nervous in my kilt

**northernsky** · 17th July 08, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by David Dalglish

The only way to gain confidence is to wear your kilt often, soon you will wonder why you ever wore trousers

This really is the best advice. Like anything else we are unsure of doing, the more we do it the better we feel/more confident we become. I can think of a couple of obvious ones...and the more confident we are the better we become at it. I often take public transit when I get kilted up for an event and at first was quite self-conscious on the sky-train and buses. Now I quite enjoy the looks and smiles and nods. Other than the occasional 'question' most people either smile or just turn away (they are the embarrassed ones not me!)

**KiltedSkeleton** · 17th July 08, 10:06 AM

I never had the problem with being nervous. I was eager to go out and about in my kilts. I've had my kilts for three weeks now and they are all I wear when I'm not at work. Managed to wear them to work twice until someone complained. Just be natural and wear them with pride.

**GreenDragon** · 17th July 08, 10:07 AM

Wait until you get the people that do double takes when you walk past. It's even better when they stop in mid-sentence.

**siva011** · 17th July 08, 10:53 AM

I was nervous my first few times out, as I'm sure most were. Of course you get the snickers (behind your back, as many have pointed out). Most people who give you trouble are ignorant, trying to impress their friends or be funny, or just trying to be macho. I have some frat boys who live in the apartment next to me that giggle when I walk by, had people try to talk to me in really bad fake Scottish accents, and have a couple of times been referred to as the white boy in the skirt. My thought on it is that most people are fine with it, many actually really think it's cool, but you notice the negative people because they are usually the ones who make a comment. But NOTHING is better than when you are confident, and get that compliment from some stranger (especially when it's an attractive woman- that wipes the macho smirks right off those punk's faces!). Eventually, also as is often said here, you gain your confidence and are happy with your kilt, and you really don't care what the naysayers think. And trust us, it comes quicker than you may think.

For now, if you really want to wear it out, then do so. Forget what everyone else thinks and do what makes you happy.

**Finn** · 17th July 08, 11:10 AM

When you strap on the kilt, you're also strapping on a confident, masculine & damn sexy attitude.

**David White** · 17th July 08, 11:57 AM

It becomes first nature, don't sweat it.

I've only ever had one experience that wasn't pleasent.
I was at a small grocery store I always go to, they see me kilted all the time. The young lady working the line wouldn't make eye contact with me and she turned bright red. There was a delivery man behind me and I knew what was up. I asked her if there was a problem and she said "so and so just cracks me up" I turned and looked at him dead-pan, no expression what so ever. He quit joking (at me) and looked down at the floor-he wouldn't even make eye contact. I took my stuff and walked out all puffed up like I owned the store.

Confidence-walk with pride.

**Mike in Dayton** · 17th July 08, 07:28 PM

I understand the feeling. Most of us grew up without any family or friends in the kilt. Even if you have Celtic ancestry the kilt was looked at as something to wear for a special occasion. If you had no Celtic ancestry you grew up thinking the kilt was for a Scott to wear in the parade. Now you want to wear the kilt and in public you find yourself alone and a little nervous. Yes, you will attract attention as you are probably the only one in the kilt. Keep in mind the kilt is a man's garment and has a rich history behind it. You can wear it just as well as a pair of jeans. Your fears are in your mind. Expect to get questions about the kilt. You will find you will have conversations with people you would otherwise never had. I wear my kilt out just about every weekend running errands. At one store I feel funny NOT wearing the kilt as a lady that works there expects me in the kilt.

I have a suggestion. I see you are from Columbus, OH. There is a kilt night just about every month or two. There was one last Saturday (July 12) that I unfortunately missed. Watch this board for the next one. Plan on attending. They are held normally on a Saturday night at an English or Irish pub or someplace where a kilt would be expected. You will be there with a small group of members from this group. Also, in Dayton starting Friday, July 25 through the weekend is the Celtic Festival. There will be others in a the kilt at that event. Once you get out with a few others you will gain confidence in the kilt. You will also find your collection of kilts will start to grow. As that potato chip commercial said "you can't have just one".

Good luck
Mike

**ncof300d** · 17th July 08, 07:56 PM

Originally Posted by mfl243

Okay, so I have 2 kilts now and have worn them around the house, on a road trip and to walk the dog in the wee hours of the morning,...yesterday, I decided to wear my new sport kilt over to the local park while walking the dog,..I became very self-conscious, which surprised,..I found myself avoiding folks and waiting for some sort of slur to be thrown my way,...I was surprised, but can't imagine I'm the only one who has experienced this. How do other folks deal with this anxiety/sense of sticking out etc?

Nothing adverse happened to me, but I was glad to get home

thx--Mac

By the way what kind are your two kilts?

**Dirk Skene** · 18th July 08, 08:14 AM

I think at first it is normal to be aprehensive. It is simple NOT the way most men dress. After awhile, if you wear a kilt regularly, it just becomes old hat. I still remember my 1st 2 weeks or so. I was SOOOOOO nervious. Now I think nothing of it.