Freaking the mundanes

[Laird Fraser of Lovatt]

My brother-n-law is as Scottish as i am but he won't wear one and won't go to TRF with us if i'm wearing one.   I looked him in the eye, last weekend, and said "REAL MEN wear kilts, drag queens wear a skirt... do i look like a drag queen?"  For his continued good health and love of my sister, he answered correctly.

[Prince Thomas]

We just started Ren-festing, but have done Rendezvous (mountain men) for years. My favorite story that I got is, on Friday morning, we head into town for breakfast in full garb and invite people to come on over and check it out. The waitress was just in awe over the 4 of us, and asked every question in the book. After 2 hours of talking AFTER we had finished out meal, she ripped up our check and told us to have a great day! Needless to say, she got a pretty big tip!!

[Khaalis]

I wouldn't be too hard on people. You're talking about a garment that has been largely out of common fashion for hundreds of years, and was only ever popular in a relatively small (if ultimately influential) region of the world. It also runs contrary to longstanding social mores in America where men wear pants and women (until about 40 years ago) wear skirts/dresses. Since the kilt more closely resembles traditional North American female attire than male attire, people get confused. Wear your kilt proudly, to be sure, but do so knowing and accepting that you're dressing far differently than the commonly accepted norm, and are likely to stand out, raising questions, odd looks and perhaps comments. If that doesn't bother you (as it no doubt wouldn't faze a Scotsman down from the highlands), then have at it. You've successfully "freaked the mundanes." 

Meh! Sorry, I can't agree with you on this one.

Warning! /Rant On 
Granted it goes against the typical "norm" of "modern American culture", but that doesn't mean its the CORRECT attitude, nor a non-bigoted attitude. There is just no excuse for the ignorance, nor the bigotry against men in unbifurcated garments. We live in a much larger world than our own culture and I personally feel not enough energy is spent on educating people about other cultures nor on world history. Especially since ignorance breeds hate (see the former postings about our Knightly cousins and their comparison to the KKK).

Also, Scots are NOT the only culture to have been "men in skirts". The deep truth is that "pants" as we know them were invented, not for men, but for woman. The general agreement among historians is that the first recorded "pant" was from Crete around 1700 BC. and was a woman's garment. Minoan men of the time however, wore skirts. After that, the first real record of men in a "trouser" were the Eurasian horsemen such as the Scythians and Persians. Around the same time are records of Chinese military adopting a trouser-like garment, also for riding. Even as late as the 15th century most European men only wore a trouser-like garment as underwear [such as the Hungarians wearing them under a Dolman (Turkish robe)].  In Europe in the 12th century the closest thing to a pant/trouser were braies (undergarments) which disappeared again for most of the 13th century. They didn't gain predominance in Europe until the early 16th century. Even Native Americans didn't adopt a true "pant" until after the European invasion. Native Americans prior to that time actually wore breechclouts and leggings (a piece of wrapped and sewn fabric more like a footless woman's stocking including ties that tied the top to their belt like a pair of garters; or more like chaps without the built in belt).

Today, in parts of the Middle East, Africa, southeast Asia, and the Pacific islands it is still common to see men in sarongs, caftans, djellabahs, and other skirt-like garments. A sarong for example is the generic term for any of the typical longer length men's wraps including the Hawaiian Pareo, the East African Kikoi, and the Indian Dhoti and Lunghee.

So sorry, nope. I have no real patience for people with an attitude about a "guy in a skirt". Not being educated is not an excuse for bias. 

But then again its basically what we ALL face when we go out in garb around the danes isn't it?  /sigh 
/Rant Off

PS: Don't get me wrong, I'm not a "skirt" fascist... I DO wear bifurcated garments, even to fair (I just refuse to wear pumpkins  ).
I just can't stand the uneducated ignorance and bigotry against men in unbifurcated garments.

[DonaCatalina]

We just started Ren-festing, but have done Rendezvous (mountain men) for years. My favorite story that I got is, on Friday morning, we head into town for breakfast in full garb and invite people to come on over and check it out. The waitress was just in awe over the 4 of us, and asked every question in the book. After 2 hours of talking AFTER we had finished out meal, she ripped up our check and told us to have a great day! Needless to say, she got a pretty big tip!!

Great story....and I like your profile pic. But then I am a garb-addict.

[Prince Thomas]

Great story....and I like your profile pic. But then I am a garb-addict.

Thank you! All the glory for the garb goes to my wife. She is awesome when it comes to making our outfits.

[Laird Fraser of Lovatt]

Huzzah!  Up with the Kilt!  Down with ignorance! 

[Aaroncois]

Meh! Sorry, I can't agree with you on this one.

Warning! /Rant On 

Hey, sure, you can disagree and rant all you want. Stamp your feet and work up a good froth if it makes you feel better. But you're introducing clothing that's hundreds of years out of fashion and expecting people not to find it out of place. I think that's unrealistic and tried to explain why. Doesn't sound like it helped. Not sure what else to say, except to consider that you've posted in a thread where people are telling stories about how funny it is to get reactions out of all the "normal" people who find their historical/fantasy clothing unusual, freakish and odd. Most of us know exactly what we've signed up for and accept it, even revel in it. You seem to be looking for a fight, equating those who laugh at us folks in our silly clothes with racially-prejudiced bigots. I mean, ignorance? Why would people want/need to learn about historical clothing for the benefit of those who choose to deliberately wear clothing that's hundreds of years out of date? I just don't follow your logic. Sure, there are cultures today where similar garments are still worn - and if you were OF that culture, wearing those garments IN that culture, you'd have a realistic expectation for a high degree of tolerance. But that doesn't sound like that's what you're doing. So you probably ought to either enjoy the attention, wear normal clothes, or get used to being angry.

[Peddlin]

And would you actually be wearing the kilt, if you weren't looking for some attention? It's not like you are trying to "blend in".

[Khaalis]

And would you actually be wearing the kilt, if you weren't looking for some attention? It's not like you are trying to "blend in".

Just FYI, attention nor nonconformity have anything to do with it, its all about comfort. Any fellow kilt wearer will know of what I speak.

[Tygrkat]

Well, I am looking forward to stopping for coffee & a quick breakfast to-go on my way to Faire Saturday morning. I usually travel in my chemise & bloomers ...we'll see what the folks at the drive-through have to say  

I think it's great, because any questions I might get will give me an opportunity to talk about Faire, which I love to do, almost as much as getting ready for Faire, and actually going to Faire (almost - can you tell I'm excited to go to Sterling on Saturday?  ). Who knows? Someone I talk to might be interested enough to visit themselves  

[Khaalis]

Well, I am looking forward to stopping for coffee & a quick breakfast to-go on my way to Faire Saturday morning. I usually travel in my chemise & bloomers ...we'll see what the folks at the drive-through have to say  

I think it's great, because any questions I might get will give me an opportunity to talk about Faire, which I love to do, almost as much as getting ready for Faire, and actually going to Faire (almost - can you tell I'm excited to go to Sterling on Saturday?  ). Who knows? Someone I talk to might be interested enough to visit themselves  

Sterling? Huzzah!
Also, I am sure a woman in nothing but chemise and bloomers gets much more positive attention!

As for me, I haven't decided if we are going on Saturday or on Sunday. I don't trust the current forecasts. Currently they are calling for a higher temperature, humidity and chance of T-storms for Sat. than Sun. I am hoping that changes.

[Tygrkat]

Well, I am looking forward to stopping for coffee & a quick breakfast to-go on my way to Faire Saturday morning. I usually travel in my chemise & bloomers ...we'll see what the folks at the drive-through have to say  

I think it's great, because any questions I might get will give me an opportunity to talk about Faire, which I love to do, almost as much as getting ready for Faire, and actually going to Faire (almost - can you tell I'm excited to go to Sterling on Saturday?  ). Who knows? Someone I talk to might be interested enough to visit themselves  

Sterling? Huzzah!
Also, I am sure a woman in nothing but chemise and bloomers gets much more positive attention!

As for me, I haven't decided if we are going on Saturday or on Sunday. I don't trust the current forecasts. Currently they are calling for a higher temperature, humidity and chance of T-storms for Sat. than Sun. I am hoping that changes.

Heeheehee...I'd imagine that a Lady in her chemise & bloomers should be well received, indeed 

If it rains a bit, just head for the pub ~ that's my plan 

[Bowsmith]

We wore our wedding attire out to a chinese restaurant after our modest Medieval Times reception...


Our Cantonese waitress didn't quite have a handle on the English language and kept asking if we felt "Ok.".

We assured her that we did, and giggled at the looks and whispered comments from the other patrons.

One comment overheard was, "Is there a circus in town?"

My reply...."No, I just rescued her from a high tower guarded by a dragon!"

[Jack Daw at Work]

My brother-n-law is as Scottish as i am but he won't wear one and won't go to TRF with us if i'm wearing one.   I looked him in the eye, last weekend, and said "REAL MEN wear kilts, drag queens wear a skirt... do i look like a drag queen?"  For his continued good health and love of my sister, he answered correctly.

My very second outing in kilt was wearing my great kilt at TRF in 1999.  Now, I have two large cloths I fashion into great kilts and 8 modern, small kilts.  Even in hot weather, it's the best man's garment to wear.

[dbaldock]

We wore our wedding attire out to a chinese restaurant after our modest Medieval Times reception...


Our Cantonese waitress didn't quite have a handle on the English language and kept asking if we felt "Ok.".

We assured her that we did, and giggled at the looks and whispered comments from the other patrons.

One comment overheard was, "Is there a circus in town?"

My reply...."No, I just rescued her from a high tower guarded by a dragon!"

So, you didn't tell the waitress that you were wearing traditional American wedding clothes?    

Did you wear the sword into the restaurant?


Take Care,
David Baldock