Places you can/should wear a kilt in New York/the US

**AndrewSinclairYoung** · 25th February 20, 04:56 PM

Hi there,

Here is a question for you all—apart from Highland Games, Burns Night events and Tartan Week events(NYC) when else is is there an opportunity to wear your kilt or highland dress? I’m also part of a clan that has events which is nice but I wish there were more opportunities to proudly represent my culture.

What might I be missing in the calendar? When do you all find time to dress up?

Thanks!

**FossilHunter** · 25th February 20, 05:18 PM

I’ve worn a kilt to restaurants and the theater. With a tie and jacket.

Anywhere I might wear a suit if I don’t feel it would be tacky. Otherwise I wear the suit. ;)

Only wearing a kilt to heritage events would be extremely limiting.

**AndrewSinclairYoung** · 25th February 20, 05:24 PM

Originally Posted by FossilHunter

Only wearing a kilt to heritage events would be extremely limiting.

We’re lucky to have lots of those in NYC! I guess I could wear it upstate and in the country etc. too.

**Steve Ashton** · 25th February 20, 05:41 PM

I wear my kilts everyday, everywhere. I don't need, or look, for special events or Scottish themed events to wear them as it is my normal every day mode of dress.

But then I don't usually wear "Highland Dress" if by that you mean all the accessories.

I wear my kilts with normal shoes, and shirts. I just dress suitably for the event or occasion I am attending.

**AndrewSinclairYoung** · 25th February 20, 05:45 PM

Originally Posted by Steve Ashton

I wear my kilts everyday, everywhere. I don't need, or look, for special events or Scottish themed events to wear them as it is my normal every day mode of dress.

But then I don't usually wear "Highland Dress" if by that you mean all the accessories.

I wear my kilts with normal shoes, and shirts. I just dress suitably for the event or occasion I am attending.

God bless you for doing that

. I live on the UES of NYC which is possibly the waspiest place in the US and I never see anyone wearing a kilt. Possibly because it’s not the kind of thing one would wear in town. Perhaps if I was somewhere more rural....

**ThistleDown** · 25th February 20, 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by AndrewSinclairYoung

I live on the UES of NYC which is possibly the waspiest place in the US and I never see anyone wearing a kilt. Possibly because it’s not the kind of thing one would wear in town. Perhaps if I was somewhere more rural....

Perhaps you would start a trend, Andrew, or perhaps there are kilt-wearers you don't yet know. Steve lives in a City, I live in a more rural setting in Scotland and a town setting in British Columbia and wear a kilt almost daily. As Steve said: don't get 'dressed up', just wear a kilt, hose, appropriate shoes to where you are and what you are doing and, above all, feel comfortable. Try it a few times. If you still feel out-of-place and awkward, then stick to the Games and Scottish events.

**kilted Mnementh** · 19th March 20, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by AndrewSinclairYoung

God bless you for doing that

. I live on the UES of NYC which is possibly the waspiest place in the US and I never see anyone wearing a kilt. Possibly because it’s not the kind of thing one would wear in town. Perhaps if I was somewhere more rural....

I lived in middle England, I drive trucks for a living, and I'm wearing a kilt every day. To hell with the gain sayers and those who don't like it, I'm a Scot of Scots heritage, and it's proud I am of my heritage.

**jthk** · 28th February 20, 11:55 AM

I wear my kilts whenever I wish, usually days ending in -y. I don't wear a kilt to the gym, running, climbing ladders, or swimming.

In terms of "dressing up" -- my life tends to be fairly casual with the exception of a shirt-and-tie to work most days so thankfully, I don't have to worry about fancy dress often.

Originally Posted by AndrewSinclairYoung

Hi there,

Here is a question for you all—apart from Highland Games, Burns Night events and Tartan Week events(NYC) when else is is there an opportunity to wear your kilt or highland dress? I’m also part of a clan that has events which is nice but I wish there were more opportunities to proudly represent my culture.

What might I be missing in the calendar? When do you all find time to dress up?

Thanks!

**kingandrew** · 28th February 20, 10:57 PM

Like others in this thread, I wear the kilt pretty often and wherever I feel like it. Since I live in China, I am certainly the only one I see sporting one in my neighborhood, but that's not a problem. People are always very curious and complimentary. I often get a thumbs up or people telling me I look "hen piao liang" which means "beautiful." You will also hear them saying "Segulan," which is Chinese for Scotland. I've also worn my kilt in New York (to the Metropolitan Opera) and at all sorts of events in Florida. I am a teacher and also wear my kilt to class a few times a month.

If I am going somewhere nice, I will wear a dress shirt, tie, and dress shoes with my kilt, and a jacket and vest if the occasion and weather warrant. For more casual activities, I wear an appropriate shirt for the event and the weather (turtleneck, polo, khaki explorer's shirt, or whatever) and my hiking boots. I always wear real kilt socks and a sporran, sometimes a belt, too.

I actually do run in a kilt when I am racing, but it is a lighter-weight one reserved for those occasions. I have a sleeveless "jacobite" shirt and homemade tam to wear with it for those events. On race day, I wear cotton kilt hose with my running shoes--but no sporran. As long as I'm wearing a kilt, nobody notices how slowly I run.

So wear it with confidence and enjoy yourself. You'll find people are happy to see you and that you meet lots of new people, especially single women.

Andrew