Around the age of 9, I acquired my first kilt. At that time many boys of my age would be dressed in the kilt for more formal occasions, not just boys from more affluent backgrounds (I lived in a Council estate). I did not have the tweed jacket that often goes with the kilt, I simply wore it with my school blazer and either my school grey knee-length socks or my dark green Scout socks. I actually rather enjoyed wearing my kilt and was never unduly concerned by the occasional teasing from other kids who did not wear one. As I grew older, however, I gradually became more reluctant to be seen in my kilt unless I was in the company of others who were similarly dressed.

First Kilt

Around the age of 9, I acquired my first kilt. At that time many boys of my age would be dressed in the kilt for more formal occasions, not just boys from more affluent backgrounds (I lived in a Council estate). I was quite pleased to be given one and entirely happy to wear it. For the next few years I wore it for Cubs and, later, Scouts, and on many other occasions when I was required to be "dressed up" such as Church, parties and family visiting.

Accessories

I did not have the tweed jacket that often goes with the kilt, I simply wore it with my school blazer and either my school grey knee-length socks or my dark green Scout socks. I did have a leather sporran though. I believed then, and still do, that a kilt without a sporran is simply a skirt and I would not have been happy going without. Normal school shoes, or sometimes sandals, completed the outfit.

Growing Older

I actually rather enjoyed wearing my kilt and was never unduly concerned by the occasional teasing from other kids who did not wear one. As I grew older, however, I gradually became more reluctant to be seen in my kilt unless I was in the company of others who were similarly dressed. By the time I reached my early teens and had inherited my brother's kilt, having outgrown my own, I needed a great deal of persuasion to wear it. This produced a strange irony. While I disliked wearing my gabardine raincoat, I began to ask if I could wear it whenever I was going anywhere in my kilt so that my mode of dress would not be so apparent to anyone who saw me. By the time I was into long trousers, the idea of wearing the kilt, even covered by my raincoat, was an anathema to me and I hardly ever wore it after that.

Created: December 19, 2001
Last updated: December 19, 2001