To kilt in modern north american society

[matt.mackinnon]

It is rather funny that my town that I live in was very much founded and inhabited by manly european immigrants and there is a large historic contingency of Scottish heritage here. Yet I am left to feel like there is something wrong with me if I don a kilt and walk down the street. Perhaps my wife is a social prude and gives me nothing but grief saying that I am trying to make a spectacle of myself for wearing clothing that is part of my heritage. I find it ironic that she and other community members doesn't have anything to say when a Sikh wears a robe and tuban, or Muslims walk around in a Najib. But a Scot wearing a kilt is just someone trying to draw attention to themselves and must be commented on.

I am curious if this is common around the X-Mark community, or if I just have the pleasure of being the ground breaker in my town.

[Father Bill]

To wear a kilt takes nerve; it's not the "norm". While the societies you mention have a small group who also wear their traditional clothing, Scots in general only do so at specific "dress" occasions, thus, you're left as a singleton.

My own experience when I've worn it around town has been totally positive, but yes, I still have some of that feeling.

[Tarheel]

I too have found that our community is some what receptive to heritage clothing. However here at the Univ. of Miss. the foreign students wear modern American clothes to socially fit in. When I wear my kilt out and about, there is a revival of customary clothes for a while and then things return to jeans and t-shirts quickly. I don't feel peer pressure or disapproval to my being kilted (except that my wife still doesn't like it). But I believe a trend could be established if more men wore kilts often.

[ratspike]

As a rule, wearing a kilt is going to be as big a deal as you make it. It's an unusual thing to see a guy wearing pretty much anywhere, so people are going to notice and that's just what it is. If other people's comments and actions are making you feel that there's something wrong with you, based solely on what you choose to wear, then you'll need to get over it IMO. I've endured my share of snickering and pointing and stupid remarks and honestly, I don't care. Wearing a kilt makes me happy, it doesn't hurt anybody, and I've got two middle fingers for anyone who has a problem with that.

Getting comfortable with wearing a kilt can be a big hurdle for some guys, but the more you do it the easier it gets and the more natural and normal you'll feel. Being comfortable means being confident, and being confident makes all the difference in the world.

As for your wife, that's a bummer for sure. Almost every guy I know who wears a kilt has a significant other who's very enthusiastic about it, but others not so much. Could be that she'll come around as she gets used to it, or at least stop giving you a hard time about it.

[Taskr]

Your wife might simply be noticing that other women are noticing

Kilting has become almost the habit of throwing on a pair of pants. Maybe moreso now that I find myself having to make myself wear a pair of pants. Finally saw another kilt (utility) in my little city other than at a Gala. Maybe with them being seen "on a regular day" more often, others will take theirs off the hangers too. I'm with you; since its worn as it is intended to be (not a made-up costume or parody piece) there is absolutely nothing wrong with wearing Scots garb along with those that wear their tradtional and religious garb every day. In fact, more of us should be joining them rather than the throngs that complain about it.

I do get the spousal approval angle though. Mine has finally admitted its not that she minds the kilt being worn more often, its just that she sometimes perfers the backside of my jeans to the swish of a kilt. I couldn't argue on that one.

[Geoff Withnell]

I recognize that some people make snide comments about the kilt. These people are in the minority, and are motivated by their own insecurity. Wear it with pride and ignore them, and you will be amazed at how little such folks matter. Many others will admire your self confidence.

[McMurdo]

I wore the kilt daily for 5 years in Toronto, just down the QEW a ways. Yes I was the only one doing it that I knew of but it was well worth it. As a result I have become far more comfortable in the kilt and far more knowledgeable about my heritage. After a while everyone just accepted me as the guy in the kilt. When I first started I had some rude comments however years later all I seem to get are compliments. If you are in Toronto for the first Tuesday of a month you should consider coming out to Tartan Tuesday at the Caledonian Pub. Here is the photolog thread

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...oto-log-87610/

If you and your wife do come out, it will serve to show that there are others not so far away that celebrate their heritage in the same way.

[Grizzled Ian]

I have felt completely comfortable wearing kilts during my two visits to N America, from rural WV and BC to NYC. Except while driving, when I typically sit in the drivers seat for 8 or 10 hours in a day, and I don't want to subject any kilt to that amount of abuse.

I have been in Toronto, McMurdo, though I drove straight through on 401 and didn't stop, so you'll have to explain what "QEW" signifies, please.

WV: West Virginia
BC: British Columbia
NYC: New York City

[Father Bill]

Queen Elizabeth Way QEW - the highway between Toronto, Hamilton, and Niagara.

[MinusHD]

I might be cautious to compare a kilt with a turban or hajib. One must admit that turbans and hajibs are commonly worn in contemporary culture as a sign of adherence to religious practices in many parts of the world, including North America. The kilt, while it has a rich cultural significance, is not worn as a symbol of religious practice (to my understanding). Nor is it commonly worn in contemporary culture in North America, or even in Scotland. There is a difference.

I don't say that with any disrespect... or to diminish the importance of the kilt's place in the world, or our collective appreciation of it.

As I have used the word "religious", I may be close to violating a forum rule. So let's not go any further down that road. I'm just putting my 2 cents out there as it relates to the comparison that was made by the OP. If my understanding is mistaken I'd be happy to be corrected, lest I find myself being ignorantly mistaken.