The way kilts are perceived

**Kiltedmusiclover** · 2nd March 04, 07:31 PM

Originally Posted by highlandtide

Where in NC are you again Nelson?

Rutherfordton-Near Lake Lure and Chimney Rock,
about an hour southeast of Asheville, 30 miles east of Hendersonville,
about 45 minutes north of Spartanburg, SC, about an hour west of Charlotte.
I use the distance from other cities as we are
close to the middle of nowhere.

Actually I do love it hear. I'm an 30 minutes from
the mountains and 4.5 hours from the ocean.

Nelson

**highlandtide** · 2nd March 04, 07:56 PM

Nice. I know the area. We were at the Foothills Games this past year and will be back. You will have to come by and hang out.

...

**Kiltedmusiclover** · 2nd March 04, 08:14 PM

Will Do, but I think I will get to meet you before then. I plan on having a tent set up for Clan
Wallace at the Clover Games in June. Did you
ever get anything worked out with Loch Norman?
I feel sure I'll be there at least one day.

Nelson

**Mr. Kilt** · 2nd March 04, 10:37 PM

Originally Posted by Graham

Better do as you're told then Al, don't want to dissappoint the lassies do we!

We most certainly don't! These are biker women! LOL
I'm not sure what my wife will think about all the attention, but hopefully by then she'll be used to it.

Over the Easter weekend in April my wife and I are travelling to Vancouver Island to meet the daughter I gave up for adoption 20 years ago. It will be our first meeting, and I'm hoping to wear my kilt while we're out there. She thinks it's cool that I wear one.

**philbo** · 2nd March 04, 10:55 PM

I must admit that part of the reason that I wear a kilt is for the attention I get. If everybody wore kilts, they probably wouldn't be much fun for me to wear. I generally expect heads to turn and rumors to circulate every time I make an apearance. Some reactions are positive, some are negative, but for the most part I look forward to public reaction. It's a good way to meet people and possibly convince them to wear a kilt at least once in their lives.

**Graham** · 3rd March 04, 12:31 AM

Not me Philbo, I'm happiest at Highland games when every man and his dog are wearing kilts and I don't get a second look, but I'm confident enought to handle being a "pioneer" in our area also.

There is no danger of kilts becoming so common that you won't get the attention you need

**Rhino** · 3rd March 04, 01:16 AM

As I posted in the thread 'kilts to work', the most negative reaction I get is from my boss. Everywhere else it's really good. The first time I wore it was in the middle of Chesterfield, a town not noted for it's liberalism and had many positive reactions including one from a chap who sidled up to say 'You've got b---s of steel'. At least I've thought of it as positive

I have said this before but I'm sure if you're confident no-one will cause a problem. I think someone famous said 'if you can't wear a kilt with confidence DON'T wear one!'
Cheers Rhino

**Brasilikilt** · 3rd March 04, 05:02 AM

Hello all

I come from an area where there's a large amount of liberally minded people. (Keep Portland weird!) There's also a lot of enthusiasm towards everything celtic, so almost every reaction to the kilt is positive.
I went to my favourite Irish pub down the street and was invited to sit down with a guy who was wearing full regalia,he had just come back from some kilted dinner or something and it was excellent to talk with him about different aspects of kiltdom. My wife made sure to film him as it was obvious he payed very close attention to all the details.
People here who I normally would expect to react unfavourably (Older conservative looking folks) actually treat it like more of a light-hearted curiosity more than anything else.
It also helps that Utilikilt is based out of Seattle, a few hours drive north, so people here know about them a little more than they would in other parts of the country I would imagine.

I get little kids in the store saying things like "A man in a DRESS!?!?!" before their mothers embarassingly hush them up, I make sure to give them an "It's okay" smile.
I haven't run into any other person on the street wearing a modern kilt while wearing my own. I'm sure that will change.
I'll be in Portland for the week long St Patrick's day fest,where I had my very first Utilikilt sighting, a guy was wearing a tan kilt which I assumed was some kind of military kilt, but after asking him, he explained that it was a Utilikilt.

Here's a question: What kind of reaction should I expect from the traditionalists to a younger guy wearing a modern kilt?
I know that reactions will vary for each individual, but I'd like to hear people's thoughts here first.
I already know that MY response to¨some negative reactions will be simple:

You must first learn to ride a Honda before you ride a Harley.....

Okay.....I think this does it
Bye
Brasilikilt

**aikinut** · 3rd March 04, 07:23 AM

Originally Posted by richardljohnson

The next comment was from a man in the video store. I was wearing one of my camo kilts and he said that he had never seen a camoflauge kilt.

When I get that one I reply "you're not supposed to. It's camouflage."

**aikinut** · 3rd March 04, 07:39 AM

Originally Posted by Brasilikilt

I already know that MY response to¨some negative reactions will be simple:

You must first learn to ride a Honda before you ride a Harley.....

That wouldn't be my reaction. Mine would be more along the lines of "I'm not trying to ride a Harley, I'm trying to drive to work." By this I mean that a traditional kilt is for one set of circumstances, a non-traditional kilt is for another. I could ride a Harley to work, but for me it's not the best thing for getting to work every single day. It's uncomfortable in cold or rain, and I like to listen to the radio or a CD on the way to work. I could wear an 8-yard wool tartan kilt to work or the grocery store, but for me it's not the best thing for the job.

Personally though, I've never had a negative reaction from someone else wearing a kilt. At least, not to my face.