What do you say to people when they ask about your kilt?

[biblemonkey]

I mostly ignore the negatives since they have been few. And when someone stares I tend to stare back and not say anything to make them uncomfortable or just ignore it completely. One thing I have found is most folks will stare, whisper as I pass, or just plain get confused. It is amazing that people think "stage whispering" is quiet enough that I can't hear them even when they are right next to me. I answer the polite questions or jabs from friends accordingly and politely but for the most part I have learned that if you are totally comfortable being true to yourself and what YOU want to be, then others tend to fall in line unless they are just being jerks. And if they are jerks then they are jerks and nothing will alter their perspective. Mostly I treat the stares and confusion by just being more proud of how good I look and if no one tries to make a direct confrontation I just ignore them.

All the best,
Hugh

[antgrippi]

I mostly ignore the negatives since they have been few. And when someone stares I tend to stare back and not say anything to make them uncomfortable or just ignore it completely. One thing I have found is most folks will stare, whisper as I pass, or just plain get confused. It is amazing that people think "stage whispering" is quiet enough that I can't hear them even when they are right next to me. I answer the polite questions or jabs from friends accordingly and politely but for the most part I have learned that if you are totally comfortable being true to yourself and what YOU want to be, then others tend to fall in line unless they are just being jerks. And if they are jerks then they are jerks and nothing will alter their perspective. Mostly I treat the stares and confusion by just being more proud of how good I look and if no one tries to make a direct confrontation I just ignore them.

All the best,
Hugh

Yeah, that's kind of how I've been handling it as well. Doesn't really bother me that much, and if it does, it doesn't for long. As soon as I put pants on I realize how much I don't care what they think, because they don't understand what it feels like to wear a kilt. One of the things I hear most, once I've explained it a little bit is, "I wouldn't have the balls to wear that thing". This actually boosts my ego a little bit, and kind of balances things, even if they don't mean it in the way that it sounds.

[Zardoz]

I've been around quite a few people that were as you said; befuddled or confused by the whole kilt thing. Strange as it may sound to us, there seem to be a lot of folks who seem to have never seen a kilt before.
I met up with a young friend from out of town for lunch one time, and she had a girlfriend with her. Her friend kept looking at me like my junk was hanging out or something. This was a 21 year old college girl, and she had no idea what I was wearing, never saw one on TV, never seen a pipe band, not even Braveheart! We had to explain it to her.

Most folks of course know what it is, but have likely never seen one up close, so they ask some dumb questions. A good way to deflect some of it is to say something like "I wear it to express my Celtic heritage" most folks won't want to press on about heritage.

The bigger problem in my book is the folks that know a little too much about them

[Thomas H]

At first it upset me but now I just roll with it .

I say " I have not heard that one "

Or " I ask them if they know where they come from ?" Most do not

I tell them "it is a part of my Hertiage "

I tell them I would respect them if they wore something from there Heritage.

But mostly I just grin and walk on

[antgrippi]

At first it upset me but now I just roll with it .

I say " I have not heard that one "

Or " I ask them if they know where they come from ?" Most do not

I tell them "it is a part of my Hertiage "

I tell them I would respect them if they wore something from there Heritage.

But mostly I just grin and walk on

Yeah, the high road is definitely the way to go I'm finding, it just amazes me how close minded some can be. Or should I say clothes minded.

[Caddy One]

I just smile and nod and keep walking...............and don't forget it takes a "Real Man" to wear the kilt in more ways than one..........

[dea3369]

I've been around quite a few people that were as you said; befuddled or confused by the whole kilt thing. Strange as it may sound to us, there seem to be a lot of folks who seem to have never seen a kilt before.
I met up with a young friend from out of town for lunch one time, and she had a girlfriend with her. Her friend kept looking at me like my junk was hanging out or something. This was a 21 year old college girl, and she had no idea what I was wearing, never saw one on TV, never seen a pipe band, not even Braveheart! We had to explain it to her.

Most folks of course know what it is, but have likely never seen one up close, so they ask some dumb questions. A good way to deflect some of it is to say something like "I wear it to express my Celtic heritage" most folks won't want to press on about heritage.

The bigger problem in my book is the folks that know a little too much about them

I agree with the "never seen a kilt before" comment. I wore a kilt one day to Boy Scout summer camp in Kentucky. TWO separate groups asked me to explain to them and their scouts what I was wearing. The confusion likely comes from the fact that I'm not Caucasian. I'm Filipino. So, some probably don't believe it's a kilt I'm wearing.