Fighting objections from the wife

**Santa Wally** · 20th February 12, 12:05 PM

After retiring in 2006 and becoming "snowbirds" (people from northern states who go south for the Winter), in 2007, my wife and I happened to in Zephyrhills Florida on the weekend of the Celtic Festival (had never been to any). We went to see what it was all about. I bought a highland shirt that would work for a Workshop Santa look. Two years later, we returned specifically to buy another shirt but the vendor was not there. But I did find an off-the-rack Wallace kilt. I have Wallace ancestry, but wasn't told much about it as I grew up. (Last year I found out that a Wallace ancestor of mine came to America in the 1720's) After buying that Wallace kilt, I changed into it and my wife said, "when are you ever going to wear that again?" I NOW HAVE SEVEN KILTS.

So with 7 kilts I have answered her question many times, but I no longer wear that original kilt... I got rid of that acrylic kilt after finding X Marks the Scot and learning so much about the proper care and treatment for the OBSESSION caused by that first kilt.

I wore that first kilt a week later with the Clan Claus Society and joined it. Within about 4 months, my second kilt was a USAK Casual kilt and wife got used to seeing me in it and the obsession continued. That second kilt was a test for my measurements for my wool Clan Claus tartan kilt. (STA # 7869).

I drive our motorhome wearing any one of my three USAK PV Casual Kilts (Stewart Royal, Wallace or Isle of Skye). Stewart Royal is the tartan of Edinboro University in Pennsylvania where I got my Bachelors Degree. We go festivals and games in my Clan Claus kilt when the Clan Claus Society has a tent there, House of Edgar tank when the Clan Wallace Society has a tent there, or one of my two latest acquisitions: USAK 5 yard wool Batleys Maple Leaf or X Marks the Scot tartan Freedom Kilt.

I started wearing kilts in our Florida RV resort, our Tennessee campground and when with our adult daughters and grandkids. My wife no longer questions my kilt wearing, except I can't wear a kilt to our teenage granddaughter's dance competitions (Scottish or Irish dancing), she does not want me to take attention away from the dancers.

Posted while wearing my USAK Isle of Skye Casual Kilt.

**Thorina** · 20th February 12, 12:41 PM

I ran into a guy at the electric company while paying my bill some 7-8 years ago wearing a workman's utilikilt.
I'd have paid him no attention in Carhartts.
He quite energetically told me all about them and how wonderful they were, etc.

The only objection I can possibly see for a woman not wanting her man to wear one is that women will be looking at her dude.
There's just nothing like seeing a kilt clad dude.

Perhaps it's your Miss' objection to it all.
She's used to having you all to herself.

**James Hood** · 20th February 12, 08:09 PM

Why should any woman who wears pants (a man's garment until very recently) object to men wearing a man's garment...the kilt? Someday, gotta get up nerve to ask She Who Must Be Obeyed that question. And wear a helmet and flak jacket and athletic cup, at the time....

**Singlemalt** · 21st February 12, 06:34 PM

I just read through this whole thread and am glad I did because it makes me feel lucky. I have worn a kilt my whole life, at times often and at othes very rarely, always in a very traditional Scottish way as it was a family tradition.

When I met my wife it was already part of who I am. Though her family traditions were German and UEL she liked it and when we were married 31 years ago I don't even remember discussion of me wearing anything else.

She has never objected to my kilts anytime I wanted to wear them other than giving me wise and sensitive womanly advice when she thought it might be better if I did not, out of consideration for others, at events when she felt it was more appropriate to not draw attention. I have always heeded her advice in this regard.

Now our two son's also have kilts and the eldest was married in his last spring to a lovely girl of Jewish/French background. She also seems fine with it when my son wears his kilt. Perhaps this is all somewhat easier in Canada where kilts are more common and everywhere you look there is someone in a national or religious dress of some kind.

**serenitylala** · 3rd March 12, 07:59 AM

From a woman's perspective:I don't understand why she'd object... I think men in kilts are manly and sexy, but that could be just me. Although, the exception is that the kilts got to be a tartan kilt with sporran and leather belts for me to like them in it. The plain color kilts just look like skirts. But then again I'm a traditionalist and single.

So maybe being a wife would change my opinion... Nope. Kilts on men are manly.

**thecompaqguy** · 3rd March 12, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by serenitylala

From a woman's perspective:I don't understand why she'd object... I think men in kilts are manly and sexy, but that could be just me. Although, the exception is that the kilts got to be a tartan kilt with sporran and leather belts for me to like them in it. The plain color kilts just look like skirts. But then again I'm a traditionalist and single.

So maybe being a wife would change my opinion... Nope. Kilts on men are manly.

I've got a plain black one, my wife didn't want me wearing it when she had some friends pop in, (she said it looks too much like a black skirt

) so I had to change into my McDonald tartan instead

**serenitylala** · 3rd March 12, 03:28 PM

Originally Posted by thecompaqguy

I've got a plain black one, my wife didn't want me wearing it when she had some friends pop in, (she said it looks too much like a black skirt

) so I had to change into my McDonald tartan instead

It's all abt the tartan pattern... There's something abt it that says, "I am a kilt and a man wears me."

Unfortunately the plain colors don't say that as much and they end up sometimes looking like skirts. Although some black ones with a sporran and traditional belt and buckle can look like a very nice kilt.

**Joe I** · 13th April 12, 02:44 AM

My wife started out suportive, but recently asked why I needed more than one kilt. And used the word "obsessed". She wears pants and sees nothing wrong with that. But on the whole shes not too bad. My 27 year old daughter called me wierd. Maybe it's mid-life crises for me, but I like the kilt and I'll wear it if I want.

**jgcunningham** · 13th April 12, 07:02 PM

Originally Posted by Joe I

My wife started out suportive, but recently asked why I needed more than one kilt. And used the word "obsessed". She wears pants and sees nothing wrong with that. But on the whole shes not too bad. My 27 year old daughter called me wierd. Maybe it's mid-life crises for me, but I like the kilt and I'll wear it if I want.

You got one because you didn't have one. You then get two because you only have the one. Then you get another because, well gee, you've got two by now. A third won't hurt. You get the fourth because ....

You get the idea. It's kind of like honorary degrees. And tattoos. And sgian dubhs. And sporrans. And hose. And jackets.

I better stop.

**hkjrb623** · 13th April 12, 03:07 AM

Don't forget that a lot of solid color kilts appear in history. I asked this same question and started a very informative thread.
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...te-them-69874/

I'm also very fortunate that my wife encourages my kilt wearing. She understands that it's an outward expression of my heritage, and she loves the way I look in them. It definitely helps when I wear the more Irish versions. She's Irish and Welsh.