I've noticed other threads where members discuss their varied views & preferences for casual kilts or "tanks" (traditional hand-sewn tartan wool kilts), but I don't recall seeing a discussion of how others around us react to casual kilts vs. tanks.

Let me explain. I got my first kilt about 3 years ago - an Original Utilikilt. Within a year, I was up to 5 UKs & those have been the only kilts I've had until a few weeks ago when I got my first "tank" - 8 glorious yards of 13-oz Strathmore wool in the Robertson Hunting tartan. Now, admittedly, I've only had my tank for a little over a month, but it's been my observation that people around me recognize, accept & yes, even respect the tank as a kilt, whereas my UKs, by comparison, are viewed more often as a skirt. And it's not that I dress up more when I'm wearing the tank, I often wear a t-shirt with it, just like with my UK. I'm guessing that this is because the tank more closely fits people's idea of what a kilt should look like & at this point in time, the UK is too unconventional (not tartan, has pockets, etc.) for many folks to accept as a kilt? Hopefully that'll change as the general public becomes more knowledgeable & accustomed to kilts in general. And of course, I'm going to keep wearing either my UKs or tank (depending on the situation) regardless of what the public reaction is.

Anyway, for those of you who wear both casual kilts & traditional kilts, I was just wondering if anyone else had observed similar differences in the reactions of those around you.

Do tanks get more respect? Are casual kilts the Rodney Dangerfields of the kilt world?
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