It's those closest to you who can be the biggest stumbling block.

[Jock Scot]

I do wonder if new kilt wearers wore a traditional tartan kilt,or even a modern tartan kilt,it would receive the same reaction? I suggest that a non tartan modern kilt is, sometimes, a step too far for some people to get their head around in the early stages of kilt acceptance.

[Jaggy thistle]

I totally agree with Jock a tartan kilt and sporran is identified as a kilt and not a skirt

[Nick the DSM]

well, you're stuck with family.

[beloitpiper]

I totally agree with Jock a tartan kilt and sporran is identified as a kilt and not a skirt

Ditto.

[Southern Breeze]

I totally agree with Jock a tartan kilt and sporran is identified as a kilt and not a skirt

That's been my experiance as well. Solid colors seem to be identified as 'skirt'.

[KiltedSurveyor]

That's been my experiance as well. Solid colors seem to be identified as 'skirt'.

As if this moment, I don't have a tartan kilt. Mine are solid colored. Most people still identify them as a kilt, whether I wear them with a sporran or not. I really believe it's the attitude you wear them with that makes them a "kilt" in other people's minds.

[TheBlueCow]

I do wonder if new kilt wearers wore a traditional tartan kilt,or even a modern tartan kilt,it would receive the same reaction? I suggest that a non tartan modern kilt is, sometimes, a step too far for some people to get their head around in the early stages of kilt acceptance.

I've been wondering the same; that it might be easier, for the people that are not so easily accepting, to recognize a tartan kilt. However, in my experiences so far, anyone that is accepting of kilt-wearing has recognized my Utilikilts as kilts and never called them a skirt. This has led me to form the opinion that either someone is accepting of men wearing kilts or they are not, and the only reason they would accept a tartan kilt over a non-tartan kilt is that they recognize it as a costume, and think you are wearing it for some reason (such as, you just got done playing the bagpipes and didn't have time to go home and change...). I haven't worn a tartan kilt yet to see the difference, although I assume that people would recognize it; they would not recognize it as clothing, and but as costume.

I do think that this would achieve the desired affect though, that they would see you in a tartan kilt, recognize it, and then see you in a non-tartan kilt and kind of have a moment where they realize that it's a kilt. Unfortunately it's hard to do this with the mass public, as they only see you once. It would however seem to work on someone whom you knew you were going to see more than once.

[Jock Scot]

BlueCow I think you need to understand that even I,who has been wearing the kilt for more than 60 years, still find it hard to accept these modern non tartan things as kilts! So how do you think those that know little or nothing about kilts feel? I have just discussed this point with my wife,who is as Scots as they come, and she just dismissed these modern type, er, well, kilts as skirts. I think that you may be unrealistic,disappointed too no doubt, to expect your non kilt wearing family to embrace the kilt from the off, particularly if you are going down the modern route .Keep trying though. One more thing, the traditional kilt is not a costume. It is Highland Scots attire!

[TheBlueCow]

BlueCow I think you need to understand that even I,who has been wearing the kilt for more than 60 years, still find it hard to accept these modern non tartan things as kilts! So how do you think those that know little or nothing about kilts to feel? I have just discussed this point with my wife,who is as Scots as they come, and she just dismissed these modern type, er, well, kilts as skirts. I think that you may be unrealistic,disappointed too no doubt, to expect your non kilt wearing family to embrace the kilt from the off, particularly if you are going down the modern route .Keep trying though. One more thing, the traditional kilt is not a costume. It is Highland Scots attire!

It's just that here in America, people recognize tartan kilts as costumes; something worn in movies and on bagpipers, not something that anyone wears just to wear. I personally know it not to be a costume, but the general public in America is unfamiliar with them as daily wear and considers them a costume.
Anyone wearing a kilt, modern or traditional, in America is doing something VERY different than the norm. Kilt wearers are pioneers and rebels in America, and we meet people that accept it, people that pretend not to have noticed it, and people that are against it because they consider it a skirt, tartan or not.

I never expected my family to be immediately accepting of the kilt. My point is that they would be no more accepting of a tartan kilt than a modern non-tartan kilt, because to them a kilt is a skirt. I'm actually surprised at the amount of people that do accept, and even like, kilts. It's just disappointing when people close to you, who accept every other aspect of you, are against you and not supportive. Not that I didn't expect it, but it's disappointing regardless.

[English Bloke]

I've had positive and negative reaction to wearing the Kilt and I don't wear a Modern Kilt either. Some people just don't like the Kilt or see them as too outside their comfortable norms, tartan or otherwise. You're safe in trousers... They have a non comprehending "why would you want to wear a Kilt when you're not Scottish" attitude; something those of us who don't sound Scottish will probably be familiar with.

I think it's their problem myself. They fear to be different. That said, I agree with Jock and Tam that tartan is probably easier to accept for the disapproving observer than Util-kilts. If you are not happy with seeing men in anything but trousers then they must blow your mind!! I would suggest that people new to wearing Kilts who want an easier ride could try sticking to a more traditional style in the beginning, at least until people are used to seeing them Kilted.

I would however be tempted to say 'stick it' to those who continually disapprove.

Incidentally Staticsan. There's a company called 'Highland Inspirations' on Australian ebay
( http://cgi.ebay.com.au/KILT-GREY-STE...742.m153.l1262 )
who are doing four different, traditional type, 6 to 8 yard kilts for AU$103 incl. P&P (£40 - ish/ US$65 - ish) that's not too bad a price either. I know you need to get all the other bits to top it off which all adds to the final bill but you don't need to get those immediately. Perhaps that might be the way to go for the time being and would help to get 'em on side. Christmas is coming by the way ... Maybe you could get them to buy you a sporran.