Who will wear a kilt?

No valid statistics exists, but from kilt forums and the like it is my impression that men in kilts demographically on most criteria (age, civil status, family size, education, and income) will resemble men in general.Accordingly, the main difference between men in kilts and men in general is - the kilt.
They have just found out that wearing a kilt makes sense to them.

By the way, kilt wearing has nothing to do with sexual preferences. I mention this, because ignorant people often question such things and will connect everything they don’t understand – which can be pretty much – with sexual deviating.

Why wear a kilt?

If not part of a national dress or a garment to be worn in order to honor Scottish heritage, what then could make men, wish to wear a kilt?
There are numerous reasons of whose the following seem to be the most important:

1. The kilt is probably the most comfortable manly garment available

Just think of anatomy. Should clothing be invented from scratch it is likely that rest rooms signs should be interchanged, because trousers would be the primary choice of women (they already are), whereas skirted garments should probably be preferred by men, because of anatomy and a lot of jobs no longer requiring them.

2. The kilt is versatile

A casual kilt, for example, can with a few accessories be upgraded to rather formal functions, not possible with blue jeans or shorts. In most European countries a kilt can be worn year-round. At temperatures between -3 and 30 C it is perfect.
In winter, your knees are uncovered, but they aren’t cold. The kilt itself with its four to seven meters of fabric, as well as the kilt hose, will keep the remaining parts of your legs efficiently protected against coldness. Your only problem might be all the people freezing in their trousers asking you if you are not cold.
In summer the kilt is protecting against heat - and sun. In fact, on most days you’ll feel more comfortable than when in shorts.

3. The kilt is different

The manly wardrobe might not be the most inspiring thing the world has seen.

4. The kilt looks good

This is my opinion. And it might be yours too.

5. The kilt provides a lot of variety

Thousands of tartans are available, and the kilt itself shall make a splendid addition to your wardrobe, because you no longer have to wear trousers all the time.

6. You stand out from the crowd

- even if by far less than you might fear - or hope for.

7. Health aspects might apply

- again due to anatomy and form follows function.

Is it true?

You mean going without underwear? But YES. And NO.

Wearing the kilt as a true Scotsman is called going regimental or commando. In kilted Scottish regiments underwear was (still is?) not a part of the uniform and accordingly forbidden to wear. It is said that sometimes, at assembly there were inspections by means of a mirror on a stick. If underwear was seen in the mirror the soldier would be punished. Today a selfie stick had been the thing to use.

Underwear banned.

Scottish soldier, Hong Kong, 1997.

But in private life? Some will say that they never ever wear underwear under a kilt, some couldn't imagine being without; and for others it is an on-and-off business.

Four out of ten men in kilts are going commando

In fact, what is actually worn under the kilt has been revealed in a 2016 YouGov research.
According to this, 55% of men in kilts will wear underpants, 38% are going commando, and the remaining 7% are wearing something else.
Suggested are shorts, tights, and leggings. But perhaps also kilt liners to protect the kilt against the wearer while he is still having the feeling of going commando? Read more about kilt liners on the page Kilt accessories.

Whatever your choice you better keep it to yourself. If asked - and you will be, believe me - my advice is to never give a definite answer.
The uncertainty about the "secret" may very well be the reason why the kilt is still so very much alive!

All you need to say.

Why don't more men wear kilts?

They are not men enough. They are afraid of not being regarded manly. They are narcissistic, thinking the world should go into pieces, should they be seen in a kilt. Or they are afraid of the kilt police.

Does a kilt police exist?

O yes. It consists of narrow-minded men zealously watching every man wearing a kilt and whom they shall rebuke, should he dare deviate the slightest from rules, or worse, should he not know them.

Fortunately, they are extremely few, are self-appointed, and with no possibility to punish the offender.

Don't worry about the kilt police. Those guys can't hurt you.

.
Fotunetely, it is most unlikely that you should ever meet such a guy, at least when you keep away from highland gatherings and the like. I have only read about them.

More seriously, however, is that an imaginary kilt police may exist within the heads of many insecure kilt wearers or potential kilt wearers, making the first category overdress, which, in fact, might draw considerably more attention to them, than had they just worn a kilt and a few accessories, and or causing them to wear their kilt too seldom. The imaginary kilt police no doubt also scares away many potential kilt wearers from starting wearing kilts in the first place.

How about a kilt?

Have you ever been thinking of wearing a kilt? You must not be Scottish. You can be of any nationality, any colour, and any belief. Only you must be man enough. The objective of the Dress2Kilt site is making you wear a kilt whenever YOU feel like it and appropriate. Without needing a special event. It is about causal-first kilt wearing.

Men in kilts - Q & A

Who will wear a kilt? Why wearing a kilt? Where and when to wear it? What’s the difference between being Scottish and not, related to kilt wearing? What about surroundings? Is it true? These and many more questions are answered here.

Webmaster's kilt story

How come that the webmaster started wearing kilts? When was it? How was it, wearing a kilt for the first time? How were reactions from his wife, his family, neighbours, and other people?

You in a kilt?

When seeing you in a kilt, what should people say? And especially your significant other? And the ‘Kilt Police’? Shall people think you are Scottish? How about prejudices? Should you tell people you know that you have started wearing kilts or are about to do it? How do you tell them? What should your reasons be? See answers to these and many other questions here?

Is the kilt a skirt?

Scotsmen will say NO. To them and very many kilt wearers the kilt is a kilt, not a skirt. It is a garment of its very own, they say, and exclusively for men.
Calling the kilt a skirt is accordingly considered an almost unforgivable insult. But is it nevertheless a skirt?

What makes a kilt?

Are 8 yards of fabric a must? Or will less do? How is a kilt constructed? Learn about straps and buckles, fell, rise, pleats, length, drop.

Must a kilt be expensive?

Yes, purists will say, because no less than a 16 oz. 8-yard wool kilt, sewn by hand by a skilled kilt maker in Scotland or equivalent place will do. But are they right? Read why they are probably not.

A cheap kilt

Probably most kilts today are no longer sewn in Scotland, but in Pakistan. In common these "imported" kilts have that they are affordable. Some shall give you real value for your money, others little - or worse - no value. Read about where to find good, nevertheless cheap kilts.

A moderate priced kilt

Some established Scottish and American kiltmakers know that affordable kilts are the condition for having men start wearing kilts, especially those having no Scottish roots. They therefore offer some very good kilts which they will position as casual kilts, probably for not hurting the rest of their business. For casual wear they might be all you need.

A premium priced kilt

You'll hardly get an 8-yard kilt in pure new wool for under £300 or the equivalent. It shall be much easier to find one costing twice or three times as much. Not all premium priced kilts are sewn in Scotland. Examples are USA, Canada, England, France, and Austria.

Get the measures right

Buying your first kilt is something quite unusual. Most likely you shall buy it online, and often it shall be made to your measures. Buying a kilt is not difficult, however, and with a kilt there is some give and take. Read on, and you'll know how to make it right.

Kilt accessories

Don't get ripped off on things you don't need. Find out, which accessories are must-haves, which are nice to have, and which you shouldn't consider at all for casual and smart casual wear, and some not even for dress-up events.

Kilt on!

Let’s assume you have just received and unpacked your first kilt, and the accessories you ordered. How to handle and wear all the unfamiliar things, the sporran, the belt, the socks, the flashes etc.?
What else to wear with your kilt?

To mind when in a kilt

Now being ready for taking your kilt out into public for the first time, is there anything you should mind? Something to worry about or calling for your attention? After all a kilt is something very different, just the way it looks and especially, how it feels, wearing it.