Regimental style and hygiene

[Hamish]

Words spoken from a true kilt wearer.My friend Ham.It is a shame that it cost so much to travel,if you ever met Ham,you would know just what a warm and wonderful person he is.
Ham I sure wish I could afford to visit across the pond.But you are always near to Miss.Vicky and my heart.
Thinking of you often.
Buddy

Tripp49

I say, Buddy, steady now! The feelings are mutual. My love to Miss Vicky and you.

[Skirt Chaser]

Anyway, in a not so "romanticized" frame of reference, I have a question for any guy who might care to address it. Uh, what about bodily functions and body fluids? That's one of the uses of 100% cotton underwear. They absorb these items and keep the outter garment cleaner. Sometimes we dribble (especially as we get older) and sometimes we may not be able to clean as well as we should following a bowel movement. That means our kilt will "take a hit" so to speak.

I'd say adhesive pantyliners would stick as well to a kilt as they do women's underwear. They are a strip of absorbent material with leak-proof backing, can be placed where needed either front or back, and are disposable. Nobody would know a kilt was wearing one. :sh:

Quiet Mouse

[Frostybeard]

Longshadows, go on your browser, I use Google, and type in the word "bidet" in the search page. You will get a lot of hits on "bidet". It is a french invention that's been around nearly as long as toilets. A bidet consists of a simple tube connected to the toilets water source that bends down from the rear of the toilet and up towards your "crack", it has a knob to the right and rear of your toilet seat that you turn left and right for more pressure or less pressure. A bidet shoots a stream of water into your "crack" after you are finished with your bowel movement and cleans completely that area. It works tons better than toilet paper and never needs replacing. I've had mine through the last 6 homes and toilets I've had and it's still going strong. This is a feature that is commonly found in the toilets/bathrooms of high priced hotel rooms all over the world. Works fine for men and/or women for any usage that includes sitting down on the toilet. Check it out, it will make the "regimental" choice much easier. :ninjajig:

Bidets are a joke. What a ridiculous invention. They make good planters in the front yard. Who wants a huge porcelain contraption taking up space in their bathroom? In Finland there are small shower heads on hoses next to just about every toilet that are hooked to the sink in every home that hangs on a hook on the wall. You simply turn on the sink tap, take the shower nozzle off the wall over to the toilet and spray yourself clean. When you push the button on the shower nozzle, the water is diverted from the sink to the shower nozzle. Yes I use this. But I still sweat and I can't carry around the shower with me all day. I wear underwear out of respect for my tartan and kilt. I don't want buttsweat on my 400 dollar dry-clean only kilt, or my tartan.

[Since1982]

Bidets are a joke. What a ridiculous invention. They make good planters in the front yard. Who wants a huge porcelain contraption taking up space in their bathroom?

My bidet I bought online 5 years ago, is about half the size of my fist, has a pencil sized tube that runs under the seat and down into the bowl of the toilet, bends up and points at the fecal matter dispensor. A knob on the top of the bidet has 2 settings, On and Off...with various speeds of water between. I don't really know what bidets you've seen but perhaps that's how they looked in olden times. Certainly not anymore. weighs about 3 ounces, I don't think you could plant much in it since it has no opening to plant anything in. It's not porcelain, it's just good old plastic. Works fine though.

[binx]

I wear underwear out of respect for my tartan and kilt. I don't want buttsweat on my 400 dollar dry-clean only kilt, or my tartan.

So you are saying Scots that don't wear underwear don't respect their kilts or tartans?? It's a garment! What did the Highland regiments do, run to the dry-cleaners every time their butts' sweat?:stir:

binx

[longshadows]

So you are saying Scots that don't wear underwear don't respect their kilts or tartans?? It's a garment!

Before a "flame war" heats up here about who values his kilt, let's recall that the comment was "I don't want to get" my kilt dirty. It's the writers own position. He's not saying all men should or a real Scots should, etc.

That's why I initially asked the question about hygiene. Let's get real, the body does produce various substances--especially in the area in which the kilt is in direct contact. If we choose not to wear any sort of "barrier" between our body and our kilt, a little extra care is necessary to keep out kilt in presentable condition.

If a guy has an incontinece problem, unable to clean well after a b.m. or excessively sweaty in those areas, than maybe cotton underwear is the way to go for him--especially if his kilt is not one that is "home washable."

Lighten up--isn't that the reason a lot of us wear kilts in the first place?

[binx]

I'd say adhesive pantyliners would stick as well to a kilt as they do women's underwear. They are a strip of absorbent material with leak-proof backing, can be placed where needed either front or back, and are disposable. Nobody would know a kilt was wearing one. :sh:

Quiet Mouse

Great idea! There's also Underkilts, which can perform the same function. When wearing my tartan kilts, I feel honored to represent that clan, my ancestors, and their traditions. But I wear all of my kilts regimental mainly for the sheer comfort and freedom. Underwear may be necessary for special occasions or conditions, but nothing beats "going bear", to borrow a phrase from a friend. Otherwise, might as well be wearing shorts IMO...

binx

[longshadows]

First, I'd like to thank all the brothers, who took the time to respond to my posting. I appreciate your various suggestions and points of view. Secondly, I have to admit that I posted this thread BEFORE I actually owned my own kilt and hadn't any experience with wearing one. My question was more hypothetical than reflecting actual events.

Now that I've worn a kilt, regimentally, daily for over a week, I can see that my concerns were mostly unfounded. Yes, a bit more care and thought is needed with certain functions, but actually less "effort" is involved due to the ease and openness of the kilt.

In reality, I think I may have been suffering from a bit of "fear," not so much of soiling my kilt, but of being seen as perverse or of "getting caught with my pants down," so to speak. The worry I expressed was perhaps a facade for that deeper fear.

Well, guys, thanks to (most) of you, who display a sincere, healthy and manly attitude about wearing a kilt and not being afraid of what that means, I believe a lot of my concerns have been dealt with. (Isn't that what this forum is all about--support?)
Kilts are not skirts--like women wear. We wear them because we are men and our bodies are created differently. The "bifurcation" aspect--be it in trousers or undergarments--is not part of kilted vesture. Yes, in so doing, we must assume a responsibility: to our community, our kilts and to ourselves. We are conscious as to how we display ourselves, our modesty and our decorum (and that may mean that on occasion, undergarments are called for). We are conscious how we treat our kilts. (We take extra care with our bodily fluids in the same way as we don't spill beer on it) and we wear the kilt in a manner that displays our self-respect and the respect for all the other men who wear a kilt.

"To him whom much has been given, much is asked."

[binx]

Congradulations! It's a wonderful feeling!

binx

[sterlin6]

I'm intrigued, where did this idea that going 'regimental', 'commando' or whatever, was 'traditionally' Scottish? Up until a few years ago, I'd only heard of it being a military tradition, complete with long-handled mirror parade ground inspections! Certainly, Kilt-related conversations in different parts of Scotland (North of the Forth valley), way back in the '70s & '80s, seemed to indicate that the knickers worn by the (school) lads were identical, to all intents and purposes to those of the girls. Similar style garments were worn by most adults, too. Only the older folk (invariably ex-mil or national service) carried on their military 'tradition'.

South of the Forth? I.e, the 'sassenachs'! Conversations usually ran along the lines of "If you want to wear a Kilt, fine! Just don't ever suggest that we do!" Certainly, that viewpoint was re-inforced by some of my former work colleagues who hailed from places such as Hawick, Dumfries, Beattock & Mossend as recently as five years ago. None of them referred to it as wearing 'THE' Kilt, either, but the more grammatically correct 'A' Kilt.

As for wearing a 'slip' (or whatever your personal description would be) under your Kilt, then why not? It's not as if a Kilt is a cheap item to either buy or clean. It's all a matter of choice - your choice. If you go out somewhere, wearing knickers, & it turns repressively hot (say, over 50F), then it's not usually a problem to discreetly remove said items, is it?

Yes Merlin, while I always wear knickers where exposure may cause offense eg if children are around or in church etc I have on many occassions whipped them off and folded them in my sporran. Ive found anyway that an 8yard kilt can be easily worn to cover any sight of your personals. Just ensure the aprons down between the knees and stays down.

[Steven W]

I agree with Ingy, what is the point of wearing M.U.G.'s if one were to strap all their bits up with underwear. I do like the the idea of underkilts however, since they maintain the idea of an unbifuricated garment between my skin, and the outside. I have had very little leakage problems, both front and rear, mainly because I have always been extremely picky about making sure things are totally clean before leaving the restroom. For you non-American men, and for us rare ones that escaped the knife at birth, having foreskin can have some pro's and con's when considering MUG's. The pro is that it reduces the chafing factor very well. The con is that when going regimental, one must be especially particular about making sure no liquid remains under the skin.

Like sterlin mentioned with his kilts, I have very little trouble with exposure while wearing kilts. Now, I typically wear knee-length and below kilts and skirts. This also allows me to sit with my knees apart too without any exposure issues too.

I started going "regimental" before I discovered unbifuricated garments, so it was a natural "extension" if you will of my typical clothing habits

[sterlin6]

Thats interesting StevenW as I'm the same. Proper cleaning after the toilet has given me no problems so I suppose we are the lucky ones. My kilts are all just to the top of the knee and allowing for slight rideup when I sit theres usually about 4 inches of bare leg shows but nothing else. My sporran keeps things ok as well. I've had no problems with anyone objecting to seeing what's under sometimes like some of the North American contributors seem to have. My attitude is when in doubt shove on a pair of navy blue or black knickers and theres no problem.

[Stu]

I think going "regimental" is both irresponsible and hazardous. When you are climbing stairs, or if you are struck by a sudden gust of wind, you risk anyone below getting an eyeful of your private parts. That's not very nice for people - and it is inconsiderate. Imagine if there were children around exposed to that sight. Also, if anyone complains to the police, or if the police decide you look weird and decide to check you out, and you are found with no underwear under a skirt or kilt, that could cause you problems.

Stu

[sterlin6]

I think going "regimental" is both irresponsible and hazardous. When you are climbing stairs, or if you are struck by a sudden gust of wind, you risk anyone below getting an eyeful of your private parts. That's not very nice for people - and it is inconsiderate. Imagine if there were children around exposed to that sight. Also, if anyone complains to the police, or if the police decide you look weird and decide to check you out, and you are found with no underwear under a skirt or kilt, that could cause you problems.

Stu

Stu....I agree completely. I should say that despite the previous post I made 99% of the time I have knicks below my kilt for the reasons you mention.
If I do go without its probably either in my home or if Im having a walk along the seafront or something like that.
I wear kilts for the pleasure of the feeling of freedom and the confidence it gives me and for no other reason.

[Since1982]

I have a picture I got off the web of about 30 colonels and majors and generals etc. sitting on both sides of the Queen. AND they are definitely Regimental. Anyone that is interested in this picture can email me at SkirtedMan@aol.com and I'll send it to you. The Major sitting right next to the queen looks so officious with a big smile..but.............he'd look better in the picture if he was wearing his skivvies.