How find the guts to go kilted in a conservative community?

**sharpdressedscot** · 21st April 08, 05:54 AM

Cricket? I didn't see that one...

**gilmore** · 21st April 08, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by Noobie

... I just wonder if there are any tips for psyching myself up to do it and downplaying the possible negative repercussions?

Just do it!

**Raphael** · 21st April 08, 10:58 AM

The fear that you have is only in your head. You are armed with the notion that the general public is going to disapprove your kilt. You just have to overcome your fear of that. In reality, no one give a damn on how you dress when you are out casually. People have lots of things in their mind and they simply don't care what other people are doing.

Just strap your kilt on, apron in the front, pleats at the back and head out of your door. you are going to look at life differently.

**Galb** · 21st April 08, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by Raphael

Just strap your kilt on, apron in the front, pleats at the back and head out of your door. you are going to look at life differently.

Yeah, you'll realize that pants are overrated.

**Howard Clark** · 21st April 08, 01:04 PM

And people remember your name when you wear a kilt. I spent two days last week at a church stewardship training seminar. The presenter had a little trouble with a couple of people's names (not remembering them correctly). You NEVER have that trouble kilted.

It is a confidence building exercise to wear it, and self-feeding. More wearing, more confidence, more wearing, more confidence...

**Galb** · 22nd April 08, 09:09 AM

Some of you mentioned how people treat you differently when you wear a kilt. I thought nothing of it until I had to head to the Goodwill store to drop off some old purses for my wife. Usually I just walk in with a bag and some grumpy old woman forcibly asks "Dropping off?!" I always say yes, to which I get a reply "Just throw it on the counter. We'll get it later!" Always grumpy.

Well, this past weekend when I walked in I got the usual question of dropping off, but it was in a nicer tone. When I said yes I was told to place it on the counter like usual, but in a nicer tone. When I was leaving though, she said something I had never heard before...a "Thank you" and with a smile. I just chalked it up to the old lady finally having a good day. I never thought that maybe the kilt had anything to do with it.

When I got home, a neighbor saw me in it and stopped me to tell me how wonderful it looked and how I should wear it more often.

But the funniest, and one that will stick out in my mind is a case of simple childhood innocence. Last night I bumped into my next door neighbor who asked me what was up with the kilt. I explained my ancestry and told him that I really enjoyed wearing it and probably would more often. He thought it was cool. He then proceeded to tell me how his little 4 year old cousin was over this past weekend watching tv when they saw me walk by the apartment. The little girl then asked him "Why is that man wearing a dress?" When he told me this I laughed so hard. I know the little girl and I could picture it happening. Her aunt and her cousin then proceeded to explain that it was a kilt, and that it was a Scottish thing. I can't wait until the next time I see that little one. I'm going to ask her if she liked my "dress". LOL.

**Vafuth** · 22nd April 08, 08:48 PM

Originally Posted by Galb

a case of simple childhood innocence. Last night I bumped into my next door neighbor who asked me what was up with the kilt. I explained my ancestry and told him that I really enjoyed wearing it and probably would more often. He thought it was cool. He then proceeded to tell me how his little 4 year old cousin was over this past weekend watching tv when they saw me walk by the apartment. The little girl then asked him "Why is that man wearing a dress?" When he told me this I laughed so hard. I know the little girl and I could picture it happening. Her aunt and her cousin then proceeded to explain that it was a kilt, and that it was a Scottish thing. I can't wait until the next time I see that little one. I'm going to ask her if she liked my "dress". LOL.

That just cute...I catch that a lot from kids with their moms and dads...just makes me chuckle...I'll walk by a car in a parking lot (kilted of course) and just as I pass I'll hear in a little voice from the open window of the car... "Why is that man wearing a skirt?" or "look, that man is wearing a skirt!!"...

its funny how from an adult those types of remarks seem to annoy but from a child its just cute and amusing.

**Semiomniscient** · 22nd April 08, 09:55 PM

Originally Posted by Vafuth

That just cute...I catch that a lot from kids with their moms and dads...just makes me chuckle...I'll walk by a car in a parking lot (kilted of course) and just as I pass I'll hear in a little voice from the open window of the car... "Why is that man wearing a skirt?" or "look, that man is wearing a skirt!!"...

its funny how from an adult those types of remarks seem to annoy but from a child its just cute and amusing.

Yeah, I think it's because we expect children to be ignorant (forgive the term). We usually look at adults and think "they should know what a kilt is!" I guess Braveheart has helped out a lot... but there is a large population where I'm from who apparently missed that one and still look at me like I'm a cross-dresser if I have to walk into the grocery or gas station kilted.

**Semiomniscient** · 22nd April 08, 09:51 PM

If you want something reasonable, (and wearing a kilt is reasonable--particularly because you own one!) then you just have to go for it... and to make things easier for yourself, prepare an answer for the inevitable "why are you wearing a kilt?" My answer when I was a little kid was "Because I'm Scottish." And most people leave it at that. Bytheway, I'm in and from Louisiana and some of the most conservative people I know wear kilts!
And as far as tartans, you can wear whatever tartan makes you feel stylish. There are some who have made up rules about who can wear what tartans... but it's really mostly bunk. (IE: You have no right to wear your mother's tartan unless you've taken her name.) That kind of thing is silly. Most people like to wear their clan tartans though. But I prefer the district tartan from where some of my forebears came from.

**Vafuth** · 23rd April 08, 08:16 AM

Originally Posted by Semiomniscient

If you want something reasonable, (and wearing a kilt is reasonable--particularly because you own one!) then you just have to go for it... and to make things easier for yourself, prepare an answer for the inevitable "why are you wearing a kilt?" My answer when I was a little kid was "Because I'm Scottish." And most people leave it at that. Bytheway, I'm in and from Louisiana and some of the most conservative people I know wear kilts!
And as far as tartans, you can wear whatever tartan makes you feel stylish. There are some who have made up rules about who can wear what tartans... but it's really mostly bunk. (IE: You have no right to wear your mother's tartan unless you've taken her name.) That kind of thing is silly. Most people like to wear their clan tartans though. But I prefer the district tartan from where some of my forebears came from.

it is kinda dumb how some appoint themselves as "kilt police"...but there are only a very few tartans which DO require special permission to wear. but they are mostly corporate or privately own tartans. (I.E. the Irn-Bru Tartan owned by the A.G. Barr company in Scotland.)

but there is an amount of inner pride wearing the tartan associated with your particular clan or family.

And if you REALLY want to go conservative, there are some really nice wool tweed 3 piece kilt suits available.