I have been gardening in a kilt for more than a couple of months now and I have to tell you that it is mostly positive. In fact the only part that is not positive is the fear of non acceptance. Why I would worry about that I cannot say as I live in an area that is made up primarily of foul mouthed morons. That includes the children.
The contemporary kilt that I wear to garden in has convenient pockets and being made from old military uniforms it is impervious to dirt and sweat. It's not delicate and I don't mind wiping my hands on it. 
My first revelation was the freedom of movement. Much freer than pants which in my case means baggy shorts and much freer than a short sarong. A sarongs only give is the overlap in front so a kilt has it hands down. That was a big revelation. I could squat, bend and spread my legs to do all the necessary things on the ground without restrictions. In gardening there is a lot of interaction with the ground. In fact the only other activity that has as much is probably gravedigger.
The first real surprise was sweat running down my leg. It gave me a real start as it felt like something crawling up my thigh in a very personal place. I got over that when a little light breeze tuned that sweat into natures own personal air conditioner. How nice. The other day I went out in light shorts that being what I used to work in. After about 15 minutes it was like wearing a wet diaper at least as I perceived it. It has been a long time since I wore a diaper.
There are a lot of places a Kilt or any other kind of skirt does not work. Namely in micro gravity(astronauts), swimming(scuba diving), pole vaulting(windage) or acrobat(distracting) but for gardening it rocks. I don't have have much experience riding a bike in one so I'll have to get back to you on that. The limited experience I have is positive and I see no problems with it after all women have been doing it since the invention of the bicycle. I don't stray far from the homestead kilted yet so I don't have much to go on.
I have to say that mostly working in a kilt is a positive and comfortable thing however when it is very hot and humid the shorts are much cooler. One layer of open weave fabric, big legs and no underwear (not that I have worn any in 40 years) works better. Kilts are hot even in the lightest material I have been able to find. Kilts are three layers of fabric in the back and two in the front at the minimum. When the there is a breeze that's fine but when it is still that kilt turns into a steam bath. I don't believe the kilt is the thing for hot humid climates any more than pants are. A plain gathered full skirt in a very light fabric would be more practical and cooler but then that would be a skirt. Heavens! Loin cloths are much more practical but would probably involve a police report.
I am looking for a very light open weave fabric that rejects dirt to try for a kilt. Otherwise I am going to have to have a fan to blow up my ally when the wind dies.
Wait there's more, but that will have to be another post.
4 comments:
I live in Houston and wear a kilt all the time that I am away from my traditional office job. I've got a couple of different weights, but have yet to be too hot or too cold in a kilt and wishing for shorts or pants. You get used to the heat and humidity, but the ease of movement and breeziness of a kilt can't be beat. Best of luck to you!
Thanks for the comment R2D2. I didn't mean to give the impression I was wishing for shorts or pants. In the last 50 years I have only worn pants when it was deadly cold or as a uniform. As for shorts they have been my main wear since I was able to dress myself. My comments about the kilt was to emphasis that it was developed in a colder climate where its layered structure is an asset. It's up to us who live in heat and humidity to modify it to suit our climate.
Might kilts be an outlet for a desire to cross-dress?
Not that there's anything wrong with that.
I agree that there is nothing wrong with cross dressing if there is such a thing.
Dressing is dressing. Clothes know nothing about gender. Are women cross dressing when they wear pants? I think not since all of them wear pants now. Kilts on the other hand have always been and are still a male garment.
Post a Comment