Is it the Tartan?Must be

[Tommie]

Yesterday (Sunday afternoon)my wife wanted us to drive into the city and do some shopping at the mall,so I agreed.

It was very warm,so I decided to wear my brown light weight Amerikilt,and thought what the heck,Im going to wear sandles and a tank top with it.
I came off looking a lot like my Avatar without the boots.
Never have went out in public before dressed that casual wearing a kilt,and had a few second thoughts when we arived at the Mall that is allways very busy on Sunday,but I followed my wife in anyway.

We spent most of the afternoon browsing the shops,stoping for a pizza and later a coffee shop,an I never so much as got a second glance.
A few glanced down at my kilt but I have had that with shorts.
To be perfectly honest,I must say, I felt a bit disapointed that no one even asked what I was wearing and why.
Not even a wize guy remark or even a smirk.
Told my wife later,maybe they all thought I was wearing a skirt and were perhaps afraid to say anything to any nut wearing a skirt at a busy Mall.

Only one answer left I could come up with.
It has to be the Tartan that draws the attention and questions.
Next time out im wearing Tartan.
Im saving my Avatar look for ballgames where I won't be interrupted watching the game.

[Galician]

Are you looking for that kind of attention?

I've gotten noticed and questioned while wearing a UK, so I wonder how accurate the tartan theory might be. I will admit, that my FC tartan did get a LOT of compliments when I wore out this weekend.

[Ryan Ross]

I've been wearing the ROR tartan quite a bit, lately (when you get a new kilt, you need to break it in), and I've yet to get a single comment while wearing it. I'm not complaining at all, but I think it might be because the tartan is nearly all black, and therefor, isn't real conspicuous. I've been all sorts of places... out to lunch, at the mall, in the grocery store- nothing. I kind of like it, truth be told, but I wonder exactly why it's happening.

I think you could be right. I think it's the eye catching tartans that create the attention.

[Tommie]

To be perfectly honest I really don't want the attention either.

Just felt it kind of strange no one paid much attention to a guy wearing a brown solid color kilt,red tank,and sandles.

And there are a lot of newbies to kilts worrying about going out thier first time in a nice tartan kilt.Some make a big deal of it,but thats Ok.
Little bit uneasy my first time too.
Get out there guys an enjoy wearing what you want.

[TheBlueCow]

I think it isn't just the tartans, as I only have Utilikilts, and I have definitely had people react to it.

Although, I do think that a tartan kilt makes people more comfortable with you, as they recognize it as a men's garment, and just aren't used to seeing people outside of Scotland wear it. That said, when people are more comfortable or familiar with the idea, you are more likely to receive comments, and of course some will be positive and some will be negative. I think a non-tartan kilt gives people the impression of a skirt, because they are not aware that a kilt does not need to be in a tartan.

[NewKilt]

I think that generally you will get more of a reaction from a tartan kilt than a solid. That said, I think what you wear with the kilt also has an influence. I've worn a black Amerikilt with a light blue pin-striped shirt, black belt, cream hose, and well polished black shoes, resulting in several compliments from men and women about how nice the kilt looked. Same type of result with a tan Amerikilt with dark blue polo, brown belt, polished brown shoes, and tan crew socks.

Today the park where I take my daily walks was crowded with bus loads of school children & parent helpers. I was wearing a wool tartan with sporran, hose & flashes. Got many compliments from teachers and parents and hardly any reaction at all from the children, except an occasional hello. One of the mothers stopped me and ask me to pose for a picture because her daughter wanted a picture of a Scottish kilt. So, a lot more reaction to the tartan IMHO. But, tartan or solid, traditional or non-traditional, the appearance you present can make quite a difference.

Darrell

[MacFett]

I was just discussing this very thing with my wife this past weekend. I wear my OD or black AK out most every day and get very few glances, stares or questions. An occasional comment but not very often. Well this past Saturday I went to the FSK mall in my black watch PV and in an hour had two phone numbers, not sure how many people stopped to look at the kilt and ask about it. As I was leaving some lady out of the blue stopped me and looked me up and down and casually said "I just wanted to say hello" and walked off.

I feel it is the tartan. I agree Tommie I think many people just think the AK or UKs are skirts.

[marypenny]

Speaking as a wife of 35 years... when I am on my husband's arm, his "lady wife" and he wearing his Robertson modern, I notice the positive responses, both from men & women. Women are attracted to men in kilts; there is a visceral reaction we women have...something about men being hunters & protectors, I think . As the president of our local Clan society, he wears his kilts a lot... he has 3, all variation of Robertson; modern, hunting, and ancient. He will be in his kilts this entire weekend at the Orange County Highland Games. Wear your kilt.... wear it often, please.