Trip Report -- College reunion in a kilt

[AMM]

It's too quiet in here. Is everyone on vacation ?

Anyway, here is a belated report on what I did last weekend.

At reunions at my college, each class comes up with a "class uniform," which is what members (and maybe family) are supposed to wear during the reunion, and maybe at other college functions. Often it involves using a specially ordered fabric with some class-specific design or print on it, at least once the class has been out long enough that they assume that members can afford it.

Anyway, I ended up buying some of this class reunion fabric without a clear idea as to what I would do with it.

Having now gotten into skirts (and kilts), I got an idea: why don't I make a kilt out of it? As it happens, the pattern involves strips of a design; that is, it repeats (shifted) every 2 inches, so the lines are quite obvious. So the basic kilt design was obvious: each 2*n inches of fabric folded into a 2" wide pleat. (That is, 2 inches visible, the next 6 inches inside the pleat, etc.)

So I spent a lot of my free time (to the extent I have any) making this kilt and working out the details. I sort of based it on my Scottish kilt, but I wanted pockets, I wanted a waistband (no carpet-around-the-tummy feeling for me!), and I wanted a smaller apron area. It was mostly successful, though there are things I would do differently next time. And then off I went with my kids, wearing my uniform, but with a class-fabric kilt substituted for class-fabric trousers.

Well, the kilt was something of a hit. It was a hot day, and some folks asked if they could trade their long, hot trousers for my kilt (or, as some called it, my skirt. But that's OK) A number of people, especially the younger ones, cheered me on, high-fived me, and shouted "kilts rule!" A number of people were impressed that I made it myself. Despite my fears, (almost) no one seemed to feel I was cross-dressing. And I saw one or two other men wearing kilts (loosely defined.) There was even a young man wearing a long skirt, in sort of what I would call a "dead-head" style.

I only had one negative reaction -- one fellow I ran into in the toilet asked me if my class had made me wear this as a punishment. I was startled, but just said, no, I had gone to a lot of trouble to make it. A hundred better replies suggested themselves when it was too late, but I think I didn't do too badly -- I gently contradicted the impression that there was anything wrong with what I was wearing, but did not attack him either. After all, perhaps what happened was that he was flustered by the situation and just said the first thing that came into his head, not necessarily what he would have said if he'd had a chance to think about it first.

The kids and I also ate out -- once in a McDonalds, and once at a "family restaurant". No comments, stares, or anything like that.

On another note, I have a 22 inch somewhat flared (100 inch hem) denim skirt that I made a while back and wear sometimes if I go out walking early in the morning. It looks a little kilt-like, though it's obviously not a kilt. Anyway, I wore it (with a black T-shirt and sandals) to the local grocery store early in the morning, shortly after they opened. Again, no reaction as far as I could tell. I heard some of the employees chuckling at one point, don't know if it was about me or not, but I realized -- even if they are laughing about me, I shouldn't be embarrassed. I should be glad I was able to brighten up their day!

-- AMM

[Milfmog]

I heard some of the employees chuckling at one point, don't know if it was about me or not, but I realized -- even if they are laughing about me, I shouldn't be embarrassed. I should be glad I was able to brighten up their day!

This is exactly the way I try to think when I hear a snigger. It leaves me feeling chilled and relaxed and with a smile on my face. The message this sends is so much more positive than getting wound up and aggressive.

Glad the reunion went well.

Have fun,


Ian.

[Charlie]

I heard some of the employees chuckling at one point, don't know if it was about me or not, but I realized -- even if they are laughing about me, I shouldn't be embarrassed. I should be glad I was able to brighten up their day! -- AMM

You brightened up their day and contributed to their education (but they don't realise it).

Charlie

[Departed Member]

Hi,

Interesting that you started with fabric and ended up with a kilt/skirt. I got my third skirt sort of in this way. I wanted camouflage, but no place had anything like that even close to my size. I was still quite shy about shopping at that time too.

I went to a fabric store and bought some fabric and a pattern. Then I took it too a xdressing-friendly seamstress and had her make it. It came out great, and I still wear it today. The enclosed picture shows me wearing it at the Sacramento (California - USA) railroad museum. I was also wearing a camouflage shirt and jacket, thus it seemed like a suit!

Cheers, John