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

[Highlander31]

All reactions tend to be based on context (that is the place I'm wearing it) tempered with the experiences of the individual....

...There is also a racial discrepancy in as much as acceptance of the kilt....

I noticed that in San Jose. Not so much with the Black community (Wesley Snipes wears a kilt from time-to-time), however, the Mexican community makes no bones about not liking the kilt. (Now before anybody decides to say I'm sounding racist about a particular group, let me say two of my daughters are married to first generation Americans of Mexican heritage, both are upstanding men, and I base my opinions on who you are and what you do, not what your race happens to be.)

[Zardoz]

Well, there are like 5 million people in the 'greater Houston' metropolitan area, so I think it would be a little hard to nail down a "generally held notion" for all of them. But I guess it depends on your 'range'....
I'll say that at the stores, pubs, resturants, etc. that I go to regularly, "they" think it's just fine, and indeed at some of those places I'm likely to run into a kilted friend or two as well.
But I don't just go to my local, I've worn a kilt, at the appropriate level of dress, to all kinds of places/events etc.. and I can count on one hand the number of really negative remarks I've heard. As I said, I know several local kilt wearing guys, a couple I've not seen in trousers, and I don't think any of them have ever spoken to me about any problems either.
Truth be told, I just don't think or care about what "they" think. "They" could saw 'nice kilt' to my face and think I'm crazy and silly looking. Really, they could say 'you're crazy and silly looking' to my face and I wouldn't care. I think most people I see look like they dressed in the dark anyway.

[CMcG]

<snip> I think most people I see look like they dressed in the dark anyway.

As in they don't do the matchy-matchy thing?

[beloitpiper]

Around here, in the People's Republic of Madison, a man in a kilt usually means a man in a Utilikilt (with a tie-dyed t shirt and Birkenstock sandals). However, I think most people (save the Frat Boys at UW) are very welcoming of a man in a kilt, given they wear it well and don't make a fuss about it.

[Zardoz]

As in they don't do the matchy-matchy thing?

Actually, it wouldn't offend me if they took a moment to match the crocs to the tube top....

[chrisupyonder]

When kilted, I stick out just by being there. They won't remember me as a person one way or another, but they will remember the jerk in a skirt, or the gentleman in the kilt. It is up to me to decide that for them.

My sentiments exactly. I try my best to be the gentleman in a kilt. If anyone thinks I am the former then it is their problem and I don't care because if that is their perception then nothing I could say or do would change that.

Chris.

[Larry124]

In my local and for my events kilts in their various styles are considered festive and nonconformist.
Heritage is acknowledged but not paramount.

[Cowher]

In my area I gather a kilt wearing man is viewed as (1) gay/homosexual. (2) a bagpiper (3) Scottish (4) a weird **** fool (5) pretty darn cool. I listed those in order from most common to least common. Have I asked thousands of people? No. Have I asked one hundred? No. So how do I come to my conclusion? Because that's what people have told me. Both when I was kilted and not kilted. That may have been dozens and dozens of people.
The last question the OP asked was does the outside opinion effect me. My honest answer is yes. Well sort of. Do I care what anyone thinks? No. Do I not wear my kilt every time I want? No I don't wear it every time I would like to. Because I don't want to hear. "hey ****** nice skirt!" or "why would you wear a skirt?" or even "why are you wearing a kilt".

It's odd. I played with my pipe band and did a special appearance with the Red Hot Chilli Pipers in a town known for violence, prostitution and homosexual populations. I'm back stage with the band mates having a few pints and there was a few guys asking if tgey could get out of their kilts until it was time to go on stage. They kept saying "I can't believe I'm in this town wearing a skirt. I'm either going to get killed, raped or grabbed by some homo". It shocked me that not only were they rude little buggers. But HATED wearing a kilt.
Oh well my battle goes on and I keep growing as a human. It's strange how kilts have refined who I am.

[BruceBC]

Vancouver is very kilt friendly. Most comments are positive, a few "nice skirt" comments - but in many cases it is because they don't know the proper name for a kilt, yet they do know it is what some Scottish men would wear.

Every now and then I am asked where my bagpipes are or if it is a special event. Maybe I filter out the negative and bask in the positive comments.

I would like to think that an experience I had today is reflective of the local attitude. Walking by a downtown coffee shop I noticed a lovely blond woman watching me- as I walked by the window she waved, she broke into the widest of smiles and mouthed "nice kilt, I love it" followed by a blown kiss.

I am off to a conference in Victoria this week - with folks from all over North America attending. I will be wearing a kilt every day and will return with my report.

[Droid]

I've been lucky with my kilt wearing. I've never had negative comments or had anyone act negativly towards me. I really really want to wear a kilt on more occations. I usually only kilt up for Scottish fairs and Ren fairs, but I enjoy going out to eat before or after an event.

Walk with confidence and people will look at you like you own the place.

Again, I will hopefully be getting more kilts (I only have one at this time) so as to be kilted more often.