nervous in my kilt

[werewolves]

So cool and ballzy! So, how was the reception with the Metallica crowd? I would imagine that you fit in just fine with a UK.

Most people ignored it. Got a few odd looks. One girl told me I was her hero. It was Seattle, so I even saw another guy in a UK as well.

I wore it to another Metallica concert about a year later (10th friggin' row, Godsmack opened for them, ooohhh yeah ). Ran into a guy from work there who had no idea I wore kilts. He told me later that he had never respected me more than that day. And he's a cop.

[McNulty]

You only need three things to wear a kilt anywhere... Confidence, Confidence, and Confidence. You will develop it as you wear your kilt more, and to different places/ situations. My first time out kilted was to take a hiking trail near the home that nobody travels, dreading the idea that I may run into someone and having to endure the "comments" about my kilt. I did run into another person and he turned out to be a piper and his only comment was for me to get a better sporran. My real test was the first time I was to go kilted to school. The very thought of walking down the hall with all of the students truly got me nervous and it took me 10-15 minutes to get up the courage just to get out of the car to walk the "gauntlet". I did, wear a kilt every Friday ( our dress down day), and have not looked back since.
Wear the kilt proud, wear it as often as you can, and your Confidence will grow. My students now expect me to be kilted on Fridays.
Nulty

Some classroom shots.


"And I, I took the road less traveled by
And that has made all the difference."
Robert Frost

[neeah613l]

Allow a girl to assure you that kilts are verrrry attractive! Just thought I'd add that!

[English Bloke]

I'm 50 years old... I really don't give a rat's *** what other people think.

What a brilliant quote... I fully concur. I'm new to kilts too and hold exactly that opinion. On my first trip out kilted, I was in a shop with my lovely wife and an older Gentleman who was sitting waiting for his wife took a look at me and stiffled a laugh. I looked him straight in the eyes and smiled a weary smile back, without the smiling eyes if you know what I mean, as though acknowledging an old, heard it before, not very funny joke. He looked away sheepishly realising he'd been caught and there was no further eye contact there-after. I even walked past him a couple of times more to make sure. I think he clearly realised it might be his problem and not mine or perhaps he just didn't fancy engaging in debate with a bloke who's 6' 1, 16 stone (224lbs) and not apparently phased while wearing a dress (his opinion possibly). I think it's important though that you are not unkind to people who see kilts as unusual and who react with sniggers or spontaneous witty comments. They are undoubtably uncomfortable with you and therefore defencive. It is better to educate than retaliate in most situations unless of course they're getting physical, in which case that's different and probably calls for a more robust approach.

:buttkick:

By the way McNulty... That's a fantastic Sporran you have there!

[McNulty]

Thanx English Bloke!
I took the old pipers advice and got a better one. Donnie at wyvernleather.com did a great job.
Nulty

[Cavebear58]

You just have to exude confidence. I have had very few negative comments made to me whilst kilted. If I remember correctly almost all of those comments were made behind my back.

I'm sure that's absolutely right, but about ten years ago now, I was walking to an appointment at 4pm in Central London, when I was aware of a rushing noise behind me, spun around and realised that four youths were running after me with every intention of mugging me. I was wearing a blazer and jeans at the time.

More by luck than any other skill, some basic judo training (something I gave up as a teenager about 25 years before) suddenly came from the recesses of my mind, and I managed to drop two of them and deflect the other two. This, of course, annoyed them, and so they then picked up some bits of road works barrier and some bottles and tried using these on me. Fortunately, I was reasonably fit (and I suspect that they weren't) and I managed to run out of reach before they did any damage. Needless to say, the police never caught them!

Now, despite not having been hurt... Indeed, knowing that two of them would have been more bruised than I was... I am still quite reluctant to do anything that draws attention to myself, even if I'm not wearing the kilt.

So, tonight I arrived somewhere I'd expect there to be a number of kilt wearers, and yet there weren't. I went for a walk around the blocks looking in shops windows etc, and got a few more-than-glances from a handful of mature adults. Two little girls had a laugh and giggle. But when I realised I was walking towards a group of youths who seemed quite boistrous, I decided to turn and head the other way.

This got me quite wound up, and so, instead of going to a restaurant for supper (they were all beginning to thin out and so I'd have made a bit of an impact entering), I found a take away (where I got lots of looks) and then headed back to my room.

I know it sounds a bit wimpish, and I realise that it's all in the head (heck I'm a psychotherapist!) but that doesn't make it any easier!

Cheers, Graham.

[Mair of the Tribe of Mar]

The very first time that I went out kilted, I was passed by a guy who had turned his head to look at something across the street and when he turned back he noticed me walking towards him. He exclaimed in a loud voice, "A Kilt! That is the f*(&$)# manliest thing I have seen all day." And gave me a high five as we crossed. Ever since that point I have remembered that the kilt is the "manliest thing" anybody has ever seen in general public.

People around us can sense our confidence. If we walk and carry ourselves with confidence while wearing the kilt, or any other time for that matter, the general masses will pass by without a second thought. Other than, "that's... thing ever"

Peace and Harmony,
Jason

[Dukeof Kircaldy]

I was walking to THE Glenlivet Tasting I mentioned in the events section and pretty much received approval from everyone. One woman even said out loud that it looked good.

The only "drawback" was being asked THE QUESTION, Ricky (THE Glenlivet Rep) and I had a good time with the woman who was brazen enough to ask.

I would prefer to go to Scottish events though than just wear the kilt, unless I am in the Highlands. No problem then--I will wear away!

[Donnie]

Being nervous is quite normal. Adopt a very proud posture. Head up, back straight, look everyone in the eye and SMILE! Enjoy the FREEDOM! It does get easier, the more you do it!

[Windwalker]

I would second all of the above advice. I got my first UK in July and wore it to a Queensryche concert, the next day. My wife found the UK site a couple of years ago and I have wanted one ever since. We made a trip to Seattle before the show to get it. I walked into the store, told the gent there that I was here to get a UK, picked out a Choc Workman. Funny thing is they do not have a fitting room, the gent determines your size, picks one off the rack, has you turn to face away from the door. Opens the UK, steps up behind you and says drop 'em, he then wraps it around you and you snap it up. No problem for me, wore it out of the store, and the rest of the weekend. Lots of compliments from men as well as the Ladies, as a matter of fact, the first comment and high five was from a lady gotta love that. I actually wore it to work on Friday. Just keep wearing it and you will get more comfortable with the idea. Wear it like you have been wearing all your life! By the way I am 47, and am now planning several more both UK's and Trads as well.