently by redneck mentalities, birufcated atire, I think,is appropriate for that environment. I do envy those who have the option and admire them for excercising it. It's just not part of the playing deck for me right now.

[Chris@southerncelt.com]

I could easily wear a kilt to work everyday. Unfortunately, like Blu, mine are too precious to give to up to that cause. Of course now that I have discovered the Poly/Visc teflon coated stuff, I may have to make a casual, machine washable kilt that I will be happy to wear to the shop.

[Rhino]

Hi folks,
I work in 3 day stints (sounds good but my shifts are 13 hours long). Iwear my kilts for at least one of those shifts and am slowly increasing the frequency. My boss rolls her eyes and shakes her head but hasn't actually said anything. I get the impression that if she could put me in a box, (ie cross dresser or gay, whatever), she'd be much more relaxed and accepting. This is fine by me, as an aging ex punk/biker I like to nudge the establishment now and then. Everyone else likes them until someone new comes into the building, or we're out in public then they become a little embarrased?? Oh sorry best say what I do. I'm a psychiatric nurse, spent most of my time on forensic or challenging behaviour units. Now in my dotage I'm on rehab with folk who used to display violent behaviour but now are in semi retirement. From the patients point of view most enjoy it and pass the inevitable 'jock hoots mon' comments, but it also becomes a method of engaging in therapeutic dialogue.
One woman in particular very rarely engages and has very little or no connection to reality, one of the few ways to 'get through' is to wear my kilt or take my pet ferrets in.
I agree with Aikinut wear your kilt (dress code allowing) anywhere, however I did try to ride my bike off road yesterday, badass tv style, in a kilt but smashed the clutch on the way out of my garden.
I was quite relieved really though it means more spannering.
As long as you're confident I think you can wear it anywhere, certainly most people accept it even if they don't like it. A final word from my Grandma who at 86 helps out at a local old folks home, she said 'i like that kilt, but you look better going than you do coming in'!!!!!!
Cheers Rhino

[Canuck]

I work in professional Theatre and Opera as a Stage Manager. When I'm not doing that I'm building kilts for customers. Next week I begin building kilts for the Stratford Festivals production of MacBeth.
I wear a kilt 99% of the time. I have no problems with my employers, in fact the opposite is true. When I show up in pants, that's when I get the grief.
I'm phasing out the theatre work as the kilt building is taking up more of my time. (which is just fine by me.)
I live in Southern Ontario and the winter has been true to form this year with lots of snow and some cold temperatures, I've still gone outside kilted. Come to think of it, I haven't had a cold or flu like symptoms this year. Must be because of the kilt...arggh matey makes one tough it does!
Cheers
Robert

[Rhino]

Sorry that should have read jackass tv style NOT badass? What on earth was I thinking?!
Rhino

[Andrew]

Hi everyone Andrew here. Well I work as a Seaman for the Canadian Coast Gaurd and I have yet to wear my Kilt at work, but I have plans to for sure! The reason that I haven't yet been Kilted while at sea is because we are in uniform the whole time we work and some Captains are very old school about how uniforms should be worn. I have talked with most of the Captains that I sail with and they think me wearing my Kilt at work shouldn't be a problem and most of them are all for it. I think however when I am out on some rescue or in heavy weather I will go for my survial gear instead of my Kilt!
One of my Kilts is a 4 yard Anderson from Bear, which has a very similar blue in it to the uniform that I wear so it should match up nicely. I am looking forward to being out at sea in my Kilt! The only thing is I have four weeks to wait until I can do so because I work on a Layday system. That means I work out at sea for four week and then I get four weeks off. Four weeks on, four weeks off, four weeks on, four weeks off,etc...
Well that is what I do and I will be doing it Kilted soon!

Andrew

[philbo]

John and Bubba, thanks for the advice. Fortunately, most of my kilts are cheap and handmade, so it wouldn't be a great loss if I added a beer stain to them (builds character, right?) I recently completed a denim kilt which would probably look better if it suffered a little wear and tear. I'll wear it Friday night and see what happens.

[Graham]

Wow Andrew, I'm very impressed! I would sure like to see a photo of you when you do wear your kilt at work.

I have a boat cruise coming up (inland waters) and I was thinking of wearing a kilt, but I would pick the heaviest kilt I have, it can get very breezy.

I love the responses to this post, I never thought it would become so interesting!

[aikinut]

since ones credibility and authority are challanged frequently by redneck mentalities, birufcated atire, I think,is appropriate for that environment.

I don't know about that. My experience has been that rednecks are easier to deal with kilted. I think it's because they know I have bigger stones than they.

Of course, your experience and mine may be different.

[highlandtide]

I dont know what kind of "rednecks" you have in York, PA (not knockin ya, I just really dont know!) but here in the South they are only tolerable at the Games. I get a little nervous going to the gas station in the deep woods places that I go. But once again I am a pretty big fella and am not real worried unless there is a pack of 'em.


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