I have a friend whose husband is a devoted kilt-wearer. This is endlessly fascinating to me. He likes kilts so much, and he likes running so much, he even invented a running kilt: http://www.runningkilts.com. (I’m disappointed to report that the running kilt isn’t commonly worn commando-style. Oh, and, why a kilt for running, you ask? To reduce chafing on long distance runs, of course.)
Yes, nowadays, there’s a kilt for every occasion. Check out the utilikilt: http://www.utilikilts.com, for some interesting photos. And don’t miss their mock-u-mercials to see videos of kilt-wearers in action.
Apparently, there are even kilt-wearers’ conventions. Aforementioned friend and her husband went to one and reported to me many interesting stories about the experience. Imagine a whole convention full of guys in kilts. Now imagine if that convention took place at the same time and in the same hotel as the Romance Writers of America conference.
Why do some men love kilts? Any devoted skirt wearer should know the answer to that question. They’re more comfortable, for one thing. Less confining. Not to mention ease of access… There must also be the appeal of feeling so at ease with one’s masculinity that putting on a skirt—er, I mean, kilt–isn’t at all threatening. Rather the opposite, it’s freeing.
One side note—it wasn’t easy finding an appropriate photo to accompany this blog post. Perhaps I should have dug up some historical romance cover art. But Google images? Try searching “men in kilts” and you’ll get a bunch of pictures that are:
A. ridiculous
B. even more ridiculous
C. weird
D. silly
E. all off the above
In a few weeks, I’m going to Scotland, home of the kilt. I will report back my findings. I will also take pictures.
How do you feel about men in kilts? Do you think your guy would wear one in public? How about other items of clothing that many deem feminine? The man purse, for instance? I personally am launching a campaign to get more men in high heels, makeup, and complicated hairdos, because I think we should all share the pain equally.
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LOL, Jamie! I love it. But for men to really comprehend what we’re expected to go through on a daily basis, they shouldn’t dress like a woman for a day, but for a month. One day would seem too much like Halloween…and they’d likely expect a reward afterward.
Not a kilt girl myself. Of course, one would look ridiculous on my Greek. But putting Tony in a toga…that’s another story altogether…
Have a great time in Scotland! We look forward to viewing your travel pics.
Lori (& Tony)
Thanks, Lori.
And no, of course not just for a day! I meant permanently. I have this vision of the metrosexual movement getting really carried away to the point that men have just as complicated and painful beauty regimens as women. (H)
I’ve been to two weddings in the Highlands in the past 10 days so am suffering slightly from kilt overload at the moment! However, I do think that on the right bloke they’re seriously sexy, though anyone with too large a waistline tends to look like a barrel with a frill.
I’ve also learnt to watch out when the ceilidh begins – Scottish dancing should be reclassified as a full-body-contact sport in some areas!
Wow, two Highland weddings in 10 days! Sounds fun. And LOL on the barrel with the frill. Great image.
I guess one on the right guy it could be sexy but not on my Chris. He is skinny as a bean pole and has what my mother lovingly teases him as “Chicken legs”. I have never seen anyone with as skinny legs as Chris but I love him anyway, Skinny legs and all! (L)
I don’t go for the Man purse either. That is just a little too weird. LOL
(D) But a kilt on a guy who knows how to wear one and looks good doing it? Yeah I can see that!
Scotland! I suppose it will surprise no one that I’m familiar with all things kilt. My son was married in a kilt and it cost more than the bride’s wedding gown. He’s worn it more than once, though. If you check out my twitter page, (I’m Heather_Mac) you’ll see the MacAllister tartan. As for what they wear underneath, my younger son announced that he was going to “free ball it” at the wedding and I said, “Go ahead.” When he wanted to know the catch, I told him, “Wool.”
Have fun and eat haggis for me, Jamie!
LOL, wool… Ouch.
I’ve already been informed that I must eat haggis, and a bunch of other foods that involve innards and such. I think my boyfriend intends to test me on just how much culinary bravery I have.
Jamie, Enjoyed your recent HSR & have ordered your upcoming Blaze.
Kilts on guys–not sure about that, but, I do know Scottish garb since my mother was born in Dundee, & as a 12 YO, I danced The Highland Fling on TV (in full Scottish regalia which had been my mother’s) & earned a set of encyclopedias.
My late mother was a Campbell (hi, Heather!) & came over to U.S./Ellis Island at 7 YO, but, though she became a citizen, she never forgot she was Scottish. She didn’t have an accent: yet 30 secs. with a Scot, she had one.
Hope you have a great trip & am looking forward to your pix of my ancestral homeland. Though my sister & one of her daughters have visited, & my cousin has worked on all the Scottish/English geneology & visited extensively, I probably won’t be able to make it there. But, from afar, I’ve always loved it, & will continue to do so. Have a great time.
Patricia
I’m glad you enjoyed my first Superromance, Patricia! I hope my next Blaze doesn’t disappoint. I saw that it got 4 and a half stars from RT but haven’t read the review yet.
I’m thinking my next blog post will be reporting back from Scotland. Some of my boyfriend’s family still lives there and we’re going for a little family reunion type thing. Stay tuned.
What a great topic!
I am still one who prefers a guy in a nice pair of blue jeans, but my husband always says if he could get away with wearing skirts or dresses, he would, for the comfort factor. Ironically, I find jeans way more comfortable than dresses or skirts. Go figure.
But I can’t say I’m a huge fan of the kilt or the man-purse, etc. My guy hauls around a laptop bag when he has to, but other than that, his wallet is in his pocket, as it’s supposed to be.
Still that guy you have in the picture would look pretty good in just about anything.
Reading Heather’s post about the wedding, I could see a formal affair being quite impressive in that sense… but not hopping out to the grocery store. So maybe kilts, etc are fine in their time and place.
But I still prefer a nice pair of jeans on a guy.
Have a great time in Scotland!
Sam
Hmmm…my DH is Romanian and I doubt seriously he’d ever be caught dead in anything that even slightly exposed him.
That said, my maternal family is from Forfar. My uncles often wore their kilts and I still say, even a little, wizened old man, in full regalia, can take my breath away. It just does something to a man. The same way the Marine uniform does. At least for me. (H)
(Y) My hubby served in the Marie Corp during Vietnam and the picture of him in uniform DOES take my breath away. He is 17 years older than myself and even looking back at his old MC pics does it for me. Nothing beats a man in uniform! (B)
I’m surprised how many people are anti-kilt. I think there’s something seriously sexy about a guy wearing anything skirt-like. Even a sarong, worn with utter confidence, can be hot…
I wonder if it isn’t just culture based. That and in the case of Romance novels, it seems either readers LOVE Highland based novels, or they can’t stand them, and the ones who can’t stand them seem to not care much for kilts while those who love the novels…well
I go to Vegas a lot with a friend to see Phantom. One night while there, I was sitting at the octagonal bar in the Venetian and what do I see, but at least 20 men, all in full regalia, all there for a wedding. The bride and groom wanted to be married in Vegas so the entire wedding came over from Scotland. I haven’t been surrounded by so many kilts, up close and personal, since the last of my mother’s family passed. I felt like it was old home week!
Many of the looks they were getting were they typical “why would anyone wear something like that” though.
Go figure.
Maybe the men were giving they dirty looks because they didn’t have the confidence to wear one. Who knows?
I love reading historical books with men wearing kilts. I just get this image in my head of a sexy highlander wearing a kilt with nothing beneath it. What a nice picture that makes *fans self* It would take a man who knows he a man to wear a kilt, but I think that it would be sexy if the right guy wore it.
I concur with you on men wearing kilts. To me however kilts are formal much like a tuxedo. If you want men to wear skirts then it should be skirt, not the wrap about kilt. Since most skirts are designed for men there isn’t any reason for men not to wear them. Skirts are worn on the hips just like pants. I wear skirts. I have 13 of them in basic male colors, Navy blue, black and khaki. I also wear skorts. Skorts are full skirts with shorts sewn inside of them w/the hem of the shorts about 2 inches shorter then the skirt. With wearing skorts I can go commando (no underwear) and still be okay on windy days. I do wear Kilts, but only at formal or serious occasions. I own 2 of them with the sporan, proper socks and shoes. These are a part of my family heritage. My grandfather gave me my first Kilt, it had been handed down through several family members. It, believe it or not, was stolen by someone who burgled my home. It was very hard to replace. On the internet several groups are advocating skirts for men, some are advocating dresses. I’ve looked at them and would consider a few of them but for the most part I don’t like the styles or the requirement of pants or leggings with them.