What do you say to people when they ask about your kilt?

[Dale Seago]

I think the difficulty here is that with the kilt you are wearing there is no real heritage apart from the style and unless people are used to seeing this type of garment that is not in tartan you are bound to get comments. Even those of us who wear the tartan still get comments and odd looks.

That's a point worth considering. Things like solid-color UKs are not too uncommon 'round here. By contrast, the other day I was in a store in my Maple Leaf tartan kilt with open-necked shirt, kilt belt, sporran, hose with garter ties, and ankle brogue boots (hey, am I still the only forumite who's actually gotten a pair of those?). An African-American woman who saw me said, "I think this is the first time I've ever seen a real kilt being worn!".

[Sir William]

Depends greatly on the comment being made.

For those express a compliment (nice kilt), I smile and say "thank you." This may or may not lead to a discussion about kilts and tartan.

For those who express puzzlement (why or what), I take the opportunity to explain the kilt and it's accessories, and in some cases the tartan, and that it is part of my heritage.

Ironically, these questions most come from women, and they also ask question like, "aren't you cold?" or "how do you sit down?" or "what do you wear underneath"? I usually just ask them about their own experience, which usually elicits a laugh or two once they realize what they've asked.

For those with a negative comment (almost always from men who I can only assume lack self-confidence in themselves), I ignore them. No sense wasting time or effort talking to a fool.

[CaptainZap]

Most comments have been positive but there have been a few that could be taken as nagitives. At this years Celtic Fair a member of our British Car Club asked me " did you have to ware that thing?" I simply said yes. Then last week at the monthly River Distric art walk a friend looked at my kilt and said you know you are a boy? To which I replied " no I'm a man". At that a stranger walked up shook my hand and said" ya gotta respect a man in a kilt"

Tom

[cryerelizabeth]

I got a complament wearing mine and it turned into a great discussion It started out with "My husband wears one! Are from there?" It rolled up hill from there

[eaglemo]

What Sir William said...for rude remarks, it is no use speaking to a fool! Otherwise, it is a good chance to talk about Scottish/Irish Heritage and traditional dress.

[Burly Brute]

Just carry a big stick around with ye, works fer me e'erytime. ;)

[thecompaqguy]

Meghan - Thanks for your reply - it is twisted that we were torn from West Africa, stripped of identity, re-named, and now it's as if we can't share in the culture. Sadly this resistance isn't coming from Scots, but from a) UK-born West Indian youths who have NEVER been to Jamaica, but assume how things run there and think saying things (in the safety of a group) and cussing people is cool; and b) a self-taught psychologist/counsellor who thinks every problem is to do with childhood trauma or sexual dysfunction...."I'm sure President Assad and Kim Jong Il were abused as children" would be the crap my mum would spout from time to time (I've known 18 years of this rubbish from when she embarked on this 'hobby') She even got nasty when I changed my car to a BMW 5 series, saying it was a 'Drug Baron's Car' (it's the Tourer / Wagon in ice white on 19" rims), but it was a racist dig at me... this from the person who adopted me

I have left home, it was only one visit back home (my wife boycotted the visit and stayed at home with the little one) she's threatened that I am back in contact with biological family and have no need of her anymore....

So, this isn't a simple case of people laughing at the kilt, it's a mixture of challenges. I've not been kilted today, which is something I would have done, as I've not been outside. The mrs doesn't really like it either, and says that it's formal wear and shouldn't be worn everywhere all the time. I can see where she's coming from, there are no 'casual' kilts worn out and about where I live. Hopefully tolerance levels will improve, but I'll stop poking the bear with constant kilt wearing day in day out for now

You look good in the shalwar-kameez (?sp.), I'm used to them (no, I don't wear them but grew up in Southall, West London, a large Asian community so saw them alot)

Thanks for all your concerns

Before I elicit another HOLY WOW from knotty, I'll leave it here :mrgreen:

[davidg]

she's threatened that I am back in contact with biological family and have no need of her anymore....

Don't get me wrong on this because I do not defend your mum in any way. It may also be that what you believe is spot on but there may be another side to this and all I ask is that you consider it

Could it possibly be that your adopted mum is jealous and fearful that she might lose you? She has raised you and now she sees you trying to find your biological roots. You are behaving, in her eyes, like the stereotypical black man rather than the coloured white boy she raised. You are wearing a kilt in an effort to get close to your Scottish connections, which inevitably exclude her, and contacting your biological family may be seen by her as you not needing her any more. In other words she may feel rejected as a mother

Of course, none of this may be the case, but perhaps it would be fairer to give her a chance and explain your own feelings of being rejected by her. Try including her in "your" family by buying her a nice tartan shawl, tell her frankly how much you love her but that you have a need to know where you came from. It may work, it may not, but if it does work you will both be happier

[tundramanq]

As a self-taught psychologist, mum may have stopped reading after Sigmond Freud and has really warped ideas on psychiatry. He was pretty messed up himself and wrote from his own experiance most.

[Kilted Cole]

Ive decided my usual retort to rude comments fall to " Your just jelous you don't have leggs like mine" and I walk away seeing that most people who have that type of attitude arn't usually worth your time to explain. As far as genuine interest...the honest answer is always the best. Many years of happy kilt wearing to you!