New English kilt wearer advice

[OC Richard]

Hi

I recently went to a wedding in England and my mate said I should wear my kilt but I wimped out - I feel like unless I am at a Scottish event I will just come across as the 'English guy in a skirt' which will ruin the experience.

I want to be able to wear my kilt more than just once or twice a year but don't want it to bring negative attention.

First, Welcome!

Second, I can see both sides of the "not wanting negative attention" issue. Because I've not owned a suit in many years, the rare times which I need to dress more nicely than and sportcoat and slacks I wear Highland Dress. So I would have worn nice, though understated, Highland Dress to that wedding and not given it much thought. (In my mind there's a difference between being respectfully dapper and being an attention-grabbing "look at me!" sort.)

The exception for me is Church, where I wouldn't dream of wearing Highland Dress (unless piping), because I don't want any attention to come my way, positive or negative, which might detract from the purpose of being there.

It would be odd though for an England rugby supporter to wear kilts at an England v Scotland match!! People would wonder. Unless you wear this kilt



We here in the USA don't have to deal with the England v Scotland feelings which I suppose makes kiltwearing a bit more difficult for an Englishman. Here people of Scottish, Irish, English, German, African, Chinese, Thai, Mexican, etc etc all wear kilts and nobody thinks anything about it. We figure a guy is wearing a kilt because he wants to and that's that.

[guardsman]

feel sick

[Father Bill]

Welcome to the Great Rabble!

[O'Callaghan]

I must admit, I'm not fond of those English flag kilts. IMHO the St George tartan looks far nicer, albeit doesn't seem to be readily available. ScotWeb have the London (1988) tartan available, but of course that's only any good if you're a Londoner, which I am, more or less (the boundaries of London having been expanded later to take in my place of birth).

[fr. frank]

hello sir!

I should say as a gay man from the highly conservative Southern US to go trapsing about in a "skirt" would be risky but I was pleasantly shocked over all the positive comments I have received. I have even had people come up to me and thank me for wearing the tartan as their father, grandfather was Scottish and wore the tartan until the day he died.
I have been asked if I am Scottish (I think so via a very convoluted route from Belgium to Britain to Wales to Scotland to Ulster to the Colonies)on my father's side, with a full blood Polish mother but I start my genealogy speech and they drop the question. The only person to complain so far has been my partner who calls me a cross-dresser to whom I reply bugger off!
As been stated, kilting can become addictive. I am on #8 with 2 being off the peg wool, 2 acrylic, 4 pv, and a soon to be purchased bespoke.
My advice is go for it, hold your head up high in that typical English manner and tell others to sod off!

[GG]

One doesn't have to be Scottish to wear the kilt...I personally reserve my public kilt wearing to special occasions as this helps in avoiding negative attention.

O, I must be grateful then, living in a country where I don't get negative attention wearing my kilts as casual wear - and as an non-Scot.

[MacGumerait]

John , welcome from " across the pond " . As a few others here have mentioned , given that you are an Englishman , you may discover some Scottish roots on your father's or mother's side once you do a little research .

Best regards , Mike

[OC Richard]

The only person to complain so far has been my partner who calls me a cross-dresser

That really is puzzling to me. There's no more manly attire than Highland Dress... just look at all the covers of Romance Novels!

[Piipriker]

welcome from Germany

[kiltlad82]

thanks for all the messages. does anyone know what the easiest way is to research if i have scottish heritage or not? my family does't know of any. thanks