New York Trip Kilt Experience

[California Highlander]

I just returned from a business conference in New York city. I wear my kilts whenever I get a chance because they are a comfortable clothing choice for me, so I decided to wear the kilt on the plane. I left San Francisco and had no issues at the airport other than a mini-pat of my kilt buckles. One of the flight attendants gave me a "like your kilt."

On arrival in NY in the late afternoon, I just kept the kilt on since the conference didn't start until the next day. I explored Manhattan from about 59th down to 40th. Not much kilt reaction. Lots of tourists in this zone with the theater district, times square, shopping, etc. I popped in at Brooks Brothers and got a "like the outfit, looks great" from the first floor sales associate. I was pretty casual, with a black shell style jacket, black polo shirt, oxfords. I then headed up to the Kinloch Anderson section upstairs. Very nicely done!



It was late on a Tuesday evening and not many folk in the store. One other shopper/browser started asking about my kilt and the jackets, wondering about a PC or an argyll and I suggested the latter unless he was looking for a formal outfit (XMarks wisdom!). And how about that purple velvet jacket!

I then went to Connolly's Pub for dinner and a pint. Solid Irish bartender, not as faux pub as some of the other places I'd passed, but too close still too the tourist zone. Watched some baseball with my Guinness and burger and was amused by the fact that Blue Moon was the most ordered beer and that most folks were root FOR the Red Sox. I could hardly believe I was not in Boston... No one commented on my kilt nor even or really gave me a second look. I did get a couple of amused smiles from two or three people, but not smirks. I'm pretty attuned to the look on someone's face, even if they don't say anything.

Then I went back to the hotel before heading to the Campbell Apartment, which is a spiffy, speak-easy style place in Grand Central Station. Not having a proper kilt jacket but not wanting to change into pants, I decided to just add a black saxon jacket and upgrade my shoes to my dressier oxfords. Not ideal, but it worked.

Got some slight double-takes, but no comments or questions. Had a very excellent and very expensive sauzerac, but figured I was paying for the scene and the bartending show. Both bartenders were very good. The cocktail was also well made. On the way out I passed the busking bagpiper outside Grand Central. He played just a bit and was approached by someone who managed to convince him to let him try the pipes. The walk-up guy turned out to be good! They noticed my kilt and gave me some positives. The next day I spoke with the piper and he said the guy I saw was a pipe major in a band back home, so no wonder he was good. This is the busking bagpiper.



The next night I tried the Angel's Share, another speak-easy cocktail bar near Astor Place on Stuyvesant. Less pricey than Campbell Apt and again, the bartenders put on a show if you are into mixology. Solid Scotch offerings.



Then a day and a half of saxon business attire. After lunch on Friday I was back kilted in casual fashion with a long-sleeve charcoal shirt and no jacket. Headed to Penn Station to meet a friend. Got several positives included a couple who stopped to chat and ask where to get a kilt for the husband. More looks from people in midtown, mainly a smile or a double-take. My friend and I walked the High Line park, then went to the Molly Wee Pub for a pint. The Irish waitress noticed my kilt and was very positive when she noticed it and commented nicely on how I was celebrating my Scottish heritage.

Then off on the train to Newark airport. Got a few "like the kilt" comments on the train and a couple of double-takes, but no comment. Easy mini-pat" from the TSA again.

The one negative look or comment I got was back at SFO where one 30-something guy in the terminal arriving from who knows where, gave me a scowling double-take. Overall, a very positive NYC experience with little comment or notice and those that did were "thumbs-up!" or slightly amused smiles.