So You're Going To Speak To Someone Who's Wearing A Kilt

[Zardoz]

I was talking about some of this this kind of stuff with my wife the other day. We were looking at some photos from a motorcycle trip where some citizens at a rest stop wanted a picture with her because she was in her leather biker gear. I've had that happen too, been somewhere out of context, like in the mall, in my biker togs and had somebody want a picture, I always thought "yeah if a bunch of my friends were here, you'd just be scared of us".

So we thought, on what other occasions have folks ever wanted to take a picture of/with us? And they have always been when we are out in puplic, but might be dressed "differently" than everyone else, like in Highlandwear, Old West, Renfaire, SciFi Costume, Biker Gear etc..

I have come to the conclusion that if you can be singled out as being dressed 'differently' from the norm, no matter how mundane you think it is, I believe the general public sees your kilt in the same light as if you were sporting a Starfleet uniform! They are dressed "normal" you are dressed "weird"! They seem to then make the mental leap that you must be there for their entertainment in some way, and therefore feel entitled to ask you the most bizzare questions.

Or maybe I think too much,

[Cynthia]

I have come to the conclusion that if you can be singled out as being dressed 'differently' from the norm, no matter how mundane you think it is, I believe the general public sees your kilt in the same light as if you were sporting a Starfleet uniform! They are dressed "normal" you are dressed "weird"! They seem to then make the mental leap that you must be there for their entertainment in some way, and therefore feel entitled to ask you the most bizzare questions.

Actually, I've noticed that sort of reaction as well. Just about anything out of the ordinary from how you are dressed, to what you are doing. And yes, they seem to think you're the hired entertainment for that moment.

[Zardoz]

Actually, I've noticed that sort of reaction as well. Just about anything out of the ordinary from how you are dressed, to what you are doing. And yes, they seem to think you're the hired entertainment for that moment.

Glad it's not just me!

[GMan]

A lot depends on the situation. If the person is even a wee bit tipsy, I rarely engage. If they think they are cute or funny in asking questions they get no response. If I notice a bit of apprehension in their voice, chances are they are sincere in the conversation, and it usually turns out to be a grand conversation.

[Old Hippie]

some citizens at a rest stop wanted a picture with her because she was in her leather biker gear.

My wife is a nurse. We ride motorcycles. Once she was locking up her bike at the hospital and a couple of doctors stopped to look her over. "What's the matter?" she asked. "Never seen a nurse in black leather?"

"Only in my dreams," replied one, rather wistfully.

I have come to the conclusion that if you can be singled out as being dressed 'differently' from the norm, no matter how mundane you think it is, I believe the general public sees your kilt in the same light as if you were sporting a Starfleet uniform!

Could be. One interesting thing I've noticed is that people get really thrown for a mental loop if you're not wearing a tartan. I wear contemporary kilts because that's what I have right now.

Most people make the connection pretty easily, because no matter what Steven Villegas says, a Utilikilt has some design elements suggestive of a kilt, not a man-skirt.

I occasionally get asked, "What tartan is that?" when I'm wearing a UK -- and I explain "tartan" is the pattern of the cloth, not the cloth itself. They're easy for us to "get" but as you say a lot of people still think only of kilts as "tartan, worn as costume."

At the local Highland Games a couple of weeks ago I had some interesting conversations with members of the Caledonian Society. Some of the comments were, "I'll bet you could wear that every day!" "Wow, I've never seen a kilt with pockets!" "That's a really practical look" "Where did you get THAT?" and "Is that a military kilt?"

I had assumed that people who make kilt-wearing part of their identity would have seen contemporary kilts, even own one or two. It does say something about how they may see the role of the kilt in their own lives.

:ootd:

[Zardoz]

Could be. One interesting thing I've noticed is that people get really thrown for a mental loop if you're not wearing a tartan. I wear contemporary kilts because that's what I have right now.

At the local Highland Games a couple of weeks ago I had some interesting conversations with members of the Caledonian Society. Some of the comments were, "I'll bet you could wear that every day!" "Wow, I've never seen a kilt with pockets!" "That's a really practical look" "Where did you get THAT?" and "Is that a military kilt?"

I had assumed that people who make kilt-wearing part of their identity would have seen contemporary kilts, even own one or two. It does say something about how they may see the role of the kilt in their own lives.

:ootd:

Yes, It does say something about how they may see the role of the kilt in their lives. Unfortunatly, from the viewpoint of a daily kilt wearer anyway, they see it as a sort of costume, primarily suited to wear at Scot heritage functions like games, Burns suppers, etc..(safety in numbers?)

This is not a critical assessment of anyone by me! They are involved with their heritage, and wear the kilt as a display of that identity, but don't care to wear it all the time. So as you saw, they are unaware of most of the details about kilts and Highlandware we concern ourselves with here on our forum. I believe this is true of vast majority of kilt 'owners' around the globe.