I’ve not been active here for quite some time, but I return today to present a conundrum to the rabble for input:

I am an American citizen that would wear kilts fairly often in the States who has now moved to Scotland last September. I brought my small kilt collection with me, but - in all transparency - I have thus far not actually been brave enough to wear them.

You see, when I moved here, I intended to assimilate with a new culture. I want to make Scotland my home. I don’t want to be “that American” who came here with tartan coloured glasses on expecting Scotland to be mainly Nessie, haggis, kilts, castles, or any other stereotype shown in the windows of any Princes Street tourist shop.

I want to be seen not as a joke, but as one paying homage to a country, people, history, and heritage that I love. Ideally, this would include being able to wear my kilts from time to time without feeling like folks are expecting me to queue up for the next Outlander bus tour; or rolling their eyes at the pretentious US expat in a kilt.

Can anyone else relate? Any advice for helping me once again kilt up with confidence?

Thanks in advance!
Adam


PS Reach out if you’re near Edinburgh! Maybe a kilted outting with a local might be just the ticket for my waning confidence! ;)