How does what "they" think affect what you wear?

[CMcG]

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Is there a generally held notion about what a kilt-wearing man is like, in your neck of the woods?

In fact, if you were going to answer "yes" to that question and then proceed to tell us all what it is, might I ask if you are SURE of that? I mean, have you asked a couple thousand people around your town and county what they think? I guess that's another question, isn't it? If you think there's a generally held notion, then what do you base your conviction on, and have you checked it out in any way?

If in fact you are pretty darned sure that there is a widely held opinion regarding guys who might wear a kilt of some kind in your area, does that affect your own kilt-wearing habits?

I believe that in my neck of the woods, the generally held notion about a kilt-wearing men would be that they are Scottish or Irish. I have not done any quantitative research on it, but I seem to recall learning briefly about it in public school, ergo other Canadians would know this too.

As to how this affects my kilt-wearing habits, I tend to follow the local customs regarding ethnic attire. Generally, people of any given heritage might wear their national dress for special events. It is mostly people who are "fresh off the boat" that still wear it as everyday clothing. I suppose an established Canadian who then adopts the kilt for daily wear is then "back on the boat?" Nothing wrong with that, but it's not generally how things are done.

Case in point. I was out watching the fireworks last Canada Day, wearing a Maple Leaf tartan kilt. As I was leaving the area, I overheard a man with a strong foreign accent explaining to a child that I was wearing a kilt and that it was something Scottish people do for special occasions.

Outside of that paradigm, there are probably a range of opinions about what a kilt-wearing man might be. I don't have any reliable way of knowing what people think about the kilt as everyday attire or about obviously non-Gaels wearing one. Because I reserve the kilt for special occasions, this tends not to be an issue for me either.