Any suggestions for wearing a kilt in public for the first time?

[cajunrph]

Back on track before we get any other shots across the bow by the good Padre. For the western world it boils down to being comfortable with your dress. For example in motorcycling. There's a damn near perfect riding suit made by Aerostich. It's a one piece suit designed to go over your work clothes which you take off at your final destination. It works like a charm. Allows for riding in extreme weather conditions. The problem is that you look like the toxic adveger in the suit. The early adopters were older BMW riders who didn't care how they looked. I ride on a Harley and the suit doesn't fit the expected style of the bike. It's a great garment. Allows for extreme riding conditions. From rain to snow. And you arrive at the destination as though you took a car. It's just out of the norm for a Harley rider and some are uncomfortable dealing with the real or imagined reactions they get. Same with a Kilt. Some are uncomfortable with what they assume the reaction to a Kilt will be. The prevailing advice is to just do it. For some that's easier said than done.

[Jimmy the Celt]

Some are uncomfortable with what they assume the reaction to a Kilt will be. The prevailing advice is to just do it. For some that's easier said than done.

I very much agree. The first time I sported a kilt in public I was a bit wary, but I figured that if I stood tall and walked proudly I would become instantly comfortable with it. And do you know what? I was. I have had nothing but positive reactions and frequently get comments. That, to my mind, is the only downside to wearing the kilt: it draws attention, and unless you like that sort of thing, you may have to learn to deal with that aspect of Highland dress. I don't relish attention, but I have adapted to it and met some great folks as a result.

I really believe that if you act as if you are completely comfortable in the kilt, you soon will be. Confidence is the key!

[Alan H]

Sigh!

Here goes:-

You most certainly WILL understand this, if you regularly travel in France (where you can be easily fined for not wearing a shirt in public).
I find this incredible & totally hypocritical, in what was one of the most avant garde countries in Europe.

DUH! It's just clothes!
It's got nothing to do with "cross dressing".

What goes on in other people's minds, you can't see and you can't change them.
(my words - "rightly or wrongly*") very much apply.

How they interpret your "liberty" to dress in one of the most beautiful, colourful garments in Europe, is often interpreted as sexually and socially provocative.
Even more so, if as an artist you have a personal culture of beauty and hygiene.

You will understand you are doing something extremely provocative if you sport a kilt in public in Russia today or even in some parts of ex USSR-Eastern Europe.
People have been arrested in Moscow for this.

I would say you have an even strong chance of being arrested in Minsk, but I don't have a visa for that country.

In winter DRAB, dark, miserable mono-colour, poor temperature controlled, group think culture is the norm.

You are seen as an exuberant, ANTI-conformist, in a country (countries) which is/are undergoing a radical backward transformation to a fully authoritarian state, -

(You can do 2 years prison for writing something as simple as disagreement with the annexation of a certain peninsula on the internet, or sing a song in a church...)

In one case, one local supermarket caissier (in EE) said, "you can't come here dressed like that, you will upset people".
This was by no means an isolated case, in a country divided on ethnic lines by language.

My reply runs (in Russian)"You as a country are in the EU, free to travel and to wear whatever you like.

You have no right to tell me what to do.
Go travel exactly 2500kms to the left on the world map at the same latitude, and you will see people (in Scotland), regularly walking around the streets like that".

Just saying.

Hmmm...well, having never travelled in Russia at all, I'll have to take your word for it.

Having never travelled in France at all,but knowing people who wear kilts in France, I have to say that I'm not so sure. There are XMTS forum members who are French. In fact, I purchased one of my very best kilts from Lady Chrystel - she and her husband Robert live in France and regularly post photographs of themselves in tartan clothing in France and they have not, yet mentioned any issues that I'm aware of.

Your experience may be different from theirs.

[Alan H]

As in all things, there's an element of common sense involved.

To extrapolate....it's all the rage to post inspirational meme's on the internet containing statements along the lines of "true freedom comes when you learn to not care what other people think of you."

Well, there's an element of truth to that. At the same time, if you take it too far, it's also a ridiculous lie because if you really don't care at all what people think of you, then why not murder, rape, steal and so on, if it pleases you? Or, if you opt to not go full-on criminal....why not just be a complete jerk..rude, over-the-top and in everybody's face all the time, if that's what pleases you. After all, "true freedom comes when you learn to not care what other people think of you."

Much the same philosophy works here.

Wear a kilt if you want to. If you spend your life worrying about what people might think about you based on the cloth that's belted to your waist, then IMHO, y'all worry WAY too much. You're not hurting anybody, nor are you breaking any laws by wearing a kilt. If you want to wear one, wear it.

On the other hand, you don't have to plant your fist in the face of everybody who rolls their eyes as you walk by, either.

[Profane James]

Or, if you opt to not go full-on criminal....why not just be a complete jerk..rude, over-the-top and in everybody's face all the time, if that's what pleases you.

Truth. This is pretty much my argument against these 'speak my mind, don't hold back' types.

[cajunrph]

Any update from the OP on how their kilt wearing experience is going in Jersey?

[KiltedMan]

Any update from the OP on how their kilt wearing experience is going in Jersey?

So far, so good. I wear mine all the time at home. In public, I wear them when I'm practicing my pipes, to the grocery store, to the car wash, getting a bite to eat, and to the movies. For the most part, no comments at all. I just returned from a trip to Virginia and also wore them there - no comments. I find them to be extremely conformable. Other than the picture I posted a couple of weeks ago, I still haven't seen anyone else wear them here.

FYI, I'll be wearing a traditional kilt today and tomorrow - the pipe band I'm in is playing at two events.

[cajunrph]

So far, so good. I wear mine all the time at home. In public, I wear them when I'm practicing my pipes, to the grocery store, to the car wash, getting a bite to eat, and to the movies. For the most part, no comments at all. I just returned from a trip to Virginia and also wore them there - no comments. I find them to be extremely conformable. Other than the picture I posted a couple of weeks ago, I still haven't seen anyone else wear them here.

FYI, I'll be wearing a traditional kilt today and tomorrow - the pipe band I'm in is playing at two events.

Thanks for the update. That's what the consensus has been to work it into your daily routine and go from there. I saw a video on YouTube where the guy said most of the comments come from older ladies and guys. The younger ladies he is after don't say much. There was another video from a different guy who walked around with his kilt on videoing the reactions. All were positive. There was a group of college age girls (both these videos were posted by guys in their 20's) who made the most ruckus. Asking the most questions. Could have been the camera. It seems like you've had a positive experience so far. Or at least not an overly negative. Not so much to worry about after all.

[Jimmy the Celt]

Living in college town we have people here from all over the world. I was shopping for wine one day when a young woman asked me with a thick Scottish accent why I was wearing the kilt. At first I thought she was trying to be funny, but learned that she did indeed come from Scotland. I answered that I hated trousers, and she said "well, it looks good."

[DonP]

I started getting comfortable at home, then went hiking with the dogs, then short trips around town - getting gas, buying a gallon of milk, stopping at the ATM. Nown a trip to the mall or to the bar is no big deal. Read some posts about other people's reaction to the kilt. You'll see it's really not a anything to worry about.