Kilt, Black Watch tartan

5-yard kilt, 13. oz. wool, sewn in Scotland. Colquhoun tartan. German bunker from WW2 at the North Sea

To mind when in a kilt


New to kilt wearing




All your life you have been wearing trousers. You just wear them without much consideration, if any. But with an "open" garment like a kilt it is different, quite different. The way it looks, and the way it feels. When you start wearing it out and about you might therefore feel kind of vulnerable and afraid of doing something wrong. And yes, there are a few things which need your attention. And some others you might fear without reason.


What if I do something wrong?

Here we talk casual wear, not national dress. Accordingly, you can and should forget about most and often rigid rules, apart from a general proper appearance. 
And honestly, how likely is it that you shall ever meet an “expert”? And should you, how likely do you think it is, that this person should be impolite enough to blame you?    


Dangers

No doubt, your biggest concern is the risk of exposing yourself. Below different situations are described, and the degree of danger is illustrated by traffic sign colours.


 

Staircases and escalators

Probably this is what you might fear the most. But don’t worry too much. An exposure would require a staircase being as steep as ladder - and that someone was climbing up directly under you – or a nasty person with a selfie stick. Also, in most situations there shall probably be a deep shadow under your kilt.


Staircases and kilt

Not even Photoshop should be of any help here.



Windy days

It does take more than a little breeze to really lift your kilt, but wind should not be totally neglected. On your front the sporran will in practically all situations give you the needed protection. The back of your kilt is more problematic. Holding your hands discretely as far down your sides as possible will prevent it from being around your ears, but a strong wind might nevertheless make it go up. In most cases, however, it is just a question of a second or two before it is safe down again, hardly enough for anybody to really recognize what is under your kilt. And should somebody have a look to black briefs or the like, it is not that big deal after all.
If not wearing any? Well, humiliating and embarrassing, of course, but in liberal Western European countries, and if you obviously are not deliberately exposing yourself, hardly anyone should be too much shocked. After all, it is a kilt, isn't it? Point.

A shoulder bag (photo bag, computer bag or messenger bag) can be helpful when really windy. Make the strap as long as possible and have the bag cover the back of your kilt as far as it goes.

By the way, how often have you seen what woman are wearing under their often very short skirts?

Don’t be too concerned about wind, but be aware that, on some days, unpredictable wind gusts can be quite annoying.

kilt and wind
Utilikilt at the Mediterranean.
kilt and wind
Seconds after a bit windy with some movement in the kilt.
sudden wind gust
Then a sudden wind gust...
calm again
...and seconds after rather calm again.

Above four pictures are taken with a few seconds between them with time lap. Except for cropping them and afterwards incorporating the red warning and decency spot, they haven't been manipulated in any way! They are as is.

Conclusion: Just not the kind of day, you should go commando.



Sitting and sitting down

One of the advantages wearing trousers is that you can sit and sit down without taking any care. With a skirted garment it is not that simple.
Women seem per instinct to know how to sit in a skirt – even if they are seldom wearing one. With a kilt it is the same, but we men don’t have the instinct feeling of how to do. 
When you sit down, smooth the pleats of the kilt beneath you to prevent it from twinkling but foremost to secure that you are sitting on the fabric, not directly on the chair.

Sitting in a kilt
When sitting, keep your legs, especially your knees, together, like here.
Keep your legs together
You may streth out your legs in front of you...
kilt, legs to the side
or streth them to the left or right.
kilt, crossed legs
Crossed ankles are fine.
Be careful
Crossed legs, i.e. tighs, call for some aattention, especially when changing position.
Crossed legs
But can be managed.
Kilt, more luck than wisdom
More luck than wisdom. You should never spread your legs. If you do, make sure the front of your kilt is down between your legs.
Kilt. Never spread your legs
Men are sitting this way. But in a kilt, it doesn't work.
KEEP YOUR LEGS TOGETHER!


Never forget that people might have focus on your legs (in restaurants, on benches in parks etc.). Because of your kilt.





Picking up something or leaning forward


ATTENTION!

Picking up something and leaning forward are by far the most dangerous situations when wearing a kilt.


Never bend over in a kilt. You have dropped something which you'll pick up, or you are going to tie your shoelaces, OR you are about to take a product from the lowest shelf in the supermarket, ALWAYS bend your knees. Never ever just bend over!
Never lean forward in a kilt You have seen something interesting down under you, like when standing on a bridge, or you are looking down on the street from a tower. Whatever it is, never lean forward when in a kilt.



Keep in mind; red spots are only available and helpful on your computer. In the open and in the city you are on your own!



People with selfie sticks

Earlier kilted soldiers could be checked for forbidden underwear by means of a mirror on a stick. Today it had been possible with a smart phone on a selfie stick. Or just the phone. The problem is real and to be taken seriously. "Upskirting", as it is called, has since 2010 been illegal in Scotland and so it is or is about to be in other countries as well. Even if women in skirts have been thought of, it is to expect that men in kilts are protected by the same law.

Now, should some pervert nevertheless be able to take a picture of you from below, the picture should most likely be bad due to lack of light. And, most important, your face could not possibly be in the same picture.



Beware of people with a selfie stick .



Self-confidence matters

Self-confidence is extremely important. If you don't have it, build it up; make a plan for when and where and for how long to be out in public the first time. And stick to it. In public could be defined as being in the open, on a not too deserted place, or in a neighbour city. In the streets, in museums, at restaurants, in shops, and in public transportation.
Regarding duration, make it hours, not just a few minutes from leaving your car till being back. And be prepared to answer, if being asked questions or when meeting someone who knows you.


You must be man enough

Soon you’ll get accustomed to being kilted. Some people shall give you a second glance. Not because they do not like your kilt, but because it is different. After a few hours you probably should not want to ever wear pants again! Here you must be man enough, however. You cannot wear a kilt all the time, but

Be aware that a never-ending addiction might start the moment you try on a kilt.




Kilt-wearing can be addictive


This page was revised 2025, February 11



Next page

Kilt

Kilt 24/7/365?


Let’s be realistic; most likely, you cannot wear a kilt or a skirt 24/7/365, even if you should want to. But many days a year you can. Learn more about it.




What to find on the Dress2Kilt site?


Every man can wear a kilt, anywhere, anytime

Kilt, Caledonia Tartan
How about a kilt?
Every man can wear a kilt - no need to be Scottish. Whenever YOU feel like it, and appropriate, replace your jeans or shorts by a kilt. Learn about how to take the step.
Verschiedene Kilts
Men in kilts - Q & A
Who will wear a kilt? Why wear a kilt? Where and when? What shall other people say? Is it true? Get the answers to these and many other questions.
Kilt, Holyrood Tartan
Webmaster's kilt story
Learn about the webmaster and his over 25 years as a regular kilt wearer. Why did he start? And how about acceptance from his wife, family, friends?
Kilt
You in a kilt
If you should like to wear a kilt, what keeps you from just orderering one and start wearing it in pubic? Learn how to handle surroundings and mindset yourself.
Kilt
The kilt - is it a skirt?
Get the answer. If it is, what difference does it make and what makes the kilt something special? The kilt defined.
Kilt
Which kilt for you and where to buy it?
The all-purpose kilt does not exist. Which kilt shall best fit your needs? You'll find links to vendors of fine kilts in different price classes.
Kilt
Get the measures right
Probably you shall buy your first kilt online and have it made to your measures. Find out how to get the measures right. It is easier than you think.
Kilt accessories
Kilt accessories and what else?
Which accessories should you buy and which to avoid. Don't get ripped off on things you don't need. What else to wear together with your kilt.
Kilt
Kilt on!
You have just received your first kilt and some accessories. Learn how to handle all the unfamiliar things.
Utility kilt
Utility kilts
A utility kilt can make an excellent alternative or a valuable addition to the traditional kilt. What should you know about utility kilts?
kilt variants
Other kilt variants
Kilts can be solid coloured. Also, instead of wool or PV, the fabric can be tweed. Or how about a kilt in a nice camouflage pattern, or denim, or leather?
Kilt
To mind when in a kilt
When in a kilt, how about staircases, sitting and sitting down, wind, and people eager to see what is under it? Learn how to deal with it.
Kilt
Kilt 24/7/365?
Let’s be realistic; most likely, you cannot wear a kilt 24/7/365, even if you should want to. But many days a year you can. Learn more about it.
Skirts
Skirts
Could you as a man wear a skirt? Under circumstances you can. Dedicated man-skirts are on the market, you can have a skirt designed and made for you or you might...
Kilt


Galleries

kilt variants
Galleries Introduction
The gallery section - structure, objective, and techique
Tartan kilts
Tartan kilts galleries
Traditional style. 35 pages with kilts in 35 different tartans.
Solid kilts
Solid kilts galleries
Traditional style. Kilts in black, forest green, and light green. 3 pages.
Utility kilts
Utility kilts galeries
Eight pages showing eight different utility kilts.
Skirts
Man skirts galleries
Two pages featuring man skirts.
A mix of kilts and skirts
Bravehearts' gallery
Men, whether young or old, appearing manly in kilts, man skirts, and other skirted garments.


Links

Kilt
Links #1
Vendors of kilts and accessories, tartan mills, and tartan finders. The most comprehensive links page for kilts on the internet.
Kilt
Links #2
Vendors of utility kilts, sarongs, man skirts, unisex skirts, and other skirted garments.
Kilt
Links #3
Kilt and skirt forums, non-commercial home pages, blogs, picture galleries, videos, articles, men in kilts and skirts on stage and on the catwalk.


What's new, Dress2Kilt German version, and a complete sitemap

Kilt
What's new?
At a glance, find out what is new, has been changed or has been deleted on the D2K site since your last visit.
Kilt
Dress2kilt.eu STARTSEITE
A link to the German version of D2K.
Kilt
Sitemap
Afraid of having missed something? A complete directory with links to all pages.

Copyright © 2007-2025 Greman - greman@dress2kilt.eu