American tourists in Scotland

[Frank McGrath]

This is a question posed to those members that live in Scotland.

How are American tourists seen by the people of the land? If american tourists are kilted, how are they treated? Generalities will be fine. I have a friend planning a trip to Scotland and he wants to know how americans are received. Thanks

[Redshank]

from my perspective, if the tourist chooses to wear a kilt when on holiday in Scotland, he should wear an 8 yard wool kilt with knife pleats, coloured hose worn with flashes, a day sporran, shirt, and fleece or other comfy jacket, not a pc, tweed jacket would be best, leave the ghillie brofgues at home, he should relax and enjoy himself, he should wear the kilt as if he has worn nothing but the kilt, and he will fit in just fine.
No animosity will be shown, he will be made to feel very welcome.

[Jock Scot]

This is a question posed to those members that live in Scotland.

How are American tourists seen by the people of the land? If american tourists are kilted, how are they treated? Generalities will be fine. I have a friend planning a trip to Scotland and he wants to know how americans are received. Thanks

With open arms. Delighted to see you.

Scots are quite reserved, but generally speaking they are immensely courteous,but on occasion their dry sense of humour can turn into a storm, particularly, if the kilt is not worn correctly. I know some may say otherwise, but stick with a tartan kilt.If your friend is planning to be up in the Inverness/Fort William area and needs a few ideas, then do get in touch.

[Lachlan09]

Funny you should mention that.

About 20 odd years ago, my good friend, Neil Shaw, son of Rt Rev Duncan Shaw (past Moderator of the Gen. Assbly of the C of S), visited the States, including the South West (may have been Texas). When he first arrived in NYC from the UK, he was in his kilt etc and also had a brief-case and much to his surprise, no-one really batted an eyelid. When he returned to NYC from the south West, he was wearing a rather fine Stetson, fine boots and a business suit, together with that brief-case. This time, plenty people turned their heads !

[auld argonian]

While I can't speak from firsthand experience, I would point out that people tend to "roll their eyes" at anyone who is dressed even slightly off the norm wherever you go. This exceptions to this might be those tight-@$$ places where they freak out and arrest you if you appear in public in shorts and a t-shirt (think certain places in the Middle East and possibly Singapore where it's apparently illegal to chew gum in public).

I live in Chicago - the South Side, specifically - and I get a lot of comments about wearing the kilt. But it's not just the kilt...for example, I knew and art director who went out to someplace in Colorado and went "cowboy" and came back wearing one of those huge cowboy hats that only tourists buy...I can't tell you how many smart-*** comments I heard people make behind his back. Wasn't like he was dressing like Bronco Billy...he just found a hat that he liked and enjoyed wearing it. Having red hair and blue eyes, I have to cover up and stay out of the sun...thus I have taken to wearing fedoras and panama hats a whole lot...you would think that these wouldn't draw too much attention but they're not the norm so I get a lot of second looks just when wearing those. There was a time when everybody wore hats like these; now they wear baseball caps so the fedoras are unusual.

Speaks a lot to the homogenization of culture (and you though that it was only milk!). A commentator that I heard a couple of years ago said that wherever you go, when you walk out of the hotel all you see is the same restaurants...all are franchises...and you can't tell where you are because everyplace looks the same. Same with clothing. Has a lot to do with the increasingly creeping trend toward everything being casual...all over the world people are wearing what used to be their workout clothes and beachwear wherever they go. It's frickin' MARCH in CHICAGO...it's maybe forty degrees fahrenheit out there and already these mokes are running around in their shorts and flip-flops. I guarantee you that there are people running around in St. Petersburg, Russia dressed the SAME WAY right now. It's GLOBAL.

All of this by way of saying that we have established, thanks to our kind forum members who live in Scotland, that Scots usually reserve their kilt wearing to special occasions and, thus, casual kilting is now not the norm so the average citizen is going to stop and ask "who is this guy and why is he dressed up?". Given the tendency that we Americans seem to have to over do it and scrupulously match our kilt hose with our shirts, no surprise that it might be apparent that we "aren't from around here" and thus elicit the odd "eye roll" from the locals. I have to think that the reason why the Colonials are grilling the native Scots so intensely over in the "Traditional Highland Dress" threads is because they want to adjust their wardrobes so that they don't stick out in a Highland crowd.

I would hope, though, that whoever goes anywhere and dresses "not the norm" is greeted with warmth and their good intentions are recognized. I don't think that anybody ever really does a thing like that intending to ridicule a culture...they may be a bit overzealous in their desire to fit in but I'm sure that the locals (of whatever locality) will be sympathetic.

So if any of you Scots are coming over here to Chicago and want to fit in, leave the kilts at home and pack your t-shirts, camp shorts and flip-flops...

Best

AA

[thescot]

Generally they are seen as foreigners, even those who happen to be of Scots descent. An American who wears the kilt in Scotland is usually looked at in the same manner that a Scotsman might be viewed from an American standpoint were he to travel to Texas dressed up in a 10 gallon hat, Western style shirt, dinner-plate size belt-buckle, chaps, cowboy boots and spurs.

My, my. I guess that when I visited Scotland, I really was a foreigner. Afterall, I was not from Scotland. You do make a cogent point.

However, I was treated much more pleasantly than your words would suggest. My acquaintances there always treated me well. I shall be sure not to seek you out on my next visit so that my experiences continue to be pleasant. Assuming, that is, that you actually live in Scotland.

Wearing a kilt is in no way akin to wearing a ten-gallon hat. People in Texas don't wear ten-gallon hats. Or chaps. Or dinner-plate sized belt-buckles. That is a ridiculous comparison that tends to remove any validity from your argument.

But then, I don't really believe that your argument was ever intended to be serious, just insulting.

Since, as pointed out in another post, you have chosen not to introduce yourself or post any relavant detail about yourself on your profile, you might like to do so now. Since your posts tend to be somewhat contentious, bordering on the rude, we would like to know a bit more about so that we can be sure that you are not simply a flamer spreading discontent. It is obvious that you will defend an indefensible position ad absurtum with no concern for facts, logic, or reason, so tell us about yourself. Inquiring minds want to know.

Are you really from Scotland? Where? At least tell us that so that I will personally know where to avoid on my next trip to collect that whisky from Jock Scot.

I will be the fellow in the Robertson tartan drinking Jock Scot's whisky and laughing at people who take themselves seriously.

[thescot]

My intention was not to be insulting, just factual. . . .

Then you missed out. Perhaps you might try again.

As for my identity, that is neither here nor there.

Au contraire, mon frer. It is both here and there. Who one is is everything. Especially if one is going to take others to task and express a level of expertise on any subject. I might offer you my opinions on your need for heart surgery, but, having no expertise or training, you would be well-advised to ignore my words.

And more especially when one enters another's "home" and begins commenting on the furnishings and its occupants, one might think about one's place in the sitting room. Some of us have been here quite some time, and we have come to know each other and understand each other and become something likes friends. And we disagree and argue and make wagers, but we know each other. And the makes it OK.

We are all aware that the kilt is not usually worn in Scotland, but it is worn, and--except for you--my Scot friends have all said that they appreciate an American wearing a kilt in their country. In fact, I have been assured by folks who are not hidden that one is well accepted in a kilt when visiting--with certain caveates.

I think you may be trolling here, so I shall depart form this fray.

[KiltedKnome]

When Steve and I visited Scotland last year from Canada, he wore the kilt 100%. He was definitely noticed (but then, isn't this the goal of all kilt wearers?), but was never treated as an odd ball. Quite a few older women came up to him and complimented him on how he looked, and remarked that they would like to see more men in kilts. Remarkably, most of the people who did approach him were surprised that he was not Scottish. Now, he wore only tartan kilts with knife pleats, so I am not sure what the reaction would have been if he wore a less traditional looking kilt. Also, we did not manage to get to the more northern regions of Scotland, so perhaps the reaction would have been different there.

[Jock Scot]

When Steve and I visited Scotland last year from Canada, he wore the kilt 100%. He was definitely noticed (but then, isn't this the goal of all kilt wearers?), but was never treated as an odd ball. Quite a few older women came up to him and complimented him on how he looked, and remarked that they would like to see more men in kilts. Remarkably, most of the people who did approach him were surprised that he was not Scottish. Now, he wore only tartan kilts with knife pleats, so I am not sure what the reaction would have been if he wore a less traditional looking kilt. Also, we did not manage to get to the more northern regions of Scotland, so perhaps the reaction would have been different there.

I think on the mainland of northern Scotland the reaction will be exactly the same, apart from the midgie season, where wearing the kilt outdoors would be regarded as decidedly foolhardy, nothing would be said as you would find out why, in a very short time! On the Western and Northern Isles the wind is often a problem for kilt wearers of any nation.

[seanachie]

from my perspective, if the tourist chooses to wear a kilt when on holiday in Scotland, he should wear an 8 yard wool kilt with knife pleats, coloured hose worn with flashes, a day sporran, shirt, and fleece or other comfy jacket, not a pc, tweed jacket would be best, leave the ghillie brofgues at home, he should relax and enjoy himself, he should wear the kilt as if he has worn nothing but the kilt, and he will fit in just fine.
No animosity will be shown, he will be made to feel very welcome.

What would be the reaction to a nice kilt but box pleated instead of knife pleated? I can't think of a good analogy but, some people hate double breasted jackets and others really like them. I am just trying to understand the Scotch perspective. Is is "not my cup of tea" or a more visceral reaction? My knowledge is cursory but I have read a few threads which seem to point out there is great tradition to the box pleat.

What is the reaction to more modern kilts? I mean, there are some rather nice modern kilts that aren't tat. Using the example of the manual trades like brick layers and the like. I have seen some of these guys wearing kilts like Utilikilts and the like with boots. Given the nature of the work, it makes total sense to me. I don't percieve it as an insult to the wondrous craftsment of Scotland that make hand made, hand sewn kilts. But from a Scotch perspective might it be viewed that way?

Let me make clear I am interested in learning and have no formed opinions, just wanting to understand a different perspective.