I take transit to work and it’s getting hot in my city, I would like to wear shorts but I’m not allowed to wear them to work because of the dress code, however it allows skirts and is silent on kilts (and I think my managers will allow my bit of malicious compliance on this). Any recommendations on affordable utilikilt style brands? Do you think it would be weird to see a retail employee in a kilt in a major city and that I shouldn’t do it?
EDIT: I just ordered a damn near kilt em kilt off of Poshmark. The price was right and the brand doesn’t seem terrible quality.
Kilts look cool. And in a major city, a man in a utilikilt shouldn’t be the weirdest thing anyone would see on any given day.
Hello friend. No experience with kilts, but if you’re looking for general suggestions, Thai fishermen pants are another alternative clothing to keep cool in the summer. Here in Toronto, nobody bats an eye when I wear them during hot days. They’re inexpensive and you can get them in v/a basic colors to match your wardrobe, but the sewing pattern is so simple you could also get someone to make them for you using whatever fabric you want. Here’s a example image:
If you’re only allowed to wear long pants, I would suggest ones made out of linen. They still look formal enough, but allow your legs to breathe, similar to shorts. Otherwise, just wear a kilt and see what reactions you get.
Arguably this is the best suggestion here because a good kilt is probably going to be fairly heavy and if I’ve got bike shorts under them for modesty (I’m going to be climbing ladders in the back room, it’s relatively quiet back there and odds are low I’d flash someone but the chance is there) that’s yet another layer. I’ll buy a pair to try out and they should be okay if my managers aren’t actually alright with my malicious compliance, lol.
I think it’s a bit weird but it wouldn’t bother me and would probably make me smile.
I think it depends on the retail environment, and how cosmopolitan the city is. If your customers are regularly conservative and up tight then I’d think twice.
Probably worth getting one and wearing it socially first. It will take time getting used to it, you don’t want to go around flashing people, after all.
I have a hiking kilt from Mountain Hardware. It’s extremely comfortable (especially in this heat wave), I’ve had it for a while, but I’ve been wearing it a lot since I recently broke my clavicle and needed something I could easily dress into.
Unfortunately it seems like they don’t carry kilts anymore. They do have a purple down jacket that I’m seriously tempted by but I just don’t need a new one this year.
i’m completely neutral. in a retail environment i’m really not sure whether i’d even notice, especially if it’s already a hot day. you might get a lot of stupid questions from people who don’t like anything outside of their norm though
Stumptown kilts. They’re made like clothing rather than a costume. Super comfortable with a lot of storage.
Don’t mind if I do! (Wearing my vintage utilikilt this very moment)
I think the primary common trait of men who wear kilts is: they don’t care what other people think.
I have worn a Utilikilt survivalist daily for over ten years up in Maine, socially and at work, year round, rain, shine or sleet. I know they are expensive, especially for a bit of malicious compliance, but frankly they are worth it and a game changer. The survivalist In particular, so many pockets, so much room for everything. All the weight hangs off your hips so you barely feel it.
As for owning it, you just have to well, own it. I mean it’s everyone else that is wrong right? But yeah, just the fact that you are considering it says you have enough confidence to pull it off.
I have tried other brands, none of them fit like the Utilikilt, but that was ordering online and trying to match sizes and such. Quality wise I had no issues with them but they didn’t have all the storage and features of the Utilikilt so ultimately I sent them back. From a quick Google though, damn there are all sorts of them out there now, I don’t recognize the brands but the pricing looks great.
Good luck if you do it!
I think men wearing kilts is a fantastic display of embracing diverse fashion. As for brand recommendations, Scott Fashion offers a great selection of kilts that are stylish, comfortable, and well-crafted. Their range caters to various tastes, making it a solid choice for anyone looking to explore kilts as part of their wardrobe.
