To Manchester by train

[Miket]

I have just arrived home from a rapid 24 hr trip from Dorset to Manchester and back, through London, so I thought I'd share a few experiences. The kilt was worn most of the time travelling and quite a bit of the day too. Unfortunately I wimped out at wearing for the business meeting I was attending!

Very few comments - or gazes and evryone seemed to be that bit more friendly! I kilted across London to Euston with no comment; walked across Manchester centre ( Piccadilly Gardens) to my Hotel - no comment despite the large crowds on a Friday night. After I had checked in I went for a walk and had the first comments from a group of drunken laddettes who didn't say much, but clearly wanted to see what was under the kilt - which they did without asking! Another car came along the road and there were wolf-whistles but.....Hey, It's my fault for walking down a crowded part of town at a prime party time.

Breakfast in the hotel - in kilt and not a hair was turned.

Coming back I had to cross London by tube again, and this time the only offensive remarks came. I was going down an escalator at Euston and there was a group of drunken (?) football fans - much the worse for wear - who made comments about the dress and a transvestite in front of them. I was concerned because due to closure of the Northern Line, I had to stop to look at a map - I expected more trouble, but they lumbered on their way.

Altogether a good experience - but I wished I'd had the nerve to stay in it all day.

By the way, I saw this in a shop called Fat Face in Manchester: http://www.fatface.com/bin/venda?ex=co_ ... ductdetail
It looked very good - and it wraps on the boys side too! it even went up to size 18, I think. I didn't venture to try it on, but their stuff looks good.

[Sasquatch]

Nice products they have. A bit pricey, but maybe worth it if the quality is as good as it appears to be.

Sasq

[ChristopherJ]

That's a decent looking skirt, isn't it? And wrap-around solves the usual problem of buying skirts on waist measurement - because for me (34 inch waist) that means at least a size 16 and possibly an 18 - which in turn means that the skirt is huge around my hips, arse and legs! The wrap-around design solves that problem completely.

[shropshire steve]

[quote="Miket"] walked across Manchester centre ( Piccadilly Gardens) to my Hotel - no comment despite the large crowds on a Friday night.
Altogether a good experience - but I wished I'd had the nerve to stay in it all day.

As it happens you were not the only skirted man in Manchester on Friday, I travelled via Manchester station on my way to York and then back. Wore a navy blue pleated business skirt all day to various business meetings in York. No problems or reactions in the meetings or whilst travelling. To some extent I think that the reactions you get relate to the level of easy going confidence you have with your style of dress.
Of course that only applies to reasonable people, the drunks and the white van lads brigade will shout at anything!

regards Steve

[Charlie]

After I had checked in I went for a walk and had the first comments from a group of drunken laddettes who didn't say much, but clearly wanted to see what was under the kilt - which they did without asking!

Drunks aren't a pretty sight, especially if they are female. This episode reminds me of a post in Tom's Cafe by JimM:

"A group of middle aged ladies, some of whom were slightly drunk, surrounded me and taunted me as to whether I was a "true Scot" or not. I politely asked them to move away but no. They started to lift my kilt and one of them reached under my kilt and squeezed my tackle and announced triumphantly what she had done.

Without thinking I struck out and slapped her on the cheek. The others were enraged about this and threatened me with calling the police. They were stunned when i agreed that we should do so and we started to walk towards the police station. As we did so the asked would I plead guilty to assault? I said no but I would ask the police to charge them with attempted rape or at least sexual assault. Their bravado soon disappeared. By todays laws you can have these people investigated for sexual harassment in the workplace. Sexual equality works both ways!!!!"

http://www.tomscafe.org/forums2/showthread.php?t=3961&highlight=kilt+lifted See message #11.

Charlie

[cessna152towser]

Thanks for posting this Mike. I was interested in this and in the replies as I regularly wear a kilt here in Scotland and have also worn kilts often around Carlisle and Newcastle. I wouldn't take to heart any abuse from drunken football fans, though it makes like easier by avoiding getting caught uo in crowds of soccer or rugby fans unless Scotland are playing when many of the fans are kilted. Were you wearing a traditional tartan kilt or a modern single colour kilt? The reason I ask is I have very rarely worn a kilt when travelling deeper into England, fearing anti-Scottish racial abuse. Having been the victim of a racial assault while on holiday in Eastbourne twenty years ago (I was wearing trousers, not a kilt, but the yob overheard my Scottish accent) I just don't want to advertise my Scottishness. Though I did dip a toe in the water last year by going out wearing a black polycotton kilt in York, Coventry and Chichester with no hassle. I've still to attempt London kilted. I have a kilt in Royal Air Force tartan which I wear in honour of my late father while I'm on duty as a volunteer at my local aviation museum, and I would love to have the confidence to wear this to the next RAF Cosford open day in June.

[Departed Member]

The reason I ask is I have very rarely worn a kilt when travelling deeper into England, fearing anti-Scottish racial abuse.

You really surprise me! Apart from the football crowds in Scotland (where Kilt-wearing has become an excellent modern trend at 'ordinary' matches, as opposed to Internationals), I've seen far more Kilts worn in England than in Scotland, since the 80's. Last time we were at Leuchars Airshow, apart from the bands, we only saw one bloke, kilted. I rarely pass through London without seeing gents in Kilts. Admittedly, some are in strictly formal gear (weddings?), but just as many are just 'going about their business'. The same applies to Stansted Airport (or any of the 'London' airports) - it's unusual not to see a Kilt or two. Apart from admiring glances from a goodly proportion of ladies, they generally draw little or no attention.

I've certainly heard 'anti-English' sentiments expressed in some parts of Scotland and Wales in more recent times thanks, (in no small part) to this Government's separatist policies called 'Devolution', but never 'anti-Scots'. Most 'English' folk consider themselves 'British' rather than 'English', because, in the main, that's what they/we are - mostly 'mongrels'! :ninjajig:

'Trad' tartan Kilts do rather 'stand out' and get you noticed - wherever you may be. Some of the 'yobbo' element are likely to feel 'threatened' by any display of 'being different'. Perhaps that's why 'denim' seems to have less impact than, say, something as vivid as 'Royal Stewart'.

[howard h]

I was in and around the Picc area of Manchester on Saturday night with a denim skirt on. Just a usual Saturday night out.