So I was at the mall...

**jForrester** · 29th June 10, 05:31 PM

You remind me of an experience in Edinburgh. Our final day in Scotland on the last visit, Rachel and I had been at a black tie luncheon. After turning in our rental car, we arrived at the Witchery an hour early for our reservation. (We're still in formal attire, mind, me in Montrose doublet, kilt, decorations, etc., Rachel in cocktail dress.) With an hour to kill and a plane to catch the next day, Rachel suggested one last shopping browse of The Royal Mile. OK. She looks at me and says "Someone is going to want to take your picture." "Naw" says I. But sure enough, in the first shop, a couple of crazy Americans came up to me and asked "May we take your picture?" Putting on my best accent, I say "Sure, Lass, but would be better ootside again' the stone walls." After several snaps they asked me "Where are you from?" You should have seen their faces when I replied "South Carolina"!!

**Woot22** · 29th June 10, 05:43 PM

Originally Posted by jForrester

You remind me of an experience in Edinburgh. Our final day in Scotland on the last visit, Rachel and I had been at a black tie luncheon. After turning in our rental car, we arrived at the Witchery an hour early for our reservation. (We're still in formal attire, mind, me in Montrose doublet, kilt, decorations, etc., Rachel in cocktail dress.) With an hour to kill and a plane to catch the next day, Rachel suggested one last shopping browse of The Royal Mile. OK. She looks at me and says "Someone is going to want to take your picture." "Naw" says I. But sure enough, in the first shop, a couple of crazy Americans came up to me and asked "May we take your picture?" Putting on my best accent, I say "Sure, Lass, but would be better ootside again' the stone walls." After several snaps they asked me "Where are you from?" You should have seen their faces when I replied "South Carolina"!!

Hilarious and not an uncommon event on the Royal Mile.

**Downunder Kilt** · 29th June 10, 05:57 PM

I had a experience earlier this month when I came out of a supermarket in a less than solubrious part of town.
There was a gang of youths hanging around and when they saw me I got the "there's guy in a skirt routine" one of them asked why I was wearing a skirt and when I replied that nobody had made p**nts big enough to hold what I had down there and that's why I wore a kilt, they all laughed. They then all fired questions about the kilt, what do the colours mean, where was it made. I spent half an hour talking to them about the kilt and what it meant to me. I have been there a couple of times since and if they are around, and they usually are, nobody makes any negative comments. It's always "Hi Kiltman, got time for a chat.

**BoldHighlander** · 29th June 10, 06:09 PM

Originally Posted by Downunder Kilt

I had a experience earlier this month when I came out of a supermarket in a less than solubrious part of town.
There was a gang of youths hanging around and when they saw me I got the "there's guy in a skirts routine" one of them asked why I was wearing a skirt and when I replied that I nobody had made p**nts big enough to hold what I had down there and that's why I wore a kilt, they all laughed. They then all fired questions about the kilt, what do the colours mean, where was it made. I spent half an hour talking to them about the kilt and what it meant to me. I have be there a couple of times since and if they are around, and the usually are, nobody makes any negative comments. It's always "Hi Kiltman, got time for a chat.

Nice!

**Mike_Oettle** · 30th June 10, 02:09 PM

DownUnder and Tiny have good answers to those silly questions.
I haven’t had any of them in 32 years, as I have been kiltless for that stretch of time, but I am hopeful of owning one next year.
And Matt, those T-shirts are hilarious. I ought to get one . . . but then I don’t wear T-shirts all that often . . .
Regards,
Mike

**2176agp** · 30th June 10, 02:50 AM

Similar stuff happened to me last Sunday at Wal*Mart. We saw a co-worker who asked if I was 'coming back from something ethnic'. Stock answer, "no I just like to wear a kilt." I'm just waiting until word gets around work -- 'Oh my, Mildred, he was wearing a skirt! Said it was a kilt, but he's not Scottish!"

Then another guy stopped me and wanted to know what clan I was.

Finally, the cashier asked the obvious, prefaced with, "I hope you don't mind if I ask ...."

Originally Posted by jForrester

Putting on my best accent, I say "Sure, Lass, but would be better ootside again' the stone walls." After several snaps they asked me "Where are you from?" You should have seen their faces when I replied "South Carolina"!!

I've been wanting to do this and say and say, "Ay, me clan is frum a wee bit o' Scotland called Slovakia. Jus' go' back frum a wee bit o' haggis huntin'"

Cheers

Tony

**Colin MacBean** · 30th June 10, 07:52 AM

Would it be fair to say that if one is wearing a PV casual kilt you would get more questions or insults about your 'skirt'? I'm starting to think that most people if they see you in full get up that the questions will be more about the occasion rather than the outfit. Ie. most people have seen pipebands whereas few people know about the more casual kilts that are not in tartans.

**Zardoz** · 30th June 10, 02:25 PM

Originally Posted by Colin MacBean

Would it be fair to say that if one is wearing a PV casual kilt you would get more questions or insults about your 'skirt'? I'm starting to think that most people if they see you in full get up that the questions will be more about the occasion rather than the outfit. Ie. most people have seen pipebands whereas few people know about the more casual kilts that are not in tartans.

Well, if the PV casual kilt in question was tartan and worn with a sporran, like a USAK casual etc. the answer is likely No.
While I meet folks from time to time who claim to be completely unaware of the concept of kilts in any fashion, most citizens have a idea of what you are doing, as long as the kilt is fairly traditional, and you sport some of the traditional trappings, like a big belt and sporran. The rest of the kit does not seem to matter that much.

**2176agp** · 30th June 10, 02:58 PM

I personally don't mind the questions or the attention. Fortunately nothing has been abusive or mean.

The cheeky little old ladies who snicker when they ask about going commando bring a smile to my face, because I feel like I brighten their day.

The curious people all seem to have expressed great interest, and really do know that its not a 'skirt'.

And we do overhear parents explaining the same to kids, and that's super too, because it teaches tolerance and acceptance of others and maybe, just maybe, lets a kid know that it's okay to be different.

And the snarky teenage girls who are giggling -- in a few years they'll be drooling over a DVD of Braveheart and seeing it all in a different light

That's my thoughts

Tony

**jForrester** · 30th June 10, 08:08 AM

Originally Posted by 2176agp

Similar stuff happened to me last Sunday at Wal*Mart. We saw a co-worker who asked if I was 'coming back from something ethnic'. Stock answer, "no I just like to wear a kilt." I'm just waiting until word gets around work -- 'Oh my, Mildred, he was wearing a skirt! Said it was a kilt, but he's not Scottish!"

Then another guy stopped me and wanted to know what clan I was.

Finally, the cashier asked the obvious, prefaced with, "I hope you don't mind if I ask ...."

I've been wanting to do this and say and say, "Ay, me clan is frum a wee bit o' Scotland called Slovakia. Jus' go' back frum a wee bit o' haggis huntin'"

Cheers

Tony

Very good. Well, there are so many Scots here that I sometimes call my state "South Caledonia".