Wearing a kilt out and about

[thecompaqguy]

Fair play to you mate, you look really smart, if someone told me about purple and green i would of thought it would clash, but you pulled it off. Dont worry about people asking if you should be wearing it, for you its right, and its a good way to stand out in london. Have you wondered about your family tree or anything as you do have a scottish connection, or have you got in touch with clan ferguson and met up with them

My roots are Jamaican, some of the family know of my kilts, but like most West Indians our Scottish surnames came from the plantation days. It's still good to stand out though

[sorcererdale]

For some reason, when ever I wear a kilt, I stand taller and prouder, which is goof for posture and my lower back pain.

[Stan]

LOL...LOL... Me too. Taller, prouder, and much better looking...LOL... I'm going to be "rock-n" my gray highlander "tank" at New Years Day Brunch on Wednesday morning.

[DyerStraits]

For some reason, when ever I wear a kilt, I stand taller and prouder, which is goof for posture and my lower back pain.

Absolutely, I'm sure we could all not agree more--it has much the same effect as a military uniform. As I've said before, wear it properly, wear it proudly, wear it like you mean it. Stan, your comments are dead on--aside from the comfort, distinction and compliments, I also wear my kilt for virtually any and all occasions specifically to make the point (non-verbally and/or verbally) that it not--nor has it ever been--exclusively a "special occasions" garment. Questions like "Why are you wearing a kilt?", "What's the occasion?", "Where are your bag pipes", etc., are about as
thoughtlessly ignorant as asking someone in Western attire "Why are you wearing a cowboy hat?" "Where's your horse?" "Are you from Texas?" Wearing a kilt allows me to politely remind others to "put the brain in gear before putting the mouth in motion", and avoid the sort of provincially small-minded, ethnocentric, appearance-based assumptions we can all do without.

Happy New Year To All My Kilted Brethren. Slàinte!

[Stan]

So far, I've never been offended by any remarks (all positive) or by being asked if I play the bag pipes. For me, wearing the kilt in non-Scottish venues (which I do about 2-4 times a month) has more often than not, been a great ice breaker, a good chance to laugh a bit, and almost always a opportunity to "educate".

More often than not my answers to "the questions" end up with HER saying, to him...."Humm.....maybe YOU should have a kilt too"....LOL..

[DyerStraits]

So far, I've never been offended by any remarks (all positive) or by being asked if I play the bag pipes. For me, wearing the kilt in non-Scottish venues (which I do about 2-4 times a month) has more often than not, been a great ice breaker, a good chance to laugh a bit, and almost always a opportunity to "educate".

More often than not my answers to "the questions" end up with HER saying, to him...."Humm.....maybe YOU should have a kilt too"....LOL..

Yes, that's generally my experience as well. The silly questions/comments are invaluable for cultivating one's indulgent, good-natured composure/stiff upper lip, and apparently there are a lot of women out there who wish their guy would kilt up ("If only he weren't so insecure," one once said to me. Pity.) Again, that proud, confident, masculine thing. "A Man In A Kilt Is A Man And A Half".

[joek]

The first time I wore my St. Pat's was to a restaurant although I needed to go to a Home Depot first. More often than not I usually get looks but not many remarks unless I initiate the conversation. Whether it's a casual - khaki or desert camo - or the Black Watch the results are pretty much the same. Kilts are not part of my ancestry and although I have not been wearing them that long, they are very comfortable either around the house or anywhere else. And on long driving trips they really can't be beat.

[TheOfficialBren]

The first time I wore my St. Pat's was to a restaurant although I needed to go to a Home Depot first. More often than not I usually get looks but not many remarks unless I initiate the conversation. Whether it's a casual - khaki or desert camo - or the Black Watch the results are pretty much the same. Kilts are not part of my ancestry and although I have not been wearing them that long, they are very comfortable either around the house or anywhere else. And on long driving trips they really can't be beat.

Accidental "Aye." Sorry Joek. Typing on my phone.

I honestly can't remember the very first occasion that I was kilted in public. I can recall one early occasion (some time before I joined Xmarksthescot.com) that sticks out, however. It sticks out because it was odd (to me; you had to be there maybe...).

I had an on - air interview on an FM rock station in Hollyweird to promote some new music and play some acoustic versions of older songs.

I had not planned to wear my kilt but I had a last - minute attack from the sciatica monster (years and years of intense heavy-hitting metal drumming before embarking on the songwriting venture).

Furioso maximoso!!

Being a consummate professional (read: foolishly obsessive workaholic) I was absolutely determined to make it on time and without rescheduling (stubborn and bullheaded). I was struggling with even getting shorts on me so trousers were certainly not an option.
I threw on a casual kilt (Velcro is a lifesaver) that I had at the time.

The Jock was surprised but went with it. He didn't seem overly thrilled by my wardrobe choice but was professional about it. When I told him about the sciatica he damn near apologised (in Hollywood apologies are rarer than Darth Vader riding a unicycle while piping) for whatever reason he felt that he needed.

Another time I played a gig kilted at Molly Malone's. The gig went great. Not a single mention of my kilt (odd since it's Celtic themed). That's generally how I prefer it, though. No comments. YMMV.

[DyerStraits]

The first time I wore my St. Pat's was to a restaurant although I needed to go to a Home Depot first. More often than not I usually get looks but not many remarks unless I initiate the conversation. Whether it's a casual - khaki or desert camo - or the Black Watch the results are pretty much the same. Kilts are not part of my ancestry and although I have not been wearing them that long, they are very comfortable either around the house or anywhere else. And on long driving trips they really can't be beat.

The St. Pat's/Irish National Tartan is a wonderfully versatile kilt pattern, which I also have and love to wear and which seems to attract an exceptional amount of exception and compliments. As a matrilineal Celtic-Gaelic descendant of either Irish and/or Scottish extraction (i.e., a Dyer/Dwyer/(O')Duibhir), I warmly embrace both sides of the Irish Sea as a Kiltie. And in my opinion, a Black Watch tartan kilt covers all Celtic bases excellently well--it is Queen And Country, Aye! And yes, like you, I LOVE the casual solid and/or camo/paterned/etc./kilts--for versatile, comfortable, practical kilting--Aye!

Happy New Year To All My Kilted Brethren! Slàinte!

[kilttrip]

My first, non-event kilt wearing was due to sun burn - yes, even in Scotland you can get BAD sun burn, so was wearing it for comfort.
I only got positive remarks, and quite a few questions about the tartan. Having worn a sarong, I thought nothing of it, and it wasn't until a friend remarked on the fact he'd seen me and asked didn't I feel self consious that I even considered it.
If you feel confident to wear it, forget the idiots who make 'hilarious' remarks and ask dumb questions ("don't you feel a prat wearing a skirt?" they may just be jealous or too insecure to try it themselves, and just take pride in the fact that you CAN wear it, with panache and style. Its your kilt, you bought it to wear it, so do so. End of story.

Isn't wearing the kilt fairly common in Scotland? I would think that even if it isn't an every day sight, that people would at least be familiar with it.