I get the "nice skirt" comment all the time from people who are honestly trying to pay me a compliment. I think for most people, seeing someone in a kilt is such a rare thing and so deeply associated with Scotland, that if they see one out of context, they don't immediately identify it as a kilt.

After the comment, "It's a kilt." is made, many of them look like a switch has been flipped in their head. They say something like, "Of course...kilt...I'm sorry." looking embarrassed that the didn't recognize the kilt, because they DO know what a kilt is, it just took them by surprise.

Then again she just might not know what a kilt is. Knowledge in area A does not automatically lead to knowledge in area B, even if knowledge in area A is extensive.

Wow, that was ineloquent. Good thing I'm not drafting any contracts tonight.