Kilted in the Howling Winds

[skirttron]

I don't know about where you guys live, but it's been very windy here lately. I find the sensation of wind on the legs when skirted/kilted pleasant and, surprisingly, not really cold. There is one problem, however: The chance of a Marilyn-Monroe-style skirt blow-up. This is one thing that strongly discourages me from going regimental. There are a few counter-measures: Kilt pin at the side, low-hung sporran to hold the front down, heavier material in windy weather. On a cold day, a slightly-below-waist jacket holds a kilt or skirt down.

Any other ideas guys?

[Charlie]

Wearing a kilt, or indeed a skirt in the wind is an experience I'd highly recommend for the sense of freedom it brings. Sadly, most men will never know what they're missing Oh well, their loss.

Charlie

[cessna152towser]

Not for me, I prefer to wear what I find practical. So its been trousers these last three days when we have had high winds here in Scotland but forecast looking better so hopefully tomorrow will be first kilted day since Monday.

[me012247]

Always wear a slip and nothing happens

[Since1982]

High winds are no problem for me, I just switch from whatever I'm wearing to a short, very straight skirt. The skirts I'd wear for this are usually skirts converted from shorts. About 2 inches above the knee is fine. No problems walking fast, sitting is fine, and nothing short of a hurricane will blow anything up. If a hurricane does come, my skirt blowing up will be the least of my problems. ~pray~

[Foppy]

When I first started wearing the kilt, I could never keep it down while running (I have to run across the dangerous streets here, since a lot of the drivers here don't pay much attention, and the "Walk, don't walk" light by the convenience store has been broken for about 2 years now) or in the wind.

A kilt pin on the apron (just the front one, not pinning the kilt shut) usually helps, like you mentioned. You can also put your hand in front of your apron, if there's too much of a breeze.

[Kilted_John]

Since shorts and trousers aren't practical for me (too uncomfortable), I tend to wear skirts and kilts as often as possible. In a windy situation, a traditional kilt, ideally in 16 oz or heavier wool works best. Wore my MacKenzie tartan traditional in a windstorm with gusts up to 80 mph. Nothing happened. The kilt is made from 18 oz wool, which helped. In our last windstorm, I wore my black survival UK. Had a Marilyn Monroe incident. Luckily, I was at home and the neighbors didn't see it occur, but, it happened. A couple weeks later, I was wearing the black pleated skirt that I frequently wear, with a full-circle squaredancing skirt underneath, and had to deal with a breezy situation in the Staples parking lot. Just zipped up my parka. The wind played with the hems of the skirts a little, but didn't blow them up. So, people did see a little more than the backs of my bare knees, but nothing more than a little thigh flash...

-J

[cessna152towser]

Well it was calm at home today and I wore my new 13 oz 5 yard Dark Island kilt on for only the second time which was perfect for an early morning trip to the post office. Later I took my wife to an aviaition museum at an airfield some fifty miles north. On arrival, stepped out the car to find a strong wind howling in from the North Sea. Was wondering at first if I should perhaps have heeded some of your advice and worn a slip, something I don't normally do as IMHO flashing a cotton slip in the wind seems a fem thing. My fears proved groundless as the kilt behaved fine and stayed in place. In my experience there is so much more material in a 16oz 8 yard kilt that it would billow out like a parachute in a strong wind, while a lightweight polyester kilt has different dynamics but would also produce a Marilyn Monroe effect. The 13oz 5 yard falls somewhere between in weight, but having less material doesn't seem to have the tendency to blow up.

[me012247]

Was wondering at first if I should perhaps have heeded some of your advice and worn a slip, something I don't normally do as IMHO flashing a cotton slip in the wind seems a fem thing.

Maybe, but is wearing s skirt not a fem thing too?

[Dasani]

Yeah I was going to mention that fact about one of the main benifits of wearing a slip is to keep the skirt from sticking to your legs, and also to keep the skirt from blowing between your legs when the wind blows. The slip allows the skirt to hang better and for your legs to kind of move better underneath without the skirt clinging and following your legs every move.

And of coarse there is the whole thing about having that extra layer when the wind blows the outer skirt up.

But yeah, short of holding the kilt down, or sewing lead weights into the hem, I don't have any brilliant ideas. My mom and sister have always had a problem with the wind. As soon as they would go outside they would be walking all awkward and sideways as they'd be trying to hold their skirts down so they would not blow up any higher than their knees. They are so paranoid all the time about their skirts blowing up, then as I'm standing there laughing they say "Hey, it's not like you know what it's like to wear a skirt!":sarcastic:

[Stu]

High winds are no problem for me, I just switch from whatever I'm wearing to a short, very straight skirt.

I called at Marks and Spencer's store in Manchester the day before yesterday and spoke to a young lady supervisor/departmental manager. I told her I was looking for a denim skirt for rambling and she called over one of the sales assistants to ask if they had anything suitable. The assistant was aware that men are buying skirts for themselves to wear for hiking, and she suggested a heavy cotton denim pencil skirt simply because they wouldn't blow up in the wind. The supervisor suggested that a pencil skirt would be restrictive for walking but the assistant rebutted this, saying that the denim pencil skirts were "stretchy" and so would accommodate even someone who liked to stride. "But what about if you have to climb over walls or styles?" asked the supervisor. "Then you'd have to hitch it up, " replied the assistant, "so shorts underneath would probably be a good idea". After a minute or two, I actually felt as though I was no longer involved in the conversation!

I bought the one recommended by the assistant - denim pencil skirt with back vent and made with lycra, manufactured in Morocco, and priced at £25. I wore it yesterday when walking in the hills in the Peak District with a slip, hiking boots and socks and a lightweight jacket. It was breezy, but my dignity was kept intact.

The experience in Manchester suggests to me that men wearing denim skirts may not yet be something that is entirely routine, but it no longer gives rise to consternation or suppositions - especially if you link it to an activity such as hiking.

[Departed Member]

Maybe, but is wearing s skirt not a fem thing too?

Depends on the skirt, I would suggest! It's usually all down to the wearer's attitude (as well as the rest of his apparel!), as to whether the intention is to appear 'fem' or 'macho'. 'Kilts' below the knee would be regarded as looking somewhat 'fem' in the UK, even though a conventional length Kilt (trad or modern) is increasingly being seen as the height of 'macho'!

[Since1982]

I have 2 stretch denim straight skirts that go to the top of my knees. I have no problem walking in them and as to climbing in them I have no experience other than I have a fairly high step van and I have no problem stepping up into that. The stretch feature is so good that the skirt does not roll or hitch up on its own and I have no problems with any other stairs or steps up over things. A similar denim skirt I have that is not a stretch material is nearly useless for climbing into my van on the drivers side. I can get into the passenger side with no problems as I just sit sideways on the seat and then swing my legs inside together, but it's really much easier with the stretch denim. I do also wear a fairly stiff slip under the stretch denim. It's fuller than the skirt is but keeps the skirt from rolling up when stretched. The slip hem comes to about 2 inches above the skirt hem.

[Stu]

'Kilts' below the knee would be regarded as looking somewhat 'fem' in the UK...

Oh, I don't agree with that. I buy them just below the knee and team them up with some pretty macho stuff and I assure you I don't look remotely "fem".

Stu

[me012247]

I agree on what Dasani and frankie said about slips. It is NOT "fem" wearing a slip. I think, if you wear a skirt you should wear a slip, especially when the skirt/kilt is not lined.