First Time Out In Public With My Kilt

**jackson1863** · 5th October 07, 07:11 PM

Today my family went to a rather large fair in Winston Salem. I went kilted for the first time in public. I received numerous positive comments and no negative ones. A couple of guys asked where I bought my kilt (I wore an U.S. Army tartan Sport Kilt).

I ran into several friends who were surprised to see me in a kilt; however, they said it "looked good" on me.

I had a fellow veteran ask me what tartan I was wearing. Needless to say, my response sparked a conversation regarding our respective years of service.

For any newbies who are considering wearing a kilt in public and are experiencing "cold feet," I would say that I encountered easily a thousand people today and did not receive a single negative comment or remark from anyone.

I continue to appreciate this "kilted community" and the members who belong to it.

**Marshal Moroni** · 5th October 07, 07:57 PM

Jackson1836,

Congratulations on a good outing. I too am pretty new to the kilt. However, almost all experiences have been positive ones.

Every day wearing a kilt is a good day!

Cheers,

**Nighthawk** · 5th October 07, 10:55 PM

Originally Posted by jackson1863

Today my family went to a rather large fair in Winston Salem. I went kilted for the first time in public. I received numerous positive comments and no negative ones. A couple of guys asked where I bought my kilt (I wore an U.S. Army tartan Sport Kilt).

I ran into several friends who were surprised to see me in a kilt; however, they said it "looked good" on me.

I had a fellow veteran ask me what tartan I was wearing. Needless to say, my response sparked a conversation regarding our respective years of service.

For any newbies who are considering wearing a kilt in public and are experiencing "cold feet," I would say that I encountered easily a thousand people today and did not receive a single negative comment or remark from anyone.

I continue to appreciate this "kilted community" and the members who belong to it.

I went to the reenacments in Gettysburg kilted this summer in July (Pennsylvania in July in a wool kilt... dumb... I'm a mountain man- sue me!) and I had reenactors actually wanting to take pictures with me! It was awesome. People seem way more positive than negative.

**Riverkilt** · 6th October 07, 12:45 AM

Way to go Jackson 1863! Its all good.

I really like the Army tartan. While its meaningful from a service and veteran's aspect, its also a very dignified looking tartan...subtle but strong. I had mine made up in a USA Kilts semi-traditional. Wear it to work a lot because of that dignified look.

If your monitor is on, you might be able to see the bits of blue in the tartan. Subtle, but classy.

Ron

**cessna152towser** · 6th October 07, 02:05 AM

Yes, as you have found, Jackson, the kilt receives lots of positive attention, and as you wear it more often and gain confidence, hesitation about going kilted will no longer be an issue.

**jackson1863** · 6th October 07, 05:55 AM

Originally Posted by Riverkilt

I had mine made up in a USA Kilts semi-traditional. Wear it to work a lot because of that dignified look...If your monitor is on, you might be able to see the bits of blue in the tartan. Subtle, but classy.

Ron

The kilt looks great! I particularly like the blues, which are the same colors as Army dress blues.

I am not sure if you are a veteran (not that it matters regarding wearing the tartan). If you are, thank you for your service. If you are not, thank you for supporting the military heritage that the U.S. Army tartan represents by wearing the kilt.

The Army veterans of the McKnight family, going back to at least the 19th century and probably even earlier (I'm still doing the genealogical research), salute you!

**pipesndrumsnun** · 6th October 07, 07:09 AM

Congratulations on a great first outing!

**Riverkilt** · 6th October 07, 08:53 AM

Aye Jackson,

Was a Navy Marine kinda kid myself but two great great grandfathers fought for the blue side in Tennessee and defending Washington D.C., had a great Uncle in France for WWI, my father flew for the Army Air Corps in North Africa, and I was born in an Army Hospital (Craig Field, Alabama). The later gave me a great interest in things "Jacksonian."

One of my first "Kilt binges" was in camo kilts (tiger stripe, woodland, CADPAT, forest MARPAT, desert MARPAT, and desert camo) but out grew most of them.

Now seem to be entering a similar kilt binge on military tartan kilts (Royal Air Force, Leatherneck, U.S. Army, with a U.S. Navy on order).

Semper Fi,

Ron

**Nighthawk** · 6th October 07, 09:27 AM

Since we're on the topic- I had ancestors on both sides. I had Leddy's in the Irish Brigade in the South, and my great grandfather however many times removed was a colonel in one of the Ohio regiments. I'm a member of a reenactment group called the Renaissance Scots. I took Grandpa Wolfe's name my character name, and since I have all of his military regalia- his sword, musket, bayonet and all of his medals (including his officers hat sash) I use a dark ages Celtic sword, using the story that it had been passed down generatoinally to me. I mentioned this summer that I went to Gettysburg. I also went to Antietam. My dad got this pic of me in my AK. It seems appropriate to the conversation.

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l3...ishbrigade.jpg

And gentlemen- thank you for your service. I believe that you don't fully understand your rights in this or any other "free" society until you do something to earn them. I tried to join, but I have arthritis in my knee and I didn't make it past the physical.

**jackson1863** · 6th October 07, 09:32 AM

I appreciate the rich military heritage in your family and appreciate your sacrifice in defending our freedom.

I don't know if you are a reader, but I would recommend James Robertson's biography of "Stonewall" Jackson. He teaches at Virginia Tech and is an expert on Jackson.

I am also currently reading a book about the other Jackson (Andrew) by H.W. Brands which I would highly recommend.

Blessings,
Tim