Hello from Kansas City!

[MarK C]

Hello!
My name is Mark. I just joined today. I don't have any close relations with anyone from Scotland.
The closest I have is my great great grandmothers side is from Ireland. They came to the USA around 1900. My wife's grandfather side was originally from Scotland. Then they were moved to Ireland for some religious reasons. After then they moved to Germany, and then very shortly they moved to the USA in the 1850s. I didn't find this out until after I got my kilt. Well, a utility kilt. I understand that the Irish wore solid colored kilts early on.
Well mine is a solid blue 12oz denim. I tried it on early this year. I then determined it was too hot to wear during the summer, with our humidity and temps nearing 100f. So I wore it around the house several times to see how it felt and to let my family get used to me in it. My wife was put-off at first. Well, she's still getting used to it. Every once in a while I'll put it on. A month ago I wore it to town by myself. I know I had several stares. I could see them look funny at me. But I just went on about my business like nothing was wrong.
Today, my wife and I went to town. I was wearing my "thing" as she calls it. We had to pick up our little nephew, but I didn't get out. I know about taking baby steps with her. I'm not going to croud her. It's not just a big step for her, but for me to.
Anyways, I saw a kilt and thought that's kinda cool. I might try it some day. I got a gift card for eBay at Christmas. So I ponied up more money and got one. Much to my wife's dismay. My folks don't know I have one yet, and no one in our family wore one. My wife's side knows I have one, thanks to our daughter telling everyone about it at a family get together, facepalm. She's 12 bless her heart. But they haven't seen me in it. We also have 3 boys 20,16, and 11. Been married for 23 years.
That's basically me in a nut shell.
So keep your kilt on!
Mark

[Father Bill]

Welcome to the "Great Rabble"!

[Karl R]

The closest I have is my great great grandmothers side is from Ireland. They came to the USA around 1900.

My Irish heritage outweighs my Scottish heritage by a measurable amount (though I clearly have both, based on the research of the family genealogists). One of my great grandfathers was born in Ireland.

I (personally) prefer tartan kilts, because they're more easily identifiable (by the general public) as a kilt. And I'm living in a part of the country where I'm asked (almost 50% of the time) if I'm Irish (rather than Scottish), since the locals aren't fully aware which Celtic country is more associated with kilts. My go-to kilts for every-day wear are the St. Andrew's kilt and the Irish Heritage kilt. I wear kilts, on average, between once and twice per week. People in my social circle are getting used to seeing me in them. Because of the tartan pattern, even the more clueless members of the community assume that I'm wearing clothes associated with my heritage ... rather than a random man-skirt.

I'm in a more enviable position than you. My father-in-law was rocking his kilt and Prince Charlie for years before I began dating my wife (or wearing a kilt). My wife bought me my first kilt, so I get a lot more leeway than you do.

Spousal approval aside, you'll get a lot more positive feedback from the general public by wearing an obvious kilt. So I would recommend something that has a tartan pattern. Whether it's Scottish, Irish, regional, universal, or fashion. Wear a sporran, because that reinforces the traditional "kilt" aspect. (And if you're getting a lot of general approval, that will translate into spousal approval.)

After a few months of wearing a kilt in public, you'll no longer be (self-)conscious of when you're wearing a kilt. On a typical evening, I spend very little time thinking about whether I'm wearing a kilt or pants.

As for wearing a kilt in public without any backup ... own it.
The bigger the city you're living in, the easier it is. I'm in Houston. It may be southern, but it's also cosmopolitan. When I walked the width of downtown a couple months ago, I just swaggered my way through. Most people would prefer to act like they're cosmopolitan individuals (rather than country bumpkins) and treat a kilt as just one more feature of the city landscape.

And in the meantime, good luck.

[Benning Boy]

Welcome, Mark. How far SW of KCK are you?

It sounds as if you are going through all the coming out of the closet issues many others have experienced. If your wife is calling your kilt a thing now she probably will forever, unless she happens to hear other women comment favorably on it. I believe that is more likely to happen when a tartan kilt is being commented on than a solid colored modern kilt.

My bane was always my mother who called anything a little out of the ordinary I might wear or even think of wearing as garb, a word she sort of groweled out. She didn't let up on kilts until I had her family tartan woven. She didn't live to see a kilt of it.

A casual kilt from USAKilts might be a good next step.

[Cameron of Texas]

Howdy from Texas. I'm a big fan of KC and I've spent a lot of time there. We've made a habit of wandering up to KC for a summers getaway every few years. If my genealogy is to be believed, the geographical center if my Cameron heritage (post Civil War) is Andrews county, Missouri.

It's an exciting time to be a Chiefs fan, that's for sure!

[Kiltedjohn]

Welcome from a Scotsman living in middle England. Not many kilts down my way, so I understand your misgivings. I agree with the comments that a tartan kilt (with sporran etc.) is more recognisable, and likely to be more easily accepted.

[MarK C]

Hi Benning Boy.
We live in a small town SW of Gardner.
I didn't want to buy an expensive kilt until I was sure that I wanted to continue wearing one.
If I get another one, it most likely be a tartan.
I do have a plain black leather with 3 tassels day sporan that I wear with my modern kilt. My kilt is pretty flat laying, meaning the pockets don't bulge out. Also there is one center pleat in the center of the rear, and then the pleats are folded away from it. I can't remember what's it's called.

I've been following usakilts on you tube. I was looking at their kilt that has the Velcro waist in it. But knowing how long I keep my clothes, I'm not sure how the Velcro will hold out. On the flip side, I'm not sure how often I will wear one also.
With my solid color kilt, I try to wear a plaid flannel shirt with it to give it that Celtic nod.
I haven't been able to find her family's tartan (McDill). I did find one of her uncle's (Gunn) and her grandfather (Fuller). But none that I knew of were interested in their family history and certainly not into kilts.
So... Her father is the family historian now. His Aunt pasted on several years and he took on that role.
MarK C

[Mike in Dayton]

Welcome to the group!

Mike

[Tomak]

Hello and welcome from Southern California.

[grizzbass]

I actually find it more comfortable in the heat than pants. My experience wearing it is overwhelming positive. I can't tell you the number of times people tell me how much they love my kilt. Many seem almost anxious to tell me of their Scottish ancestry etc. In Costco last week I ran into a guy who use to throw into the games and seeing made him decide to give it a go again.
Hope you experiences are as good.