Share your kilt reaction stories

[OC Richard]

In Switzerland we don't have piper regiments.

General public cannot differentiate if I have Black Watch regiments buttons or RRS buttons on my tunic. They will not be able to tell the difference between a Black Watch tartan or a Royal Stewart tartan...

It's like that here in the USA also. Since we don't have kilted regiments nobody knows or cares if you're wearing regimental items when kilted.

For me when I'm out kilted playing the pipes despite "the public" not knowing if I'm playing the pipes well or badly, or dressed well or badly, I know. Like most musicians I'm my own harshest critic.

Yes, the tunic is kept neutral. All chevrons, insignias have been removed.

That's probably best.

There's an interesting exception, the longstanding practice in Scotland for the Pipe Majors of civilian bands wearing military-style dress to wear the four chevrons of the office of Pipe Major. Those chevrons are indicating only that the person is functioning as Pipe Major. They're not claiming military rank.

Here's a nice Scottish example of a civilian pipe band wearing military-style Full Dress, avoiding military badges, sporrans, doublets, etc. Still, the Pipe Major wears the chevrons of his office.

No sgian dubh, no dirk either. That's forbidden.

It's pretty much like that here too. It varies by State and venue, and so many venues here have a "zero tolerance policy" regarding weapons of any sort that the easiest path is to leave the Sgian at home.