Dylan,

Glad that you are still around.

Now to your quandry, granted a tartan is a wonderful garmet, but so are the solids. Since I have a couple of solids (both Utilikilts), I have never had anyone say negative things about them, unless they were drunk, and they would probably say negative things about the tartan. Many have expressed more how do they get a kilt like that, so it just may be another form of conversation.

As far as confidence, you have it! When one dons the kilt that shows more confidence than anything else. Those that complain do not have any self-confidence, that is why they may say some comments to try to belittle you. When one says anything against you, they just belittle themselves.

Go with which ever kilt YOU want.