nervous in my kilt

[BlueLabel]

Confidence ... I could not agree more. That is something you need in many a things that you do within your life. Wearing a kilt has advantages, getting into conversations with people you would never to have thought to have had a conversation with. Of course it's going to get the attention of people, especially those that have never worn a kilt, nor been around those that wear them. Wear it with confidence...but don't forget pride. For it is in that, that you will be wearing it for as well. Pride for your clansmen, pride in your heritage, or pride in whatever the case may be for you. But most of all, wear it for you, for the feeling it gives you at home...makes home wherever you wear your kilt.

[Rex_Tremende]

Confidence ... That is something you need in many a things that you do within your life. Wearing a kilt has advantages, ...

I've noticed, too, that the confidence one develops while wearing a kilt wears well even when not wearing a kilt. This is a side benefit I had not anticipated, but I'm sure glad I discovered it.

Regards,
Rex.

[Brasilikilt]

I can appreciate the nervousness whilst wearing kilts

For years I lived in a fairly rough neighborhood in my city. I was told that I was "cruising for a bruising" if I wore my kilt in my area. I actually armed myself with a 1911 at first, but then deemed this quite excessive and opted towards a bata or shillelagh. I encountered very few instances of hostility and eventually ventured out into the world with just a Leatherman.

I might be echoing comments made previously in this thread, but it might help to think about WHY you are wearing a kilt.....is it for you, or everyone else?

If you like wearing a kilt, then disregard everyone who objects to it!
They are low life forms which merely envy the confidence or "balls" it takes to wear such a garment out in public. It is their problem and not yours.
It is a free country where it is your right to wear whatever you want.

You have already stepped out into the world while wearing your kilt. As you do it more you will notice that the reaction is much more supportive than anything else.

Hope this helps

Iain

[sdc]

It takes a few days, but it goes away soon, and the first time a young lady comes up and says "Um, that looks really good on you", you'll never worry about it again :-)

[FreeDon!]

Confidence, confidence, confidence (even if you are "faking" it). After a while, you WON'T be faking the confidence.

Don

[TheKiltedCoder]

One of the things I've found (as I've become more and more comfortable being kilted in public) is that the quickest way to attract attention is to seem nervous or ill-at-ease. I read an observation on here at some point (I don't remember where, so I apologize in advance to the originator of the story) that it was not uncommon for people to just not notice that the storyteller was in a kilt until they'd been talking for quite a while, simply because he was as comfortable with the kilt as he was.

Yeah, if you get enough of us together in a major metropolitan area doing a pub crawl, we'll turn heads, but if you just move with assurance (the same way you'd move in pants), nobody will notice.

The other secret is in realizing that there are 3 groups of people out there in the world. 95% of them don't notice or care that you're kilted. You could probably go nude for all they'd notice. They're all wrapped up in their own world and don't even notice you as you walk by on the street.

4% of them notice you're kilted, and are impressed (male or female: I've actually gotten more "Nice Kilt, Dude!" comments from men than women). They're the ones that will ask the questions (and The Question). Be nice to them and you'll brighten days (and even make a convert or two. )

Finally there's that last 1% that are bound and determined to be.. problematic. They're either miserable or in front of their friends, and feel the need to bolster their surprising lack of self-confidence by trying to tear someone else down. I've been regularly kilted in public for the last 3 months, and have received exactly 2 negative comments (both from late-teen to early-20s males: I've no doubt that they felt their masculinity was being challenged or some such). The thing that you have to realize is that there is nothing you can do about this 1%. They're miserable bastards, and they want to make someone else miserable, too. The only way to fight 'em is to deny them the chance. Just tip your proverbial (or real) hat, smile, and go on your way.

Gee... Why am I up on this soap box all of a sudden?

[Rex_Tremende]

...I was surprised, but can't imagine I'm the only one who has experienced this. How do other folks deal with this anxiety/sense of sticking out?

Sure I was nervous my first time out. That's why my first time out was in another city altogether. But I figured out pretty quickly how much fun it was and never looked back. As others have suggested, you have to assume the attitude of confidence whether you feel it or not. Eventually, you discover you have it without even realizing it.

Regards,
Rex.

[jordanjm]

I was once told to simply "Just Do It."

[David Dalglish]

The only way to gain confidence is to wear your kilt often, soon you will wonder why you ever wore trousers

[sharpdressedscot]

I've had the same problem, I think everyone has had it. though, I haven't gotten any bad comments, I'm sure they were said behind my back. But you no what? I don't really care, think about about maybe 95% of the people that will rag on you for it, you may never see them again, so why worry about it? Follow the way "not giving a crap". It's better to ignore that type of stuff.

If you see them laughing at you and making "Look that guy is wearing a skirt" type comments, laugh really loud, but not obnoxiously, and they will usually stop and have a revelation and go away. Make only smart comments, don't do something that puts you in a bad situation, which basically means: don't get revelled up!

But that my own way of doing it, yours may be different.