If I were to visit Scotland...

[ForresterModern]

Slovenly Manner would likely include an ill fitting poorly made wrinkled casual kilt hanging at an angle worn with a typical american nonmatching nonceltic logo teeshirt (sleeveless perhaps) and tennis shoes or crocs ----this is the look of one of the unattractive tourists I saw while there. He was unshaven and unkempt, and pretty loaded and loud right on the Royal Mile at about 7 pm one night----very unattractive and borderline offensive.

Appropriate wear is shown best in pictures, so look though the stcky post at the opening of this part of the forum titled "1 Kilt 10 looks...." for ideas. But I would suggest appropriate kilt hose, either scrunched down if going very casual or pulled up worn with flashes, a nice looking kilt belt, and traditionally worn casual or better sporran. As said above, scots prefer seeing traditional tartan kilts, even if they are a casual one, rather than more contemporary designs, which they generally view as an american abomination of their traditional dress. A clean, matching color top is strongly suggested, whether casual---polo shirt or mock turtleneck long sleeve tee shirt (what I wore most of the time), dress shirt without tie, turtle neck with sweater vest or full sweater (aran type preferred), or even a nice tweed jacket with dress shirt and tie if you are going someplace nice. Wear comfortable but attractive shoes that do not overtly clash with the style of dress---I wore Merrell hiking shoes in a plain brown finish most of the time, and ghillies only for occasions where i needed/desired to be a bit dressier (to my business meetings or a more dressy dinner out)---match the level of dress in your shoes to therest of your outfit.

Most of all be respectful of the fact that while kilted, preferably in appropriate tartan, you are wearing someone else's traditional national dress, and the locals will appreciate your show of interest in their culture and heritage. Most of all be respectful of teh people you meet and deal with, and they will respect you in return. The scots are a great, fun loving, hard working people who just do not like seeing thier national dress treated disrespectfully. When all else fails, think " would I wear this out in public if my mother was with me?"

Wear the kilt, respectfully and with pride, and you will have fun. Just for fun count up the number of times you get asked "the question"----it will always be by other tourists and never by a local.

[Jock Scot]

One thing that you do need to bare in mind is that the UK definition of a "dress shirt" is not the same as the USA and ForresterModern has reminded me of it, in his last post.

UK dress shirt= formal wear(black tie).
USA dress shirt= business,general collar and tie.

[davedove]

One thing that you do need to bare in mind is that the UK definition of a "dress shirt" is not the same as the USA and ForresterModern has reminded me of it, in his last post.

UK dress shirt= formal wear(black tie).
USA dress shirt= business,general collar and tie.

Just out of curiosity Jock, what do they call the business style shirt on your side of the pond?

[Jock Scot]

Just out of curiosity Jock, what do they call the business style shirt on your side of the pond?

A shirt. I kid you not.

[Sir William]

... would it scream "tourist" if I were to wear my kilt?

When I visited Scotland three years ago, I hesitated wearing a kilt as I had the same concerns. However, being in Scotland and NOT wearing a kilt seemed almost a travesty, so I began wearing it - and received nothing but compliments. I noted that the few persons I did see wearing a kilt were mostly pipers, tour guides, tourist shop salesmen, and the like - and the occasional tourist.

This year I wore a kilt about half the time and again received nothing but compliments. On our way to a pub in Inverness several Scots stopped us to compliment my kilt and were surprised to find out I was an American and not a Scot - that made my day! Of course I was attending both a clan and the Homecoming Gatherings, so there were a lot more kilts in evidence than befroe, but with the exception of a wolf-whistle in Hawick which I ignored, I never heard any negative comments - and usually quite the opposite. Once or twice I even heard some tartan spotter identifying the tartan.

I agree with Jock Scot in that it should be worn in the "traditional" manner. For my clan and the Homecoming Gatherings I wore a kilt jacket and tie, and when more casual wore it with a polo shirt (and sometimes a sweater). I wore proper kilt hose and leather shoes and a day sporran.

I observed locals wearing their kilts with scrunched down hose and boots, and sometimes a dress sporran while wearing boots and a t-shirt, all of which seemed acceptable, but I preferred the more traditional look.

Wear your kilt. You'll be happy you did.

[The Guy in the Kilt at UC]

I have a question that may be off topic. Have any of you who own Irish kilts had any experiences wearing them in Ireland? I mean those new county tartans that they sell.

[SteveB]

The Irish County Tartans are a commercial invention of Scot weavers to sell tartan. I own a kilt in the Donegal tartan, in Ireland I am/was viewed as a Scot visitor. Virtually no one in Donegal would recognize the tartan. Basically, the kilt screams TOURIST. If in a self colour, green screams louder tourist. Saffron is about the only kilt form that many Irish think of as being at all Irish. The kilt worn in the traditional Scottish manner will get compliments, and asked about the tartan, but not much more.
Slainte

[Paul Henry]

'in the UK it's called a smart or business or white shirt! no mention whatsoever of "dress"

[Jaggy thistle]

Wear your kilt some of us here wear it daily however wear a tartan kilt if possible with a day sporran and kilt hose

[babysitteronacid]

I visit my family there a couple of times a year and always go kilted. Not trad but Uk'ed. Everyone looks (as they do everywhere) because they're not used to seeing one like that. But most are up for it.