What's the best reaction you've gotten to your wearing a kilt?

**Hachiman** · 12th July 12, 09:33 AM

It might not be the best, but since I'm a recent newcomer to kilting for the sake of kilting, it's at least my most recent - today in fact.

My wife and I took our 1 year old daughter in to the doctors for a routine check-up prior to her going off to child-care next week. As my wife was finishing up the paperwork, I took our daughter out to the car to get her settled in her car seat.... with daughter in her stroller, and my wife's handbag swinging from the stroller's handle.

An elderly gentleman followed me out of the doctor's surgery and looked at me, the stroller, and the handbag with a slight grin and said "I guess the skirt is ok, but I think the handbag is a bit much!"

I looked at him, then down at the offending handbag, then back at the gentleman with a grin: "oh, that's not mine!"

"That's what they all say!" he replied, to which we both laughed heartily. He then responded with a "sorry, but I just couldn't resist!!". We both laughed again and waved farewell before going our separate ways.

Not bad... sharing a laugh with a stranger.

regards
Hachiman

**Stout** · 12th July 12, 01:44 PM

Mine was pretty entertaining (for me). I went and tossed the caber a bit with my coach and some other great people at a RenFest for a demo. I then went to the car and was going to change to go freezer shopping. Low and behold - no shorts. As it didn't bother me a bit, I went to Lowe's, Home Depot, Menard's and finally Olive Garden for dinner (it was prom night to boot). Man did I get some funny looks. A couple of kids just kept staring at me. I had my Black Stewart SWK, leather Sporran, Sgian Dubh, hose, my cleats and a tshirt. Not exactly traditional, but for athletics - that's what you get. A big guy stopped me in Olive Garden and said enthusiastically "REAL MEN WEAR KILTS" as we exchanged a knuckle bump.

My wife and kids were a bit horrified at first, but they started enjoying the spectacle too.

**james.mccarson** · 12th July 12, 05:59 PM

It has been sometime ago (22 years). I woman in a wheelchair asked to inspect up under my kilt. She found only what the Lord bless me with.

**Auldbuff** · 18th July 12, 04:04 AM

I know it's an old thread but my experience was quite funny.My wife and I were at Eriskay actually on the Princes Strand, (where Bonnie Prince Charlie landed) it came on pouring rain so after I got soaked I put on my dress kilt which was in the car.On the way back to North Uist we stopped at the little museum for a coffee, a group of old ladies came in and one said oh theres a kiltie..whats your tartan.I said the 'Duke of Fife' she then announced to the whole cafe that I was the Duke of Fife....as I tried to explain it was my tartan she still repeated I was the Duke...so for 1 hour these charming ladies were in the Dukes company...

**ScotFree** · 18th July 12, 04:15 AM

Actually, the best reaction I've gotten is no reaction at all. The first time I ever wore my kilt in public, I was really very nervous. What are people going to say? I don't exactly live in an area where kilts are common. A friend went with me for moral support. I was actually surprised that I didn't see a single person give it a second look. I had my whole spiel mapped out in my head as to how I would address any negative comments. It was rather anticlimactic actually. I've worn kilts a bunch of places since, and the only comments I've gotten have been positive. The only possibly marginally negative comment I've received to date, is, "Why would you want to wear a kilt?". My reply was simply, "Why not?"

**Laird_M** · 18th July 12, 04:20 AM

Sunday at the Harpenden Gathering a lady stopped us and chatted about how handsome our two boys were and how the kilts suited them. She then took quite a few pictures of them as they were 'so adorable'.

**Iain Robb** · 18th July 12, 04:28 AM

The best reaction I have ever gotten came in New Orleans a couple of years back. Walking down the street in my black-and-red Munro kilt, I saw an attractive young woman come out of a shop ahead of me and turn in my direction. She stopped, smiled, looked me up and down and said, "You are rocking that!"

**guardsman** · 19th July 12, 03:21 PM

I suppose the best reaction is from my father,who simply said,I say son your looking smart today.

**MadMouser** · 20th July 12, 01:12 PM

Originally Posted by badcowboy

I love the reaction that we got on a South America Cruise in February (this was the first time out in kilts). Normally, we always see at least two kilts on a cruise - and this time we were the two kilts on the cruise.

We're taking our honeymoon cruise in January and I'm definitely packing at least one of mine for the formal nights. Anyone going to be on the Crown Princess Western Caribbean cruise departing on 1/19?

**Màrtainn** · 20th July 12, 07:25 PM

Last week I was in Edinburgh for a couple of days. One of my goals was to find a nice (second hand) kilt jacket, so of course I went kilted that shopping day. I was trying on jackets in one of theArmstrong & Son shops (which I recommend if you want to find some vintage clothing), when I suddenly heard a girl in her twenties say to her boyfriend, while gesturing in my direction: "How could anyone NOT like a kilt?"
A little later I noticed them perusing the kilt rack… :-)