Kilted US expat in Scotland needing advice

[ThreeGs]

Just wear one tartan.

I'd be interested to hear a bit more about this tip/guideline.
Do you mean one clan tartan?
I'd like to be able to eventually branch out into special interest tartans like the State of Maine.

-edited to add-
It has occurred to me that you may have been meaning to say only wear one tartan in the same outfit. That I get.

[Jock Scot]

I'd be interested to hear a bit more about this tip/guideline.
Do you mean one clan tartan?
I'd like to be able to eventually branch out into special interest tartans like the State of Maine.

Well the original poster, a stranger, within his present locality appeared to want a low key, softly softly approach to gain confidence with him wearing the kilt in "unknown" surroundings in the heart of "kilt country". So it seemed obvious to me, as an insider, to advise accordingly.

Generally speaking the locals would probably not own a kilt. Yes! There are exceptions. So this "outsider" who will probably stand out within his chosen community with his accent AND wearing the kilt. So he will be noticed.Tartan collections in kilt form is not a common trend here. So his softly softly approach will in time, I hope, pay dividends. Once the locals have got used to the "Yank with the kilt" wandering around, then with luck, his growing confidence with wearing the kilt within the locality will soon allow him to venture further and further into "kilt Country".

Good luck to him , I say.

[Jock Scot]

I'd be interested to hear a bit more about this tip/guideline.
Do you mean one clan tartan?
I'd like to be able to eventually branch out into special interest tartans like the State of Maine.

-edited to add-
It has occurred to me that you may have been meaning to say only wear one tartan in the same outfit. That I get.

No and to be quite clear, I meant ......"wear ONE tartan made into ONE kilt." Thats it.

[OC Richard]

I meant "wear ONE tartan made into ONE kilt."

I wouldn't imagine it would be improper to own a couple kilts in different colour-schemes of the same tartan.

[Jock Scot]

Sigh, sigh and thrice sigh!

Certainly not improper, but possibly unwise. The point that I am trying to make is that I am trying to suggest that hurrying slowly with just ONE kilt to start with, might be the wisest course. Remember, many kilt wearing Scots have just one kilt and anything more might be regarded as ostentatious, which I am suggesting is not the impression that our friend wants to make with his near neighbours, when starting out on his kilt wearing journey in Scotland.

I am trying to avoid the “loud American syndrome” that visitors probably don’t notice, but a resident American could well, unwittingly experience. So yes, I do suggest , “one tartan, one kilt” to start with.

To the OP’s credit, in the first post in this thread, he is well aware of the possible pitfalls of him wearing the kilt in Scotland and presumably and very sensibly, that is why he posted the question.

[SoulFyre777]

Yes - Sleeveless pullover was the term I was searching for. Still working on expanding my vernacular.

I have three kilts, but I primarily wear an Isle of Skye 13oz 8 yard kilt. I will stick to just the one for the time being.

As it happens, a friendly local XMarks member has reached out via DM after reading this thread. And it turns out that we are only about 6 miles from each other so we have penciled in plans for a kilted outing this coming weekend.

As it’s a bit cooler this week, I’m thinking I’ll go simple with just my Isle of Skye kilt, a light jumper, black or green hose (cause I do know better than cream or white! ), and — unless I can find some brogues between now and then — some nice boots.

Of course, should anyone ask me why I’m wearing a kilt, I’ll be sure to wax poetic about my Scottish ancestry, use the terms “Scottish” and “British” interchangeably, and quote Braveheart whenever possible.

[Jock Scot]

Yes - Sleeveless pullover was the term I was searching for. Still working on expanding my vernacular.

I have three kilts, but I primarily wear an Isle of Skye 13oz 8 yard kilt. I will stick to just the one for the time being.

As it happens, a friendly local XMarks member has reached out via DM after reading this thread. And it turns out that we are only about 6 miles from each other so we have penciled in plans for a kilted outing this coming weekend.

As it’s a bit cooler this week, I’m thinking I’ll go simple with just my Isle of Skye kilt, a light jumper, black or green hose (cause I do know better than cream or white! ), and — unless I can find some brogues between now and then — some nice boots.

Of course, should anyone ask me why I’m wearing a kilt, I’ll be sure to wax poetic about my Scottish ancestry, use the terms “Scottish” and “British” interchangeably, and quote Braveheart whenever possible.

Oh that’s good, well done.

Oh! And don’t forget the family tree document, the pictures of the family home taken four hundred years ago in Glen Wherever, when only two members of your Clan survived some bloody battle that no one has ever heard of, one from each side.....................and................don’t forget which member of the aristocracy that you are directly related to.

Sorry that’s very unfair, but its just a wee bit of fun payback for the all too many “tartan justification lectures” that I have suffered over the years!

[SoulFyre777]

Oh that’s good, well done.

Oh! And don’t forget the family tree document, the pictures of the family home taken four hundred years ago in Glen Wherever, when only two members of your Clan survived some bloody battle that no one has ever heard of, one from each side.....................and................don’t forget which member of the aristocracy that you are directly related to.

Sorry that’s very unfair, but it’s just a wee bit of fun payback for the all too many “tartan justification lectures” that I have suffered over the years!

Haha! Oh man, that sounds awful.

The irony is that I suspect all of that enthusiasm probably comes from a desire to fit in and prove how much they really care about (their likely limited and heavily nuanced idea of) Scotland.

Funny enough, I might even be able to relate a bit. When I call my folks back in the States, my own mother (who typically has a fairly thick Southern US drawl) can’t resist speaking at least a few sentences to me with what is meant to be a heavy Scottish accent.

I don’t know how to help her see that, in her attempt to connect with me via her stunted and narrow understanding of Scottish culture, she is effectively reducing my home to a caricature. Sigh.

I digress. My point is mainly to tip my hat to your humour and good nature at putting up with it for way longer than I have.

[Canadian Vet]

Oh that’s good, well done.

Oh! And don’t forget the family tree document, the pictures of the family home taken four hundred years ago in Glen Wherever, when only two members of your Clan survived some bloody battle that no one has ever heard of, one from each side.....................and................don’t forget which member of the aristocracy that you are directly related to.

Sorry that’s very unfair, but its just a wee bit of fun payback for the all too many “tartan justification lectures” that I have suffered over the years!

HEY!
I'm proud of my family crest with the three brass balls!

[Jock Scot]

.................



As it’s a bit cooler this week, I’m thinking I’ll go simple with just my Isle of Skye kilt, a light jumper, black or green hose (cause I do know better than cream or white! ), and — unless I can find some brogues between now and then — some nice boots.

...........

A wee bit of fine tuning! I would go with the green hose, if it were me.