I just recently got the "nice skirt" comment thrown at me by a passer by with his buddy at me while walking down a street in Kincardine Ont after a day at the highland games. I guess he didn't notice there was a games going on and the large amount of kilts walking aroung this Canadian Scottish community.

Because i'm a fairly big guy I don't usally get anyone saying too much so it cault me off guard. I was with my wife and she was wearing her CCK hip hugger mini kiltskirt.

I promptly asked him what he said, and he said (by now he's a distance down the street) "you heard me, I was talking to you not the lovley lady". I asked him calmly to return in front of me and repeat this comment to my face with or without his buddy. He wouldn't do it, I didn't think he would.
The only thing that came to me and was out of my mouth before I could think was," I'm going home with this lovley lady because of this kilt i'm wearing, who are you going home with, oh yea your buddy, have a nice day boys".
You can't make people understand but you can let the comment bounce off or you can try to educate them in one way or another. Most of the time they are just trying to impress someone else. I'm sure there is a reason they say these things from a distance.

If I see someone in funny attire I may have a chuckle but I certainly would not make them feel less of a person for wearing what they are wearing.
Most people are more mature than that but there is always going to be a few who aren't.

Kilted Stuart