American tourists in Scotland

[wildrover]

Of late, I have mostly been wearing overalls and an old straw hat. I don't think I would wear that or Highland attire either if I visited Scotland, though.

Hmmm...hole cut out of the front for the stomach to pooch out, or no?

Joking apart, it has been known!

That kit, minus the hat (and sometimes including it) is pretty common in a lot of small towns in Colorado...I can't speak for the rest of the SW or TX, but I imagine it's similar there. I have a pair of boots that could be described as "cowboy" that are my daily wear with jeans and slacks, and could be worn with an off-white casual suit (though that's not my style)...and a belt buckle that's a little larger than normal, I'd call it "Western" style but it's from Alaska, not Texas. I imagine it's certainly out of the ordinary for, say, Scotland...but then, it's also part of what I normally wear (I'm wearing both at the moment), and I'd wear it in Scotland and not sweat over it.

There are certain parts of that style that are commonly adopted by a large portion of the population over here, in the Southwest and Texas anyway, and in Tennessee, Kentucky, etc...but like a PC and frilly lace with a kilt, you're not often going to see a leather sport coat (I have one of those too) with a bolo tie, Stetson, boots, Wranglers, big belt buckle and embroidered button-up. Sometimes, yes, often, no.

Somehow the kilt goes way deeper than fashion or fad. It's a family link. Clan or tribe -you can be whoever an whatever you want to be and yet you're always welcome as part of a large extended family.

Funny you should mention that...last time I kilted up, one of the questions was "is there a special occasion, or did you just feel like wearing your colors today?" Perfectly serious question, too.

And that is well and good. Boots and cowboy hats are not ideal for an urban mayor or gas jockey.

It's really only the hat that I don't see. Maybe the kilted equivalent is a swinging six badger full mask sporran to walk around the mall...there's a point at which it's obviously overdone and out of place.

The image of the very conservative, very straight, not at all young, city councillor George Puil dressed in drag for a gay pride parade is forever seared in my retinas.

You have a councillor with a well-developed funnybone!

I actually worry more about what people will think of me when I wear my cowboy hat than I worry about what people will think of my kilt.

Yeah, it really is the hat that does it. Boots & buckles are pretty common.

You're quite correct. I was in downtown San Antonio, but also got out to Del Rio, Fredericksburg and Boerne. I saw very few cowboy hats, though plenty of "ballcaps" and few "cowboy" boots, though plenty of workboots and dress shoes (in San Antonio).

Look closer at the guys who appear to be wearing dress shoes...you'll probably see that what you assumed was a dress shoe is actually a very, very nice "cowboy" boot.

I strongly suggest you feel the waters before doing a canon-ball into a generally civil pool of gentlemen.

True! Knowing people better means you can really yank their chains! See, you can't judge someone by their neck tattoos...you can only judge if they're also wearing a sideways flatbill, a black long sleeve Afflicted shirt, grey Dickies shorts, a massive wallet chain, black socks pulled to their calves, oversize black or grey skate shoes, their Black Flys, and they're on a quad in the Southern California desert on a 100* day. Then, you can judge the hell out of them.

If you show respect for them, then that respect will be acknowledged; but if you show a wanton disregard for those traditions, then you will likely be met with a disapproving attitude.

Good advice for all walks of life . One of the best things I've heard here in a while.

-Sean