Kilt Modesty Rant

[BBNC]

I suppose wearing outerwear shorts under a kilt is a bit like wearing one's bathing suit under street clothes. Makes it easy to change when desired. For me...just undershorts, thank you.

[freddie]

It is quite common for pipe band members to wear their kilt over shorts. That way, they can wear their shorts to & from the contest without wrinkling their kilt. They can also remove the kilt if they want to move around 'incognito' (though most people know they're in a band 'cause of the the shirt/tie/hat combo).

Personally, I don't feel comfortable wearing a kilt without some sort of undergarment. (I have a slight allergic reaction to wearing wool).

I do the same for a long car journey but I remove the shorts once my kilt is on. I stole this idea from an American gent when I visited the Gatlinburg Highland Games many years ago.

[Chas]

Maybe you missed that I said, "Now I realize that this may not be true around this country or even the world for that matter." I also said,"Men in general."

Never did I say "Chas" so I would guess if you're going to be offended and feel accused by a general statement and what happens in a local area across the world from you I would suggest taking a good long look in the mirror.

and as I stated before I am new to kilts and still learning the community of kilt wearers.

Dear Leonhardt,

How is looking in the mirror going to help me to see or understand "what happens in a local area across the world from me". You made a general statement to the membership (of which I am one) and to "Men in general" (of which I am also one) - I think I qualify to answer.

Just for the record, I am not offended, just not understanding what you were saying.

[cessna152towser]

OK I confess to having worn shorts under a kilt the first time I ever ventured out in a kilt. Though I have never done so again. I believe that shorts or speedos are fine for highland games athletes but otherwise one might wish to look the part and create the illusion of being a "true Scot" while avoiding the risk of accidental exposure, this being achieved by the wearing of dark coloured briefs. A proper kilt, because of the stitched down fell, should never lift high enough, even in the cruellest wind, to expose the briefs and the only time underwear would be glimpsed would be if the kilt wearer sat carelessly. A kilt liner might also be worn to keep the kilt clean but again this should be discreet and should match the main colour of the kilt tartan. In my opinion, underpants showing below shorts is quite OK, but visible underwear just doesn't look right with a kilt. I'll keep my big white underpants for wearing with trousers or shorts and my dark briefs for wearing with my kilts.

[McMurdo]

I think the question of whether or not to wear anything under the kilt rests upon each kilt wearer, it is up to each of us to figure this out in the light of the circumstances. For example when I was wearing the kilt daily to work I wore underwear under the kilt to mitigate any accidental exposure. If I will be around children or in a business environment then I dress accordingly, just like anywhere else but that is up to me to decide.

[TheOfficialBren]

I think the OP is referring to a practise that is oft-repeated in some parts of the US.

To answer your question:
They are probably self-conscious about kilt wearing and haven't committed. These are the types who will kilt up in the car park at the Highland games and remove the kilt before getting back in the car upon leaving, literally wearing the kilt over their cargo/board/athletic/whatever shorts.

I believe the OP is specifically referring to this. I have seen it at literally every Highland Games and Celtic music festival in my area.

[CDNSushi]

Men in general enjoy noticing women and a lot of men enjoy seeing things a little more exposed. OK, I won't go any further, because I think everyone gets what I am hinting at and I am not going to pretend I am not one of those men. It's just a males basic nature that goes into all kinds of opinions and moral beliefs. That said.........

I disagree that it's a male's basic nature. I think it's more a matter of culture and upbringing. That said...

I was at the Scottish Festival yesterday and I noticed a lot of men wearing shorts or speedo's under their kilts. Now let me make it clear I could care less if some man goes commando or wears undergarments under their kilt and that's is their preference, but to wear shorts or speedo's seems to me to be......1 pointless and 2 a bit of a double standard. Don't you think women would like some eye candy?

And yet you do [care] based on your comment above. But more to the point, I think you'll find many who would also disagree that it's pointless, and as for the second bit, I don't feel I owe the ladies anything, much less my exposed genitals. If someone wants eye candy, they can go buy a calendar to ogle. And I would say the same to any man. If you want to ogle someone, buy a magazine. But even more specifically... I would hope that someday both men AND women could learn to respect one another without reducing them to mere body parts, and sexualizing them, thereby eliminating the need for calendars and magazines. But I guess I'm just really utopian that way.

If you're worried that someone might see your junk or underwear. don't you think you should learn to wear or move and sit in a kilt correctly. I mean come on...... men brag about their junk all the time! So, don't you think. That if they are that worried about their modesty. They would be a little more respectful towards a Woman's modesty?

Again, culture and upbringing (or lack thereof). But as for wearing shorts or speedos in an effort to preserve modesty, I won't be the one to judge, as for the vast majority of us (I suspect), kilt-wearing has come later in life, far past our formative years when we were taught how to sit and behave properly. Where I grew up, men often sat with their legs wide open, as if they wanted to invited people in... So it's no wonder that someone who was never taught to sit legs together, or crossed at the ankles or thighs (rather than one ankle resting on the opposite thigh) would want to wear something underneath when they start wearing a kilt. If you've always sat in certain ways, I imagine it's a hard habit to break, and just because you put on a kilt doesn't necessarily mean you'll instantly start sitting differently. Many more women, on the other hand, having been taught since a very young age, from wearing dresses and skirts, are probably a bit more mindful of it.

So, I can't help but to wonder about a couple of things. Is men wearing shorts under their kilts a common thing?

It IS if you're borrowing one... In fact, many hire shops would insist you do. As for everyone else, other than the obligatory mention that the forum has gone down this path many a time before, you'll probably find the answers are all over the board. I don' t think there is such a thing as a "norm," and anything you find for an average, will have a very broad standard deviation and have a very flat curve.

As for me, personally, I don't care whether anyone knows what I got or don't got underneath. I generally DO, for the simple reason of hygiene and that I can get far more wear (without washing or dry cleaning) if my skin does NOT come into contact with my kilts (which tend to be rather on the expensive side). If it were a $99 knock-around, then I wouldn't care nearly so much, I think. But in general, I do the same thing even on my upper body, by wearing undershirts. Any one of my shirts costs a fair bit more than an undershirt, so it behooves me to make them last a lot longer by wearing them more than once -- which is only possible when I limit the amount of body sweat and odor from permeating the fabric. (And shirts are less expensive than trousers or kilts, generally. So I DO take that much more care with my expensive clothes).

[Starhunter451]

I will wear underwear depending on the activity. When playing Huberball, its needed. Certain ceramonies I do require it, my daughter would never forgive me if the wind flashes the crowd for me while prosiding over her wedding.

But for most, its a comfort level. At first it was shorts, now, only on windy days.

[MacGumerait]

Been kilted for over 40 yrs and I certainly understand going " regimental " / " commando " and I definitely respect the tradition .... done it myself .

However , I prefer an undergarment of some sorts to protect the fabric of the kilt ... kind of a hygiene thing in my mind .

[flyrod6057]

When piping: Under Armour shorts. That way, no matter what the wind does, I'm covered (literally)

Any other time: As I please.