First Out In Public

[Nolyn]

I finally had the chance to be out in public with a nonbifurcated garment. I purchased a Clark Clergy tartan kilt from the Frugal Corner (at R.M. Anderson's recomendation - thanks), and it arrived just in time to take along on my vacation to Yellowstone N. P. I wore my kilt three times during our walk-abouts. It was a very enjoyable experience wearing it. I had some positive comments from some folks (one man I talked with said that he owned three kilts, but only wears them when he participates in his historic bagpipe unit; he seemed intrigued by the idea of a "modern" kilt). I was not sure how to answer a couple from Scotland who wanted to know why I was wearing a kilt when I don't have a clear clan ancestry. I had several "Nice kilt." comments from some folks. There were some negative comments, but I didn't hear any of them, but were related to me by my family members. It seemed like most people either didn't notice or just kept their thoughts to themselves. The negative comments that my wife heard seemed to come from young males in the teens and early 20s age group. My wife overheard one young couple in which the woman said to her guy, 'Hey I like that, you should get one.' to which the young man emphatically assured her that that was never going to happen. My wife then interjected: "Hey, real men wear kilts!" I was told that there were some children who said, ' Hey there's a man wearing a skirt.' or asked, 'Why is that guy wearing a skirt?' but my wife didn't hear the parent's response. I noticed that there were a lot of elementary age girls who were friendly, and one girl waved at me when passed. I also noticed being scoped by people; though I was out doing my own sightseeing, I tried to make eye contact with people when we were walking on paths and boardwalks. I saw people do the eye scan, and I noticed a woman do a tilt of her head to look me over when she walked past me. But aside from people watching (or is it, people watching me watching?), I enjoyed wearing the kilt just for its own sake. I found it quite comfortable and I now more than ever wish I could wear a skirt in public (but in my mid-west Bible-belt conservative town, I don't think that would be a good idea; not to mention the problem of risking a wrong impression because I am a pastor). It was interesting how wearing shorts the day after I first wore the kilt seemed uncomfortable (what's that bunch of fabric in the crotch area doing there?!) at first.
Wearing a "skirt" though was instructive as to how to do so. I resolved to wear my kilt with confidence and not to act embarrassed. I wanted to explore being masculine in a nonbifurcated garment. I've had some experience with this before while wearing a historic great kilt at a living history event, but that was mostly indoors. Walking about and doing normal things required some self-awareness thinking (never a bad idea in any circumstance): when it was windy, how to keep from flashing people without being awkward, how to sit down, how to get gracefully in and out of the car, how to walk and stand. I found that walking with my hands behind me was a good way to keep the wind from flipping the hem up. I also found that it was helpful to stand with my feet apart when standing to create a more many pose. And, of course when sitting, it was important to keep my knees apart ("man style") rather than together ("woman style") to keep from creating a view up the kilt. Wearing the kilt well (I hope) got me to be thinking that I was being leaven (to barrow Jesus' image from the parable of the yeast) in society to spread the message that it was right and proper for men to wear skirts (kilts). I look forward to some day wearing an actual skirt, but I am grateful for kilts so that I can say to folks that this is an actual male garment. One step at a time, right?

[Milfmog]

Congratulations on taking that first step; it is usually the hardest one to take. The fact that you had family along for the ride is a huge bonus too as it saves all the awkward conversations later.

I found that folks noticed me when i first wore a kilt but that once I became confident in what I was wearing others seemed to stop noticing. Whether that is because my increased confidence made me look more relaxed and hence send less unintended "look at me" messages or perhaps because I was originally looking for a response and so misreading reactions that were not a result of the kilt I do not know. What is indisputable is that my self-confidence increased with familiarity and others reactions seemed to diminish as that happened.

Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Have fun,


Ian.

[renesm1]

Hi,

It's a lovely story. Could I make a polite suggestion? Please break up future postings into paragraphs, it would make it much easier to read!

Thanks!!!

R

[Nolyn]

"Could I make a polite suggestion? Please break up future postings into paragraphs, it would make it much easier to read!"

Sorry, I thought I did; it must not have printed that way.

[crfriend]

Sorry, I thought I did [break it into paragraphs]; it must not have printed that way.

Upon looking at it critically, it seems that indeed that's the case, and the HTML failed to render it so.

When I make a paragraph break, I use two consecutive carriage-returns and have had good luck with that. However, I gave up indenting as HTML doesn't deal with that notion at all gracefully. Your mileage may vary, of course, and what you write may render on different browsers in a way you don't anticipate; but, such is life in this brave new world.

[Milfmog]

When I make a paragraph break, I use two consecutive carriage-returns and have had good luck with that.

I do the same. It's a simple and, as far as I can tell, universally effective approach.

But please don't let this very minor constructive suggestion crowd out what must have been a very positive experience Nolyn. I'm already looking forward to the next installment.

Have fun,


Ian.

[r.m.anderson]

Echo - Milfmog's suggestion

A further note to avoid using the full width of the page. Make your posts
just like this for an example.
The eyes can scan and read the text much easier if they do not have to
run the full scope of the page.
Note that cutting the sentences in almost half you are fooling the eyes
into seeing double spacing.

Oh - and thanks for comment about the Clark's Clergy Kilt - glad you like it.
Mark at Frugal Corner is the greatest "Summa Cum Laude"!

"Carry-On-Here-No-Further-Commentary"
rma

[purple]

My first public outing today. At least, in 20 years or so.

I've wanted to wear skirts all of my life. Actually, I did, a few times in college: I bought a long flowy skirt at the mall (which took $20 and a whole lot of balls) and wore it to class on a few occasions. My girlfriends were variably supportive, but other people, even friends, made rude comments and made me uncomfortable. My girlfriend put up with it to a point but didn't really support it, so I stopped wearing it. But I've thought about it every day since then as a pulled on jeans every morning.

That was before anyone heard of Utilikilts, etc. It's been 20 years since college. Recently my wife (formerly the girlfriend) said to me, of the Utilikilt, "Why don't you own one of those?" and then I knew that she was OK with it. Or, OK, at least, with me wearing a kilt - that's good enough for me.

I did some research, and discovered a kilt manufacturer here in my town of Portland, OR. Tim at Stumptown Kilts was awesome, and my wife went with me for a fitting. She agreed that it looked good, and I bought it.

Today the wife was out of town, so it was just me and my kid. I took her to the zoo, and wore the kilt there. I was a little nervous, definitely self-conscious but I decided to own it and just see the friggin' zoo. We walked around for hours. I caught no one looking, and no one said a word to me about the kilt. Actually, one guy complimented my t-shirt. The kilt was non-issue. But I felt so happy finally being out in the world in a skirt -- sorry, a kilt.

-Purple

[Since1982]

Purple, and Noyln, A common men's term for a skirted garment for a man is a MUG..Male Unbifurcated Garment. Of course nonbifurcated works too, personally I prefer MUG over MNG, I think it's catchier.

[skirtingtheissue]

Good to hear from someone venturing out bravely!

After my first time a few weeks ago, I've been out twice, in downtown Boston and Vermont, and all I can think of is, WHY didn't I try it sooner? "Taking the plunge" is intimidating, but afterwards, the feeling is "well THAT was no big deal!" It's just so much fun, and you only live life once, so if you are a little afraid, "just do it" like the ad says. You will NOT regret it, and you will be very pleased, and you will do it again soon!

Maybe not in your home town, though. Rumors can be unkind and spread too far in your own community.

[crfriend]

Maybe not in your home town, though. Rumors can be unkind and spread too far in your own community.

I don't know about that. I got my start in my adopted "home town" (it's where I call home nowadays) just north of Worcester and haven't looked back yet.

I wear skirts to work, skirts to Town Meeting (where I am known for asking vexing questions), skirts out sailling on Boston Harbor (and beyond), and skirts in various assorted bars all over eastern Massachusetts. In short, pretty much wherever my range takes me. Since I make no secret about it, nobody can threaten me over it. (If one is confidently "out and about" in skirts the quiet whisper in the shadows of, "He wears skirts, don't you know!" can have no meaning!)

[Sarongman]

Welcome to the newbies taking the plunge. The first time out can be quite nerve wracking but, after that, it's just another .clothing choice. We, that is S.W.M.B.O. and I went to a very conservative area to stock up on apple juice at the orchard, then in to town. I wore a long (ankle length) light brown "Gap" brand skirt today and it was a total non event. I can remember being frightened the first few times. I think as your confidence increases, your skirt tends to become less visible, or people say to themselves " There's that skirted man.

[BobM]

Nolyn,

Welcome to the club. You mentioned that you have an image to maintain (we all do) because you are a pastor. I'm not a pastor, but I am an ordained Deacon in the PCA, which is a conservative denomination of Presbyterian. It is also rooted in Scotland.

Once, some years back, one of the Ruling Elders asked about my strong preference for kilts, and skirts in general. My response left him with no where to go but to nod in the affirmative. Here it is: "Well (Name), think about it. When God booted Adam out of the garden and made him a garment to cover his nakedness, do you think it was a pair of Dockers? Or Levi's?" Those who are honest with themselves--far too many people are not--will recognize that pants are a recent invention, and conventions concerning them are only binding ( )on those who wish to be bound.

[couyalair]

...conventions concerning [pants] are only binding ( )on those who wish to be bound.

Very good!

Martin

[Skirt82]

For someone who has not worn a kilt YET, that is very inspiring. I feel the same with long skirts.
Thank you.