Contemporary vs. Traditional Kilt Perceptions?

[Nighthawk]

Ghostlight,
Wearing a kilt is sociological research!
I have made the above observations over the last several years. At one time I was keeping a chart going by the comments and the commenter. The above is kind of a summary. Things evolve.. Recently several teen Sub Saharan ancestored males have stopped me to ask about the kilt and its history. I have been given many thumbs up from the teens with the low hanging trousers. All this very very recently.

I agree totally! Wearing the kilt is a good way to determine the true character of the people around you. The one person I thought would be most supportive, as he claims to believe in individual expression and diversity and all that, in truth turned out to be the most negative person. He has all kinds of piercings and tats and talks about how he will never conform to what other people want, and then he tells me "quit wearing a dress!" every chance he gets. On the other hand, my company owners, whom I always thought of as stuffy conformists, actually get a little upset on the rare occasions that I wear something other than a kilt. One of them has told me that clients have commented that I add a touch of class to the office.

So onto the real topic- I have one Amerikilt in black and I have 7 tartan kilts, and the AK and my saffron get more attention because they're solid colors and people aren't used to that. My tartan kilts seem to be taken more in stride.

[ghostlight]

...The one person I thought would be most supportive, as he claims to believe in individual expression and diversity and all that, in truth turned out to be the most negative person...

Funny you should mention that. The most surprised response (I'm not sure I'd go as far as to say it was negative, just surprised) I've gotten to my UKs was from a guy at work who claims to be very open-minded. He quickly progressed through uncomfortable smirking and then went back to acting normally after a few hours of adjustment time. Now he tells me he thinks it's cool that I have the confidence to wear the kilt.

Some of the people I thought might have been the most shocked made no more mention of it than a smile and a quick compliment.

I've had a few people do a double-take and then tell me they liked my kilt, but they thought I was wearing athletic shorts from a distance because I looked too comfortable (still not sure what that meant).

I have yet to see any reactions that I would classify as negative.

[Semiomniscient]

I have yet to see any reactions that I would classify as negative.

I only wear a "traditional" tartan kilt and have all my life. No one has ever said anything negative about it to my face (although some of those ignorant folks do give the normal "whaaa?" looks). However, concerning the Utilikilts... I've heard negative things said about them, but I know that none that I overheard were going to make a negative remark to the person wearing them. It's not typical that some one is comfortable enough to criticize a stranger about their mode of dress, but more are comfortable in complimenting.
Personally, I don't like the look of the Utilikilts. I think pockets on a kilt look weird... And don't get me wrong, I'm all for solid color kilts--that's just as Scottish as tartan kilts. But just because I am against Utilikilts as "Highland Attire", I'm not going to go up to someone at the Highland Games in Louisiana or Stone Mountain and tell them they aren't wearing Scottish attire. It's you're own thing I suppose. My biggest issue with the UK's is when they are passed off as Scottish dress.

[Bugbear]

...
It's not typical that some one is comfortable enough to criticize a stranger about their mode of dress, but more are comfortable in complimenting.

Welcome to X Marks the Scot.

Don't forget that people may be laughing at those who don't quite fit in in their way of dress. In another thread ridicule was said to be "The Perfect Crime..."
Here's a link to the post which is in a thread about white tie events in a kilt.
https://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/showthread.php?p=500413
And I'm just joking with you a little. That post is by MacMillan of Rathdown, and he is a very knoledgable member of the forum. Hope you enjoy it here.

[Semiomniscient]

Hehe...
It's true though. If you follow the rules, you don't really get that much attention. I think the whole reason some things are done is because it's breaking the rules... (leather kilts for example). They look like they're worn for shock effect. :-)

[sharpdressedscot]

Yeah, but sometimes breaking the rules is a fun thing to do!! Muahahaha!!

Besides I love to have a leather kilt!

[Semiomniscient]

Sure, people love leather pants too. But you won't catch me wearing any! ;-)
I also think there might be a difference between rule breaking and not playing by the rules. For instance, someone wearing a ultilikilt doesn't have to follow any of the Highland Dress "rules" because they aren't wearing Highland dress, so it's all a matter of whatever they want, unconstrained even by tradition.