Wearing it soon

[dfmacliam]

I agree, wearing a traditional kilt in Scotland is fine, but a contemporary kilt, that is even unusual in the States, will not get you the attention you would expect. I would head the advice of both Jock and Jordan, since they are both Scots living in different parts of Scotland.

I would think you would be better suited to wear a traditional kilt in a somewhat traditional manner, for a positive kilting experience. If you check out the threads of those who visited Scotland in the past year, you can get a few good examples of acceptable kilt wear in Scotland. Remember the kilt is Scotlands national dress, and while the contemporary fashions are starting to arrive in Scotland, it has yet to be embrassed by the Scots themselves.

[LANCER1562]

I would agree with the other about wearing a traditiional style kilt. Please excuse my ignorance, but what are these midges that eveyone keeps warning about?

[Jordan]

I would agree with the other about wearing a traditiional style kilt. Please excuse my ignorance, but what are these midges that eveyone keeps warning about?

Midges little flying beasties that are aparantly quite annoying but it depends on where about you go. some more info on
Midges or theres the reliable source that is Wikipedia

Jordan

[LANCER1562]

Okay. They're sort of like Scotland's version of mosquitoes (only nastier because they travel in swarms).

Question: What do you get when you cross a mosquito with a locust?

Answer: A Highland midge.

Sorry. Couldn't resist.

[piperdbh]

Mix 1 part original flavor Listerine with 1 part water and spray on exposed skin. That'll keep mosquitoes at bay, and it should work for the midges, as well.

[Jock Scot]

I would agree with the other about wearing a traditiional style kilt. Please excuse my ignorance, but what are these midges that eveyone keeps warning about?

Come to the West Scotland( west Highlands in particular) between mid May(not here yet this year) and early September and you will find out! On a bad day the moors and hills look as though there is a black haze about 6ft thick just above the ground,then we pray for a wind as we dive for cover! There is no really successful deterrent , although "Avon Skin so soft" is used by those that know. It helps, but we just give up what we are doing and retreat indoors, shut the windows and pour ourselves a G&T.

[PEEDYC]

I remember them as a kid. I used to wear a balaclava in summer to protect myself. Now you see people on TV wearing what looks like bee keeper hats with nets on. That is one thing I do not miss about Scotland.

With regards ot the wearing of a leather kilt up there I would agree that unless you are very comfortable with wearing it anywhere Scotland is probably not the best place to start. Even in towns in the Highlands your rarely see a kilted Scot so even if you wear traditional gear you will stand out. Be prepared.

[phenn012]

Hooray, wore me leather kilt out at last. Just got back on a Loch and Glens tour around the Loch Lomand part of Scotland. First visit to this beautiful country and what a fantastico time.
As for wearing the kilt went down very well indeed. Wore a loose cotton shirt from union kilts, woolly socks and black Guillie shoes. Claymore kilt pin too. The girl on hotel reception went mad about the leather dress. Well she was Hungarian. Thought it was very sexy. My wife who is not keen on me wearing a kilt was surprised of her reactions.
So I feel confident to wear out again one day.
Only took me a few years to pluck up the confidence to wear it, will have to go again thats for sure, not just to wear the kilt, it is a beautiful country.
Peter.

[McClef]

It would be an interesting experiment to see how the West Highland Midge reacts to a leather kilt!

Outside of the trendier cities though the sight of a leather kilt is likely to be ever rarer than the tartan kilt and Jock's view is not atypical of the Highlands folk.

[Jimmy]

I'll bite- Wear your kilt in public, and start doing it as soon as possible. If you think you'll "fit in" in Scotland because you're wearing a kilt, I have news for you. Kilt wearing is nearly as rare in Scotland as it is in the U.S.

So if you want to get comfortable wearing the kilt, forget about treating it like a costume. Ditch the puffy shirt and pick up a sensible, modern button up the front shirt, golf shirt, etc, and wear your kilt to dinner. Or to the grocery store. Or for a walk in the park. The only way to grow accustomed to wearing a kilt in stead of pants is to wear it. In public.

Sorry, kilt wearing in Scotland is common enough but Scots regard the kilt as something special and therefore wear it mostly on special occasions.
I stay near Glasgow and I am in the city most weekends where you are very likely to see kilt wearers albeit for weddings or some formal function.

Granted, casual kilt wearing is probably rare as was the case with myself, a week last Friday, when I decided to wear my kilt at the local in the west end of Glasgow. All evening I was asked what was the occasion and people failed to understand when I told them that there was no occasion and that I was wearing my kilt because I felt like wearing it.

But please don't get the wrong idea, kilt wearing in Scotland is very popular, all one has to do to realise this is look at the upsurge of kilt shops in nearly every major town in Scotland, most of them making a fortune during the summer season