When I first got the notion this past summer that I might try a kilt I originally thought I'd get a plain black kilt. After mulling it over, though, I opted for a tartan one. Why? Because a tartan kilt with a belt and a sporran is clearly "Scottish", and also clearly "male" for anyone who knows anything at all. It makes it a bit easier for people to be accepting, and I'm guessing will make the negative comments less numerous, and ease the stress level on worried spouses and girlfriends. What will make it a bit unusual is the fact that I've not got a drop of Scots blood in me, and I'll have to tell people that when I'm asked. However, as we've discussed here many times, the Kilt is a piece of clothing, and there are tartans that anyone can wear. That will be my response. "know your tartan"....Well, I've read up a bit ont he Black Watch, and can talk for ten minutes about it all at this point.

For those who don't know about kilts, I mean, never even heard of Scotland, kilts, etc....well, there's not a lot I can do about someone who's that totally unaware of the world around them. If someone that ignorant decides to make rude remarks, well, they'd make rude remarks no matter WHAT I was wearing, and they can just go soak their head.

If I were going to live in kilts, then probably the first one would be tartan, but I'm sure I'd soon opt for black/khaki/dark blue and so on fairly quickly. But I digress.

What do you all think? Do you find that if you wear the whole shebang....tartan kilt/sporran/hose/belt do you get fewer stares and more positive responses than if you wear a non-tartan kilt?

Your responses might be food for thought for us first-time kilt newbies, especially those with wives/girlfriends who are particularly dubious about the whole thing.