Out and About -- In the World at Large

[pelmut]

One man wore the full kilt regalia at a dance in Malmesbury (Wilts, UK) last night. I don't know if his family had any Scottish connections, but his own accent was distinctly local. He said he was the ony kilt-wearer in Malmesbury and he seemed to revel in it.

[Sinned]

My son and his partner had an engagement party today and we met her family for the first time. The afternoon went well and we integrated fine and chatted between us. I was talking to my son's partner's brother-in-law generally and the subject of clothes came up. I was wearing everything purple today ( tshirt, shirt, cord jeans, socks and shoes ) and said that the jeans actually came from the other side of the isle because the men's side doesn't do colour and as you know I LOVE colour. He wasn't surprised or bothered about this and his attitude was similar to ours in that you wear what suits you and fits your personality. I didn't actually say that I wear a skirt but we discussed alternative dress modes for men and he agreed that some female clothes were acceptable for men. He did say that some clothes were meant to be feminine flowery and frilly and he didn't think that those wouldn't be suitable but if a man wanted to wear them then shrug shoulders and ok. As I had just met him I didn't feel that the time was right just then for admissions so I don't feel that I chickened out or anything, just not the time. As I talked to each of the family members in all I felt that if they saw me in a skirt I don't think that it would have bothered them. Maybe sometime soon although I suspect that the next time I see them all will be at the wedding which is generally the case nowadays.

[STEVIE]

Hi Dennis,
There are right and wrong times to hold a given conversation. If you felt it was inappropriate, you were right not to tell about your preferences.
That is nothing other than tactful and sensible.
The wedding may be an opportunity to give your kilt an outing though.
Steve.

[Departed Member]

Well, I flew skirted the first time in what is originally probably a maxi but on me comes a bit shorter than a full length maxi, due to my height. It's a dark brown color, super thin and comfortable, being made of 100% rayon, with two side slits that allow for more airflow and to be lifted to knee level when sitting and still maintain modesty. I wore it in front of my family, who have the biggest problem with my wearing skirts, flying from CA to Kauai, which is a 5 1/2 flight. Many women on the flight were skirted of course, but I was the only skirted male (& completely fine with it!) No one, not even TSA had problems with it during the flight; in fact, I was given TSA Pre check on the way from UT to CA and then from CA to HI, but whether that had to do with the skirt or with our group having a small number of people, I'm not sure. It's a very comfortable skirt to fly in tho, since its long enough I can spread the legs like I would in shorts/trousers and not have to worry about modesty.

Anywho, I wore it around Kauai today as well after we arrived, and though I got some looks and giggles from some teenage girls and their mother at a shopping mall, that was about the most excitement I got. This is a good thing because I challenged my family to conduct a little experiment to see just how much it really doesn't matter to anyone that I wear a skirt; I challenged them after telling them I'd be skirted in HI to keep cooler and wouldn't discuss it with them no matter what, that it was happening no matter what they said and that it would be best not to discuss the matter at all if we wanted to enjoy the vacation together. The day went fine, the world didn't end, and it was on the whole very positive, especially because they saw (I hope!) that it didn't really matter to 99.9% of the people. And the fam didn't say a word either, so that was good too. Slowly but surely, they are going to find (hopefully!) that it's not that big of a deal and that me being perfectly confident in a skirt really makes the difference as well.

[Sinned]

Thanks Stv,

The day after I still think that I made the right decision - too much too soon. Admittedly we were all probably on our "best behaviour" but I had some good discussions with the prospective in-laws and we all got on very well. I think that the kilt will come out before then and most likely at New Year's Eve. Yesterday was excellent.

[Couya]

...It's a very comfortable skirt to fly in tho, since its long enough I can spread the legs like ...

Your planes must be be bigger than ours, if you can spread your legs, as you say.
I just flew back to Spain, kilted as usual, but I have rarely felt so cramped; the seats leave no leg room at all. luckily, I was steed next to a small and pleasant lady. We chatted and time went quickly. It was only when we were walking to the station to catch a train that she asked if I was Scottish.
No, I was not flying first class, rather a cheap flight with Vueling, who obviously intend to get as many passengers packed in as possible. The advantage is having a direct flight. If I paid a fancier airline hundreds of euros more (no exaggeration!), I'd be sent via Paris, Frankfurt or London, and have to spend hours waiting for the connexion -- not y idea of fun.

Airport officials paid little attention to me passing through security controls; did they remember the kilted gent from previous flights? I'm sure they recall my clothes far more than my face (who can blame them? !!).

Martin

[Charlie]

I was with wife, daughter and 6 year old grandson, walking through the entrance of Wells Cathedral. I was wearing a black Union kilt.
Earlier grandson had asked why I was wearing a skirt. I told him "Because I like it". He was happy with that.
A voice behind "Excuse me, you're wearing a skirt hehehe"
I looked around to see a couple of giggling 14 year old girls.
After looking them up and down, I replied "And you're wearing trousers, so what?"
We walked on and my daughter made two observations. Firstly, she thought the girls made a sexist remark (I thought only men were capable of that ) and secondly that I had a better dress sense than they did.
For any similar incident like this in the future, I think I'll reply, given the presence of mind either: Look down at the skirt in mock horror and say "I wondered why I felt so comfortable", or simply "Yes, it is a skirt, what of it?"
Charlie

[crfriend]

That's a great story, Charlie, and thanks for sharing it with us. I especially like your rejoinder to the teenagers which, with any sort of luck, might get them thinking about the matter (although I rather doubt it). What's especially heartwarming is how calm your daughter and grandson are about the matter. That's positively wonderful.

[Orca]

I've just 'done' the Lowlands festival wearing only skirts. During the first day, the drive to this location I was wearing a short denim skirt and tody I got home wearing another skirt. At the line before the entrance I was asked a few times why I was wearing a skirt, My answer was each time "Because I can, because it's Lowlands and last but not least; it's very comfortable!". This reply was sufficient for everyone.
I had some strange looks and smiles during the festival even a few more questions. One person did not agree with it and was motivated enough to ask me if that was a skirt and why. My answer was "Yes" and I offered the reasons I've mentioned above. Where he replied "But that's something from a previous era, things have changed since then" whereupon I replied "Things will have to change back then." He walked on indicating that the discussion is closed.
I did have a moment of good fun, some guys behind up (while walking to the tent) commented that my sport shoes where the wrong shoes for that skirt. One of them found that hilarious and we shared good laugh..

That most people had the opinion that wearing skirts by men was a good idea, and one negative reaction out of 60.000 festival guests is something I can live with..

[Departed Member]

...It's a very comfortable skirt to fly in tho, since its long enough I can spread the legs like ...

Your planes must be be bigger than ours, if you can spread your legs, as you say.
I just flew back to Spain, kilted as usual, but I have rarely felt so cramped; the seats leave no leg room at all.

Not really; they are just as narrow and short as the rest of the world's planes. However, I did happen to luck out and get an exit row, aisle set, which while narrower that other standard seats for some reason, had plenty of leg room for me to stretch out and position myself in the seat so that I could spread eagle a little more. If airlines would just make the cabins a couple inches wider and take out one row of seats, it would give all those people back in economy seating a couple more inches of room, which would make all the difference.

[Charlie]

One person did not agree with it and was motivated enough to ask me if that was a skirt and why. My answer was "Yes" and I offered the reasons I've mentioned above. Where he replied "But that's something from a previous era, things have changed since then" whereupon I replied "Things will have to change back then." He walked on indicating that the discussion is closed.

Help me here, I don't understand the guy's logic - what previous era and what has changed [for men]?
Nice positive reply though
Charlie

[pelmut]

... I think I'll reply, given the presence of mind either: Look down at the skirt in mock horror and say "I wondered why I felt so comfortable"...."
Charlie

That's a good reply, would you mind if plagiarise it the next time the opportunity arises?

[Charlie]

Plagiarise away
Charlie

[dillon]

Plagiarism indeed; imitation is the greatest form of flattery! Or you could look at it as Bob Weir did, when asked about the famous myriad of "tapers" at Grateful Dead concerts, "When we're through with the music, they can have it."

[dillon]

Yesterday was a perfect day at the beach, despite the holiday crowds. Temperature was about 87F, and water temperature was in the upper 70s F. I wore a black Columbia skort, though was mostly in a swimsuit. This is the end of summer for practical purposes, though we have a few more weeks of hot weather before any autumn weather. Im going backpacking with my kids in October and planning to do so skirted or in capri tights, depending on the weather. We're also planning to head to Chile and Argentina in December. Hope to have my kilt by then.