Monday, August 27, 2012

The Romance Of Scotsmen In Kilts



Romance novelists love castles and the mystery of the highland warrior in kilts. In fact you can go to any book store and see the numbers of book covers with shirtless men wearing kilts.

If you ask a reader why they love these men in kilts, they will give you any number of reasons. Many are influenced by the stories they’ve read from romance writers.

The covers show big kilt-wearing sensual men with muscles, washboard abs, chiseled lips, eyes showing passion and excitement. The stories are about courageous men who are protective and respectful of women, capable in everything they do. Strong in body and mind, they enchant us with their brogues and masculinity. At the same time they show sensitivity to their wives and children. Each novel has a theme of honor as a Scotsman’s code and when they give their word it is good as gold. They are warriors who fight for their land, clans, and country.  

In Scotland, you’re bound to see men in kilts. They work in tartan stores, on street corners playing bagpipes, as tour guides, belong to the military tattoo, participate in highland games or in celebratory venues. But not all Scots  wear kilts every day. They run businesses, dress in tailored suits or in casual attire such as jeans and tees. They are very courteous, and they have a great sense of humor with a bit of naughtiness thrown in. In the picture above a scotsman is having a bit of fun. He'd just asked if he should raise the kilt higher!
What do men wear under the kilt, apart from their kilt hose and kilt shoes?

While on a recent trip there, I had a conversation about kilts with native, Kathy Cameron who said  what a Scotsman wears or doesn’t wear underneath the kilt is part of the mystery for women. They’re always wondering when they see a man in a kilt.



The topic of underwear and kilts has been the subject of many discussions among women. Kathy says there are  situations where wearing underwear with kilts is required. At the Highland Games, for example, participants are asked to wear shorts for modesty reasons; the colors are expected to coordinate with the kilt. Highland dancers also wear undergarments with kilts, since they engage in high kicks and other moves which could result in exposure.


She said military regiments are the only group that “nothing under the kilt” was once a requirement. She knows that to be true as years ago she watched one of the military men drink a bit too much and stumble over drums at a party exposing himself to a large group. She said the military probably wear undergarments now due to the comfort factor because wool kilts are scratchy. Pipe bands associated with regiments are required to use undergarments, because they use a high-step march and could easily expose themselves. Today not wearing anything under the kilt is called going "Commando" which has it roots in military history.


An internet search for men in kilts shows literally hundreds of men wearing kilts  and some expose themselves. Kathy says a Scotsman knows how to sit to prevent someone looking up his kilt except guards who must remain standing in one place. She related a story of women lying on the ground at the feet of a guard in a kilt with their cameras angled trying to get a picture. And the poor guard couldn't move!
Outside of Scotland there’s another group whose owner has Scottish heritage  attracting a lot of attention in Canada. Men in Kilts are making a living as window cleaners and wearing  kilts on the job.
www.meninkilts.com


If one views the pictures of Gerard Butler in his kilt( who the Scots love but that's another story) is it any wonder women find a scot sexy?


What do you think? Outside of Scotland, are men wearing kilts looked upon the same way? Share your opinions.
~~~
Ruby Johnson is a member of Greater Fort Worth Writers, Yellow Rose RWA, and NTRWA.  She writes romantic suspense .

10 comments:

Jerrie Alexander said...

Great article, Ruby. Having tracked my family tree all the way back to Scotland, I'm interested in any part of their heritage.

Plus being a huge Gerard Butler fan, seeing him in kilts made my day! :)

Thorne said...

Oh my, what a great article. I'm one of those who have wondered what they wear under kilts since I'd read somewhere that they don't wear anything. Unfortunately, unless they are in a parade, some men walking around in kilts in the US may be crossdressers. And no they aren't considered sexy at least to me.

Ruby Johnson said...

Jerrie:
Thanks for commenting. While in Scotland, learning more of the history was really interesting.
Ruby

Ruby Johnson said...

Thorne:
I'm sure there were some men wearing kilts that were crossdressers or something else. I must say I saw some wearing kilts that didn't wear the entire costume. Somehow a tall gangly man wearing a kilt, in a tee shirt with a vulgar saying and tennis shoes with no socks is a big turnoff.

Claire said...

Great article Ruby! I never gave much thought to kilts until I saw Braveheart. That did it for me. Aside from your description I think almost all men look fabulous in a kilt. Add the Scottish brogue and I melt. As for our culture I think kilts are attractive on men. A man who is comfortable in his manhood and has nothing to prove is very desirable in my opinion.

J. A. Bennett said...

Great article Ruby! Scotland is at the top of my wish list on places to visit so I'm really enjoying your comments.

Lyn Horner said...

Men in kilts, what's not to love? They are sexy as hell! I love pipe bands where the guys are all in their kilts, sporans, etc. Gives me goosebumps when the pipers start to play. Great blog, Ruby!

Ruby Johnson said...


Thanks for all of your comments. I have to agree with you. Some men do look good in kilts. But I also must say there were tourists I saw who made a farce of kilt wearing-- an indian in a kilt over his long pants, or a skinny guy without a shirt with tennis shoes and no socks. But if I saw a man wearing a kilt here who was not at the Highland games or in a parade, I wouldn't find them wearing a kilt the least bit interesting.

Abbote Earlington said...

If someone wears a costume, the other people will surely stare at him. Costumes surely make them curious. It's good to choose a costume that is unique and new to their eyes.

Ruby Johnson said...

Abbote:
Thanks so much for your comment. You're right people do stare at people in costume.

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